Amid her throbbing dizziness Ruth's mind held steadily to just two thoughts: she was again certain of Tom's love, and certain that his pride would never allow him to speak. These two thoughts pointed her the one thing there was for her to do; the one thing that must be done for both their sakes--and finally she forced herself to say: "It has been a long time since you have been to see me. I had thought you had quite forgotten me." "I have thought of you often?" he managed to return, eyes still fixed above her, his self-control tottering. "But in a friendly way?--No.--Or you would not have been silent through two months." His eyes came down and fastened upon that noble face, and the words escaped by the guard he tried to keep at his lips: "I have never had a friend like you." She waited. "You are my best friend," the words continued. She waited again, but he said nothing more. She drove herself on. "And yet you could--stay away two months?--till I sent for you?" He stood up, and walked to the window and stood as if looking through it--though the shade was drawn. She saw the fingers at his back writhing and knotting themselves. She waited, unwinking, hardly breathing, all her life in the tumultuous beating of her heart. He turned about. His face was almost wild. "I stayed away--because I love you----" His last word was a gasp, and he did not have the strength to say the rest. It had come! Her great strain over, she fairly collapsed in a swooning happiness. Her head drooped, and she swayed forward till her elbows were on her knees. For a moment she existed only in her great, vague, reeling joy. Then she heard a spasmodic gasp, and heard his hoarse words add: "And because--I am married." Her head uprose slowly, and she looked at him, looked at him, with a deadly stupefaction in her eyes. A sickening minute passed. "Married?" she whispered. "Yes--married." A terrified pallor overspread her face, but the face held fixedly to his own. He stood rigid, looking at her. Her strange silence began to alarm him. "What is it?" he cried. Her face did not change, and seconds passed. Suddenly a gasp, then a little groan, broke from her. "Married!" she cried. For a moment he was astounded; then he began dimly to understand. "What, you don't mean----" he commenced, with dry lips. He moved, with uncertain steps, up before her. "You don't--care for me?" The head bowed a trifle. "Oh, my God!" He half staggered backward into a chair, and his face fell into his hands. He saw, in an agonizing vision, what might have been his, and what never could be his; and he saw the wide desert of his future. "You!" He heard her voice, and he looked up. She was on her feet, and was standing directly in front of him. Her hands were clenched upon folds of her skirt. Her breath was coming rapidly. Her eyes were flashing.