Театр

           Perhapsbecausehewassofaithful,becausehisdevotionwassohumble,perhapsonlybecauseshewantedtopreserveinhismindtheidealthathehadofher.Itwasstupidreallyandshehadbeenselfish.Itoccurredtoherwithexultationthatshecouldatlastrewardhimforallhistenderness,hispatienceandhisselflessness.ShehadnotlostthesenseofunworthinesswhichMichael’sgreatkindnesshadarousedinher,andshewasremorsefulstillbecauseshehadbeenforsolongimpatientofhim.Thedesireforself-sacrificewithwhichsheleftEnglandburntstillinherbreastwithaneagerflame.ShefeltthatCharleswasaworthyobjectforitsexercise.Shelaughedalittle,kindlyandcompassionately,asshethoughtofhisamazementwhenheunderstoodwhatsheintended;foramomenthewouldhardlybeabletobelieveit,andthenwhatrapture,thenwhatecstasy!Thelovethathehadheldbankedupforsomanyyearswouldburstitssluiceslikeagreattorrentandinafloodo’erwhelmher.Herheartswelledatthethoughtofhisinfinitegratitude.Butstillhecouldhardlybelieveinhisgoodfortune;andwhenitwasalloverandshelayinhisarmsshewouldnestleuptohimandwhispertenderly:

           "Wasitworthwaitingfor?"

           "LikeHelen,youmakemeimmortalwithakiss."

           Itwaswonderfultobeabletogivesomuchhappinesstoahumanbeing.

           "I’llwritetohimjustbeforeIleaveSt.Malo,"shedecided.

           Thespringpassedintosummer,andattheendofJulyitwastimeforJuliatogotoParisandseeaboutherclothes.