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 away, Fidelia did. So it was all mixed up in me with the trouble of mother's. Finding out about mother and about Bolton—that he'd had Fidelia and she wanted to go back to him—fixed it for me so I didn't feel much of anything for a while. What started me feeling again was the sight of you in the hotel. I wanted to go back to the time before I ever saw Fidelia. And there you were; and—here you are."

"But suppose her husband is killed! What'll happen then?"

"With her?"

"With you, David, and to me, if she comes back."

"I don't wonder you ask it," said David and ground his heel in the soil beside the walk. "My dear, my dear, I don't wonder you ask it; but, oh God, I don't see how I could ever hurt you again."

"You wouldn't mean to, I know," Alice said. "For you didn't."

She turned and started back toward her home and in a moment he followed.