given in to you! You will despise me!"

He slipped to the floor at her feet. He strove desperately to comfort
her. Tenderness lent eloquence to his clumsy, unaccustomed tongue.

"Ah, don't say that! It's like sticking a knife in me! My lovely
one! As if I could! You are everything to me! I have nothing in the
world but you! Forgive me for being so rough! I couldn't help it! I
couldn't go by anything you said. I had to find out for sure! It had
to happen! What does it matter whether it was in a day or a year? The
minute I saw you I knew how it was. I knew I had to have you or live
like a priest till I died."

Colina was not to be comforted. "You think so now!" she said. "Later,
when you have tired of me a little, or if we quarreled, you would
remember that I--I was too easily won!"

"Ah, don't!" he cried exasperated. "If you say it again I'll have to
swear. What more can I say? I love you like my life! I could not
despise you without despising myself! I don't know how to put it. I
sound like a fool! But--but this is what I mean. You make me seem
worth while to myself."

Colina's hands stole to her breast. "Ah! If I could believe you!" she
breathed.

"Give me time!" he begged. "What good does talking do! What I do will
show you!"

Little by little she allowed him to console her. Her arm stole around