Whatever bitterness there might have been in his mind until this moment fled away at sight of her.
His heart had no room for any feeling but tenderness and pity.
"Did you imagine that I should rest until I had seen you once more, Marian?
Did you suppose I should submit to lose you without hearing from your own lips why I have been so unfortunate ?" "I did not think you would waste time or thought upon any one so wicked as I have been towards you," she answered slowly, standing before him with a pale sad face and downcast eyes.

"I fancied that whatever love you had ever felt for me--and I know how well you did love me--would perish in a moment when you found how basely I had acted.

I hoped that it would be so." "No, Marian; love like mine does not perish so easily as that.

O, my love, my love, why did you forsake me so cruelly?
What had I done to merit your desertion of me ?" "What had you done! You had only been too good to me.

I know that there is no excuse for my sin.