And she dropped upon her knees beside him and hid her face upon his shoulder, with the cry of, "Help me! Help me! I can't bear it!" He folded his arms about her as though he had been a woman, and held her fast.
Long after the awful sounds had died away Anne knelt there, sobbing, utterly unstrung, all her pride laid low, herself no more than a broken, agonised woman.

But gradually, from sheer exhaustion, her sobs became less anguished, till at length they ceased.

A strange peace, wholly unaccountable, fell gently upon her torn spirit.

But even then it was long before she moved.

She felt an overwhelming reluctance to withdraw herself from the shelter of those quiet arms.
"What must you think of me ?" she whispered at last, her face still hidden.
"My dear," he said, "I understand." He did not offer to release her, but as she moved she found herself free, she found herself able to look into his face.
"I shall never forget your goodness to me," she said very earnestly.
He smiled a little, after a fashion she did not wholly comprehend.