“You have nobly deserved everything that I can do for you, as long as we both live. Whatever the end is you shall know it.”

“And if I can ever be of help again, at any future time, long after the memory of my presumption and my folly is forgotten⁠ ⁠…”

I could add no more. My voice faltered, my eyes moistened in spite of me.

She caught me by both hands⁠—she pressed them with the strong, steady grasp of a man⁠—her dark eyes glittered⁠—her brown complexion flushed deep⁠—the force and energy of her face glowed and grew beautiful with the pure inner light of her generosity and her pity.