I cannot feel ashamed when I remember that he held me for one moment in his arms.

He had been to me till that shock, strength, truth, justice: _the man I loved_.

How could I in one instant know him by his sin alone, and undo all my trust?
I knew only this, that it was for the last time, and that my heart was broken.
I forgave him--that was an idle form; in my great love I never felt that there was anything to be forgiven, except the wrong that fate had done me, in making my love so hopeless.

He told me to forget him; that seemed to me as idle; but all his words were precious, and all my soul was in his hand.

When, at that moment, the sound of wheels upon the gravel came, and the sound of laughter and of voices, I sprang up; he caught me in his arms and held me closely.