Ah me, how pale she looked! She bore still the marks of her illness.

She seemed deeply embarrassed and agitated at the fervor of my greeting; while I, instead of apologizing or trying to excuse myself, only grew more agitated still.
"Oh, Almah," I cried.

"I should have died if you had not come back to me! Oh, Almah, I love you better than life and I never knew how dearly I loved you till I thought that I had lost you! Oh, forgive me, but I must tell you--and don't weep, darling." She was weeping as I spoke.

She said nothing, but twined her arms around my neck and wept on my breast.

After this we had much to say that we had never mentioned before.