“I’m so glad of that,” she stammered in reply; “so very glad.... And you’re going away, aren’t you, for a long sea voyage? That will do you ever so much good----” But before she had finished speaking, he was kneeling on the carpet before her, pouring out incoherent phrases. Bewildered, she gazed at him, only noticing the clumsy breadth of his shoulders. “Listen to me, Ethel, listen,” he was saying. “Everything is ready--I’ve given it all up--my living--the Church. I can’t bear it any longer--life without you, I mean.... You are everything to me--I only want you--I care for nothing else now. I am going away to Australia. You will come with me, Ethel--you said you loved me.... We love one another--come with me--let us start life afresh. I can’t go on living without you ... I thought it would be easy for you to come; I see now that perhaps it’s difficult. You have your home: I see that.... But have trust in me--I will make it up to you. Together we will start afresh--make a new home--a new life. I will give you every moment; I will be your slave.... Listen to me, Ethel; let us go away. Everything is ready--I’ve got money--I’ve arranged everything. We can go up to London to-morrow. The steamer starts on Thursday.” The sound of his voice ceased. She was staring at the door, filled with dread lest it should open, and the maid should see him kneeling on the carpet. “Don’t,” she exclaimed, grasping his coat. “Get up, quick.” He rose, awkwardly she thought, and stood before her. “We were so happy together once, dear--do you remember--in the first days, when you promised yourself to me? And now I know that in your heart you still care for me. You said so. Say you will come--say you will trust me--you will start to-morrow. If you can’t come so soon I will wait, wait till you can come,” he added, and she felt the trembling touch of his hands on hers, and his breath beating on her face. “Don’t, please,” and she pushed back his hands. “Some one might see.” “What does it matter, my darling? We are going to belong to one another for always. I am going to wait for you, darling--to be your slave--to give up every moment of my life to you.... It’s the thought of you that’s made me live, dear.... You brought me back to life, that day you came.... I’ve thought of nothing but you since. I’ve been arranging it all----” “It’s impossible,” she interrupted. “No, dear, it’s not impossible,” he pleaded. “You’ve resigned your living--left the Church?” she asked incredulously. “Yes, everything,” he answered proudly. “And all because you cared so for me?” “I can’t begin to live again without you. I would suffer eternal punishment gladly to win you.... You will trust yourself to me darling; say you will trust me.” “Of course, Alec, I trust you. But you’ve no right to----” “Oh! because you’re married, and it’s a sin, and I’m a clergyman. But I’m a man first. And for you I’ve given it all up--everything. You don’t understand my love for you.”