I could not bear that even you should think a shameful thing of him." She looked at him with swimming eyes, yet held her tears in check through the very excitement of this splendid new admiration for him.
"But that was foolish--quixotic--" "You will never know, little woman, what a brother's love is.

Don't you remember years ago I told you that I would stand by Bernal, come what might.

Did you think that was idle boasting ?" "But you were willing to have me suspect _that_ of you!" He spoke with a sad, sweet gentleness now, as one might speak who had long suffered hurts in secret.
"Dearest--dear little woman--I already knew that I had been unable to retain your love--God knows I tried--but in some way I had proved unworthy of it.

I had come to believe--painful and humiliating though that belief was--that you could not think less of me--your words to-night proved that I was right--you would have gone away, even without this.

But at least my poor brother might still seem good to you." "Oh, you poor, foolish, foolish, man--And yet, Allan, nothing less than this would have shown you truly to me.