"You! And I--I never guessed it! Oh, forgive me! forgive me! Then indeed
there never was any hope for me. I understand! How blind I have been!
Who----No; I've no right to ask. Now I understand the look in your eyes
which has often haunted and puzzled me. Oh, what a blind, blundering
fool I have been all this time!"
"Hush!" she said, still so low that he could only just hear the broken
murmur. "I--I am glad you did not know. I--I would not have told you
now, if--if it were not all past and done with!"
"Nell!" he said.
"Yes, it is all past and done with," she repeated. "And--and I want to
forget it. I want you--to help me! Oh! must I speak more plainly? Won't
you understand? If you will be content to take me--knowing what I have
told you--if you will be content to wait until I--I have quite
forgotten! and I shall soon, very soon----"
He stretched out his hand to her, an eager cry on his lips.
"Content!" he said. "You ask me if I shall be content!"
Then, as she put out her hand to meet his, he saw her face. It was white
to the lips, and there was a look in her eyes more full of agony than
his own had worn at his worst times. He let his hand fall on the bed.
"Is it all past?" he asked doubtfully.
She was about to speak the word "Yes," when a voice came from below
through the open window. It was Drake talking to Dick. The blood flew to
her face, her brows came together, and she shrank as if some one had
struck her.
Falconer, with his eyes fixed upon her, heard the voice, saw the change
on her face. The light died out of his eyes, and slowly, very slowly, he
drew his hand back.
Nell stood looking before her, her lips set tightly, her eyes downcast.
It was a terrible moment, in which she appeared under a spell so deep as
to cause her to forget the presence of the man beside her. And, as he
watched her, the life seemed to die out of his face as well as his eyes.
The door opened, and Dick came in.
"Drake's come to inquire after the patient," he said. "How are we,
Falconer?"
"Better," said Falconer, with a smile; "much better. Couldn't you
persuade Miss Lorton to take down the report, Dick?"