Part 56 (1/2)
He opened his eyes and looked her full in the face.
”Valentine!”
”Hush, you are too weak to talk. Stay quiet, I am with you. I will nurse you back to strength. Oh, my darling, you didn't die.”
”Your darling, Valentine? Did you call me your darling?”
”I said it. I say it. You are all the world to me; without you the world is empty. Oh, how I love you--how I have loved you for years.”
”Then it was good I didn't die,” said Wyndham, he raised his eyes, looked up and smiled. His smile was one of ecstasy.
”Of course it was good that you didn't die, and now you are going to get well. Lie still. Do you like my hand under your head?”
”Like it?”
”Yes; you need not tell me. Let me talk to you; don't answer me.
Gerald, my father told me. He told me what he had done; he told me what you had done. He wants me to forgive him, but I'm not going to forgive him. I'll never forgive him, Gerald. I have ceased to love him, and I'll never forgive him; all my love is for you.”
”Not all, wife--not quite all. Give him back a little, and--forgive.”
”How weak you are, Gerald, and your voice sounds miles away.”
”Forgive him, Valentine.”
”Yes, if you wish it. Lie still, darling.”
”Valentine--that money.”
”I know about it--that blood-money. The price of your precious life. It shall be paid back at once.”
”Then G.o.d will forgive me. I thank Him, unspeakably.”
”Gerald, you are very weak. I can scarcely hear your words. Does it tire you dreadfully to talk? See, I will hold your hand; when you are too tired to speak your fingers can press mine. Gerald, you were outside our house on Tuesday night. Yes, I feel the pressure of your hand; you were there. Gerald, you were very unhappy that night.”
”But not now, darling,” replied Wyndham. He had found his voice; his words came out with sudden strength and joy. ”I made a mistake that night, wife. I won't tell it to you. I made a mistake.”
”And you are really quite, quite happy now.”
”Happy! Sorrow is put behind me--the former things are done away.”
”You will be happier still when you come home to baby and me.”
”You'll come to me, Val; you and the boy.”
”What do you say? I can't hear you.”
”You'll come to me.”
”I am with you.”