“In earnest. And I confess to the secret chamber. Don’t you remember that you asked me not to declare what I thought of your higher qualities until you had been tried?”

“Yes, John dear. And I fully meant it, and I fully mean it.”

“The time will come, my darling⁠—I am no prophet, but I say so⁠—when you will be tried. The time will come, I think, when you will undergo a trial through which you will never pass quite triumphantly for me, unless you can put perfect faith in me.”

“Then you may be sure of me, John dear, for I can put perfect faith in you, and I do, and I always, always will. Don’t judge me by a little thing like this, John. In little things, I am a little thing myself⁠—I always was. But in great things, I hope not; I don’t mean to boast, John dear, but I hope not!”