any use to him, I will gladly remain here, undoubtedly.

Kroll (looking at her, with some emotion). You know, there is
something splendid about a woman's sacrificing the whole of her
youth for others.

Rebecca. What else have I had to live for?

Kroll. At first when you came here there was your perpetual worry
with that unreasonable cripple of a foster-father of yours--

Rebecca. You mustn't think that Dr. West was as unreasonable as
that when we lived in Finmark. It was the trying journeys by sea
that broke him up. But it is quite true that after we had moved
here there were one or two hard years before his sufferings were
over.

Kroll. Were not the years that followed even harder for you?

Rebecca. No; how can you say such a thing! I, who was so
genuinely fond of Beata--! And she, poor soul was so sadly in need
of care and sympathetic companionship.

Kroll. You deserve to be thanked and rewarded for the forbearance
with which you speak of her.

Rebecca (moving a little nearer to him). Dear Mr. Kroll, you say
that so kindly and so sincerely that I feel sure you really bear
me no ill-will.