He gently kissed her hair, her face being hidden in the folds of his doublet.
"Let me kneel, John, let me kneel," she murmured.
"No, Dorothy, no," he responded, holding her closely in his arms.
"But one moment, John," she pleased.
"No, no; let me see your eyes, sweet one," said John, trying to turn her face upward toward his own.
"I cannot yet, John, I cannot.

Please let me kneel for one little moment at your feet." John saw that the girl would find relief in self-abasement, so he relaxed his arms, and she sank to her knees upon the dungeon floor.

She wept softly for a moment, and then throwing back her head with her old impulsive manner looked up into his face.
"Oh, forgive me, John! Forgive me! Not that I deserve your forgiveness, but because you pity me." "I forgave you long ago, Dorothy.

You had my full forgiveness before you asked it." He lifted the weeping girl to her feet and the two clung together in silence.

After a pause Dorothy spoke:-- "You have not asked me, John, why I betrayed you." "I want to know nothing, Dorothy, save that you love me." "That you already know.