"You mean it ?" Seaforth winced a little.

"Yes," he said.
Alice Deringham still fixed her eyes upon him.

"And yet you distrusted me once ?" Seaforth's face was haggard, but it was less pale than it had been when he bent his head.

"I can only throw myself on your mercy.

I was more of a fool than usual then." Alice Deringham laughed softly but graciously.