Then he talked to her of his hopes and despairs, and his whole soul seemed to lie bare before her.

She felt as if she watched the very quivering stuff of life in him.

The moon came out: they walked home together: he seemed to have come to her because he needed her so badly, and she listened to him, gave him all her love and her faith.

It seemed to her he brought her the best of himself to keep, and that she would guard it all her life.

Nay, the sky did not cherish the stars more surely and eternally than she would guard the good in the soul of Paul Morel.