He
has the confession."
Her face relaxed, her mouth trembled violently.
"Oh, Oliver!--Oliver!" She was unable to bear the relief his words
brought her: she broke down under it.
He caught her in his arms at last, and she gave way--she let herself be
weak--and woman. Clinging to him with all the pure passion of a woman
and all the trust of a child, she felt his kisses on her cheek, and her
deep sobs shook her upon his breast. Marsham's being was stirred to its
depths. He gave her the best he had to give; and in that moment of
mortal appeal on her side and desperate pity on his, their natures met
in that fusion of spirit and desire wherewith love can lend even tragedy
and pain to its own uses.
* * * * *
And yet--and yet!--was it in that very moment that feeling--on the man's
side--"o'erleaped itself, and fell on the other"? When they resumed
conversation, Marsham's tacit expectation was that Diana would now show
herself comforted; that, sure of him and of his affection, she would now
be ready to put the tragic past aside; to think first and foremost of
her own present life and his, and face the future cheerfully.
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