As her open hand unconsciously went out, he took it tenderly, and felt her fingers softly closing on his own, as if she would lift him to himself again, and to the dear light of her own thoughts.

There was silence for a moment.
"You are better and wiser than I," he said, and his tone told her that the madness was past.
"And you know that I am right?
You see that I must leave you, to save you from me ?" "Leave me--now ?" he cried.

"You only said that--you meant me to understand--you did not mean that you would leave me now ?" "I do mean it," she said, in a great effort.

"It is all I can do, to show you how I love you.

As long as I am in your life you will be in danger--you will never be safe from yourself--I see it all now! I stand between you and all the world would give you--I will not stand between you and honour!" She was breaking down, fight as she would against the pain.