"You have all these, and I have nothing." She spread out her hands
helplessly. "It must seem strange to you that I am in this situation. It
does to me. It is awful."

She put her hands over her eyes and shuddered.

"It is to save you from it all that I have come." He leaned over and spoke
tenderly, "Darling!"

"Oh, wait!" She caught her breath as if it hurt her, and put out her hand
to stop him, "Wait! You must not say any more until I have told you all
about it. Perhaps when I have told you, you will think about me as others
do, and I shall have to run from you."

"Can you not trust me?" he reproached her.

"Oh, yes, I can trust you, but you may no longer trust me, and that I
cannot bear."

"I promise you solemnly that I will believe every word you say."

"Ah, but you will think I do not know, and that it is your duty to give me
into the hands of my enemies."

"That I most solemnly vow I will never do," he said earnestly. "You need
not fear to tell me anything. But listen, tell me this one thing: in the
eyes of God, is there any reason, physical, mental, or spiritual, why you
should not become my wife?"