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now—when it’s all past and gone—and dead. You were the one I really loved—only I didn’t come to the knowledge of it ’til too late.

—[Stunned.] Ruth! Do you know what you’re saying?

—It was true—then. [With sudden fierceness.] How could I help it? No woman could.

—Then—you loved me—that time I came home?

—Yes.

—But—couldn’t you see—I didn’t love you—that way?

—[Doggedly.] Yes—I saw then; but I’d known your real reason for leaving home the first time—everybody knew it—and for three years I’d been thinking

—That I loved you?

—Yes. Then that day on the hill you laughed about what a fool you’d been for loving me once—and I knew it was all over.

—Good God, but I never thought [He stops, shuddering at his remembrance.] And did Rob

—That was what I’d started to tell. We’d had a fight just before you came and I got crazy mad—and I told him all I’ve told you.

—[Gaping at her speechlessly for a moment.] You told Rob—you loved me?

—Yes.

—[Shrinking away from her in horror.]