Forgive me!" He smiled at her reassuringly.
"There is nothing to forgive," he insisted.

"You asked for an explanation to which you had a right.

I have tried to give it to you.
Indeed, Julia, you need have no fear.

Whatever I decide in life will be what I think best for our cause." The shadow of fear once more trembled in her tone.
"Whatever you decide," she repeated.

"You will not--you will not let them call you a deserter?
You couldn't do that." "There isn't anything in the world," he told her quietly, "which has the power to tempt me from doing the thing which I think best.