only knew how surprised and grieved I was--how my heart ached when,
instead of finding you, your note......"

"I was obliged to go to Amru," interrupted Orion. "This undertaking
compels me to leave much behind, and I am no longer the freest of the
free, as I used to be. During this dreadful breakfast I have been
sitting on thorns. But let all that pass. I came hither with a heart
high with hope--and now?--You see, Paula, this enterprise tears me in two
in more ways than you can imagine, puts me into a more critical position,
and weighs more on my mind than you can think or know--I will explain it
all to you at another time--and to bear it all, to keep up the spirit and
happy energy that I need, I must be secure of the one thing for which I
could take far greater toil and danger as mere child's play; I must
know......"

"You must know," she interposed, "whether my heart is fully and wholly
open to your love. . . ."

"And whether," he added, with growing ardor, "in spite of the bitter
suffering that weighs on my wretched soul, I may hope to be happier than
the saints in bliss. O Paula, adored and only woman, may I. . . ."

"You may," she said clearly and fervently. "I love you, Orion, and shall
never, never cease to love you with my whole soul."

He flew to her side, clasped both her hands as if beside himself,
snatched them to his lips regardless of the nearness of the house, whence
ten pairs of eyes might have seen him, and covered them with burning
kisses, till she drew them from him with the entreaty: "No, no; forbear,
I entreat you. No--not now."