"
She drew her hands away, turned her head aside, her face both white and
red. "Oh, hush, you must not say it!" she said. "You forget; do not make
me fear you and hate myself. * * * I wanted to be your friend--from the
first, to help you, as I said; be, then, a friend to me, that I may
forgive myself."
"Forgive yourself--for what? I wish to God I had the right to proclaim my
love--if you would have it, dear--to all the world. * * * And I will know
the truth, for I will find your husband, or his grave."
She looked up at him gravely, a great confidence in her eyes. "I wish you
knew how much in earnest I am--in wishing to help you. Believe me, that is
the first thought. For the rest I am--shall I say it?--the derelict of a
life; and I can only drift. You are young, as young almost as I in years,
much younger every other way, for I began with tragedy too soon."
At that moment there came a loud knock at the outer door, then a ring,
followed by a cheerful voice calling through the window--"I say, Hagar,
are you there? Shall I come in or wait on the mat till the slavey arrives.
* * * Oh, here she is--Salaam! Talofa! Aloha!--which is heathen for How
do you do, God bless you, and All hail!"
These remarks were made in the passage from the door through the hallway
into the room.
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