Page:A Girl of the Limberlost.djvu/494

 questioning eyes. Not knowing what he dared say, afraid of the hope which found birth in his heart, he tried to shield her and at the same time to feel his way. "I am more thankful than I can express that you feel so," he said. "I would be of use, of comfort, to you if I knew how, Edith." "You are my only comfort," she said. "I tried to send you away. I thought I didn't want you. I thought I couldn't bear the sight of you, because of what you have seen me suffer. But I went to the root of this thing last night. Hart, and with self in mind, as usual, I found that I could not live without you." Henderson began breathing lightly. He was afraid to speak or move. "I faced the fact that all this is my own fault," continued Edith, "and came through my own selfishness. Then I went further back and realized that I am as I was reared. I don't want to blame my parents, but I was carefully trained into what I am. If Elnora Comstock had been like me, Phil would have come back to me. I can see how selfish I look to him, and how I appear to you, if you would admit it." "Edith," said Henderson desperately, "there is no use to try to deceive you. You have known from the first that I found you wrong in this. But it's the first time in your life I ever thought you wrong about anything—and it's the only time I ever will. Understand, I think you the bravest, most beautiful woman on earth, the one most worth loving."