Then, overwhelmed with the sudden realization of the pain she was giving to a man whom she so loved that at that moment she would have died to shield him from pain, she lifted her face, shook back the hair from her forehead, and, looking bravely into his eyes, repeated,-- "No, no! I am very selfish to feel like this.

I do understand you.

I understand it all; and I will help you, and comfort you all I can.

And I do love you very dearly," she added in a lower voice, with a tone of such incomparable sweetness that it took almost superhuman control on Stephen's part to refrain from clasping her to his heart.

But he did not betray the impulse, even by a gesture.