His eyes flashed, and he smiled.
"She loves me!" he said simply. Gueldmar looked at him, laughed a little,
and sighed.
"She loves thee?" he said, relapsing into the _thee_ and _thou_ he was
wont to use with his daughter. "Thou hast lost no time, my lad? When
didst thou find that out?"
"To-day!" returned Philip, with that same triumphant smile playing about
his lips. "She told me so--yet even now I cannot believe it!"
"Ah, well, thou mayest believe it truly," said Gueldmar, "for Thelma says
nothing that she does not mean! The child has never stooped to even the
smallest falsehood."
Errington seemed lost in a happy dream. Suddenly he roused himself and
took Gueldmar by the arm.
"Come," he said, "let us go to her! She will wonder why we are so long
absent. See! the storm has cleared--the sun is shining. It is
understood? You will give her to me?"
"Foolish lad!" said Gueldmar gently. "What have I to do with it? She has
given herself to thee! Love has overwhelmed both of your hearts, and
before the strong sweep of such an ocean what can an old man's life
avail? Nothing--less than nothing! Besides, I _should_ be happy--if I
have regrets,--if I feel the tooth of sorrow biting at my heart--'tis
naught but selfishness.
Pages:
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376