He told her how since first they met he had loved her and only her, and how his one desire in life was to make her happy and be happy with her.

Pausing at length he began to speak of his prospects--then she stopped him.
"Your pardon, Dirk," she said, "but I have a question to ask of you," and her voice died away in a kind of sob.

"I have heard rumours about you," she went on presently, "which must be cleared up.

I have heard, Dirk, that by faith you are what is called a heretic.

Is it true ?" He hesitated before answering, feeling that much depended on that answer.