"Yes." He held out his hand to her abruptly.

"I want it, too," he said.
She made no movement towards him.

"That is what you came to say ?" she asked.
"Yes," said Hill.
He waited a moment; then, as she did not take his hand, bent with a certain mastery and took one of hers.
"I've wanted it for years," he said.
"Ah!" A little sound like a sob came with the words.

She made as if she would withdraw her hand, but in the end--because he held it closely--she suffered him to keep it.

She spoke with an effort.