He lay there, oblivious of his wound, oblivious of his mission, oblivious of his son.

He lay with senses still half dormant and comprehension dulled, but with a soul alert he lay, and was supremely happy with a happiness such as he had never known in all his ill-starred life.
In a feeble voice he asked: "Why did you run away ?" "Let us forget it," she answered softly.
"Nay--tell me first." "I thought--I thought--" she stammered; then, gathering courage, "I thought you did not really care, that you made a toy of me," said she.
"When they told me that you sat at dice with a gentleman from London I was angry at your neglect.

If you loved me, I told myself, you would not have used me so, and left me to mope alone." For a moment Crispin let his grey eyes devour her blushing face.

Then he closed them and pondered what she had said, realization breaking upon him now like a great flood.

The light came to him in one blinding yet all-illuming flash.