He folded her in his arms and laid his lips to hers.
"My beloved!.

.

.

Oh, Diana, if you could guess the agony--the torture of the last ten days!" And he leaned his cheek against her hair, and stood silently for a little space.
Presently fear overcame him again--quick fear lest she should ever regret having given herself to him.
"Heart's dearest, have you realised that it will be very hard sometimes?
You will ask me to explain things--and I shan't be able to.
Is your trust big enough--great enough for this ?" Diana raised her head from his shoulder.
"I love you," she answered steadily.
"Do you forget the shadow?
It is there still, dogging my steps.

Not even your love can alter that." For a moment Diana rose to the heights of her womanhood.
"If there must be a shadow," she said, "we will walk in it together." "But--don't you see ?--I shall know what it is.