I thought it would be best to set her poor loving heart at rest, and as I could not divulge my special secret, spoke in general terms: "Aunt Janet, I am a man, and have led a man's life, such as it is.

But I can tell you, who have always loved me and taught me to be true, that in all the world there is no woman who must weep for any falsity of mine.
If close there be any who, sleeping or waking, in dreams or visions or in reality, weeps because of me, it is surely not for my doing, but because of something outside me.

It may be that her heart is sore because I must suffer, as all men must in some degree; but she does not weep for or through any act of mine." She sighed happily at my assurance, and looked up through her tears, for she was much moved; and after tenderly kissing my forehead and blessing me, stole away.

She was more sweet and tender than I have words to say, and the only regret that I have in all that is gone is that I have not been able to bring my wife to her, and let her share in the love she has for me.

But that, too, will come, please God! In the morning I sent a message to Rooke at Otranto, instructing him by code to bring the yacht to Vissarion in the coming night.
All day I spent in going about amongst the mountaineers, drilling them and looking after their arms.