and very simply, I love you with all my heart. You know now that I
speak the truth, you know that you can trust me. I shall not ask you
to share your life with mine. I ask you for the great happiness"--he
raised his head sharply, suddenly proud--"the great honour of the
opportunity of giving you all that I have of good. God give me
humility, but that is much since I have known you. If I were a
better man because of myself, I would not presume to speak of it,
but if I am in anything less selfish, if I am more loyal, if I am
stronger, or braver, it is only something of you that has become a
part of me, and made me to be born again. So when I offer myself to
you, I am only bringing back to you the gift you gave me for a
little while. I have tried to keep it for you, to keep it bright and
sacred and un-spotted. It is yours again now if you will have it."

There was a long pause; a group of men in opera hats and white
gloves came up the stairway close at hand. The tide of promenaders
set towards the entrances of the theatre. A little electric bell
shrilled a note of warning.

Laura looked up at length, and as their glances met, he saw that
there were tears in her eyes. This declaration of his love for her
was the last touch to the greatest exhilaration of happiness she had
ever known. Ah yes, she was loved, just as that young girl of the
opera had been loved. For this one evening, at least, the beauty of
life was unmarred, and no cruel word of hers should spoil it. The
world was beautiful. All people were good and noble and true.
To-morrow, with the material round of duties and petty
responsibilities and cold, calm reason, was far, far away.

Suddenly she turned to him, surrendering to the impulse, forgetful