Again his companion watched his hard face with affectionate interest.
'Tell me just how it happened,' she said.

'I mean, if it will help you at all to talk about it.' 'Yes.

You always help me,' he answered, and then paused.

'I think I should like to tell you the whole thing,' he added after an instant.
'Somehow, I never tell anybody much about myself.' 'I know.' She bent her handsome head in assent.

Just then it would have been very hard to guess what the relations were between the oddly assorted pair, as they sat a little apart from each other before the grate.
Mr.Van Torp was silent now, as if he were making up his mind how to begin.
In the pause, the lady quietly held out her hand towards him.