"Well, that is what it amounts to. That was what I called myself next morning. And then with the joy of getting home and among you all again--and the wonder of seeing what you had grown into--everything else went out of my head. I was so eager to have you that I took it for granted you would have me. Then I remembered that for two whole years you had seen nothing of me, and the more I loved you the more that thought kept coming up. So then I gave you the whole story, and lost all I care for in this world. But it had to be done--and I should do it again. You needn't look at me so, dear, and try to hide how you feel. You could not help being disgusted. I do not blame you in the least, Cherry." "Oh, Magnus!" she cried again. "How can you use such words about me?" "What words shall I use? You were disgusted, and you know it." "No, oh, no!" "What then? Choose your own words, and tell me." "I thought my heart was breaking," the girl said, pressing both hands upon her breast. "That was all." "Was that all?" Magnus said, with a sort of quiet rage at himself. "Had I done nothing but that? Only broken the truest heart that ever beat? Nothing more?" "Please, please!" Cherry pleaded. "Magnus, I cannot talk to you if you say such things." "Go on then, you, and do the talking. Didn't I tell you I had nothing more to say?" Cherry hesitated a moment, and then she put out her hand and laid it softly on that other which had grown so brown with handling guns and pontoons. Magnus winced, as at the touch of sharp steel, but his own hand never stirred. "What is it?" he said rather shortly. "Magnus--does your mother know?" "I am going to tell her." "No, no, do not! There is no need," Cherry said earnestly. "Not much use, perhaps," he answered in a gloomy tone. "She's bound to be my mother, through thick and thin." "Promise!" Cherry said. "What have you got to do with it?" Magnus asked her, looking up. "What business is it of yours, anyhow? You have washed your hands of me and my concerns." "Magnus, you _know_ that is not true." "I hope it will not take more tears to do the work," he went on in the same tone. "There have been enough shed now, to clear away fifteen years of memories." "You do not think so, or you would not say it," poor Cherry protested. "You are just trying to make me contradict you." "Am I?" said Magnus, with a half laugh. "Well, go ahead and do it, then. Say nothing could ever make you forget me." "Nothing ever could." "Say you did love me with all your heart when I went away." "Yes." "And all the time I was gone." "All the time." "And when I came home." "Yes," the girl answered in her grave, sweet tones. "So little while ago!" Magnus said, with a deep breath. "Cherry, you were very distant to me at first--have been, all along." "You were a little bit of a stranger." "And now you know me too well. So it goes. If I had not told you--but it is better so."