In a swift flash of thought she saw her own home with its wealth and splendor, and then the ship-builder's house-simple, chillingly bare, with its comfortless rooms; she felt as though she must perish, nipped and withered, in such a home.

Again she thought of him standing on his father's threshold, she fancied she could hear his bright boyish laugh and her heart glowed once more.

She forgot for the moment--clear-headed woman though she was, and trained by her philosopher to "know herself"-- she forgot what she had fully acknowledged only the night before: That he would no more give up his Christ than she would her Isis, and that if they should ever reach the dreamed-of pinnacle of joy it must be for an instant only, followed by a weary length of misery.
Yes--she forgot everything; doubts and fears were cast aside; as his approaching footsteps fell on her ear, she could hardly keep herself from flying, open armed, to meet him.
He was standing before her; she offered him her hand with frank gladness, and, as he clasped it in his, their hearts were too full for words.

Only their eyes gave utterance to their feelings, and when he perceived that hers were sparkling through tears, he spoke her name once, twice--joyfully and yet doubtfully, as if he dared not interpret her emotion as he would.

She laid her left hand lightly on his which still grasped her right, and said with a brilliant smile: "Welcome, Constantine, welcome home! How glad I am to see you back again!" "And I--and I..." he began, greatly moved.
"O Gorgo! Can it really be years since we parted ?" "Yes, indeed," she said.