It was to guard his interest, not her own, that she had accompanied me on this expedition, risking her good name in the belief that he was unable to care for his own.

What would she do now?
how would she feel toward me?
What change would it make in the friendly relationship between us?
I longed to tell her, and yet shrunk from the task.

She could not fail to know how much I cared; careful as I had been in word and action, yet a dozen times had my eyes revealed the secret.

I had seen her draw back from me, half afraid, had her restrain me by a gesture, or a word.

This could be done no longer--we were free now, I to speak, she to listen, but I could only guess the result.