She went to her own room and stood at the window gazing out upon that new green world that but yesterday had been a desert. The thought of her dream came upon her, but the bitterness and the fears were all gone from her heart. The thing she had dreaded so unspeakably had come and passed. The struggle between the two men on that path which could hold but one was at an end. The greater love had triumphed over the lesser, but even so the lesser had not perished. Dimly she realized that Guy's broken life had not been utterly cast away. It seemed to her that already--there at the Gate of Death--he had risen again. And she knew that her agonized prayer had found an answer at last. Guy was safe. It was a long time before Burke came to her. When he did, it was to find her in a chair by the window with her head pillowed on the table, sunk in sleep. But she awoke at his coming, looking at him swiftly with a question in her eyes which his as swiftly answered. He came and knelt beside her, and gathered her into his arms. She clung to him closely for a while in silence, finding peace and great comfort in his hold. Then at length, haltingly she spoke. "Burke,--you--forgave him?" "Yes," he said. She lifted her face and kissed his neck. "Burke, you understand--I--couldn't forsake him--then?" "I understand," he said, drawing her nearer. "You couldn't forsake anyone in trouble." "Oh, not just that," she said. "I loved him so. I couldn't help it. I--had to love him." He was silent for a few seconds, and the wonder stirred within her if perhaps even now he could misunderstand her. And then he spoke, his voice very low, curiously uneven. "I know. I loved him, too. That was--the hell of it--for me." "Oh, Burke--darling!" she said. He drew a hard breath, controlling himself with an effort. "I'd have cut off my right hand to save him, but it was no good. It came to me afterwards--that you were the one who might have done it. But it was too late then. Besides--besides--" he spoke as if something within him battled fiercely for utterance--"I couldn't have endured it--standing by. Not you--not you!" She put up a hand, and stroked his face. "I belonged to you from the first moment I saw you," she said. "Sylvia!" He moved abruptly, taking her by the shoulders so that he might look into her eyes. "That is--the truth?" he said. She met his look steadfastly. "Of course it is the truth!" she said. "Could I tell you anything else?" He held her still. "But--Sylvia----" Her hands were clasped against his breast. "It is the truth," she said again. "I didn't realize it myself at first. It came to me--quite suddenly--that day of the sand-storm--the day Guy saved your life." "Ah!" he said. She went on with less assurance. "It frightened me--when I knew. I was so afraid you would find out." "But why?" he said. "Why?" She shook her head, and suddenly her eyes fell before his. She looked almost childishly ashamed.