Suddenly hope came surging up within her; her hand fell from his arm; she lifted her eyes in flushed silence--only to find hopeless confirmation of all she dreaded in his set and colourless face.
"Mr.Hamil," she said tremulously, "I never dreamed--" "No, you didn't.

I did.

It is all right, Shiela." "Oh--I--I never, never dreamed of it!"-- shocked and pitifully incredulous still.
"I know you didn't.

Don't worry." His voice was very gentle, but he was not looking at her.
"Is it my--fault, Mr.Hamil ?" "Your fault ?" he repeated, surprised.

"What have _you_ done ?" "I--don't know." He stood gazing absently out into the flaming west; and, speaking as though unaware: "From the first--I realise it now--even from the first moment when you sprang into my life out of the fog and the sea--Shiela! Shiela!--I--" "Don't!" she whispered, "don't say it." She swayed back against the wall; her hand covered her eyes an instant--and dropped helpless, hopeless.
They faced each other.
"Believe that I am--sorry," she whispered.