"Yes, it is foolish!" I said--"But I feel to-night as if I had wasted a
good part of my life in useless research,--in looking for what has
been, after all, quite close to my hand,--only that I failed to see
it!--and that I must go back upon the road I thought I had passed--"
Here I paused. I saw she could not understand me.
"Catherine," I went on, abruptly--"Will you let me leave you in a day
or two? I have been quite a fortnight with you on board the 'Diana,'
and I think I have had enough holiday. I should like"--and I looked up
at her from where I knelt--"I should like to part from you while we
remain good friends--and I have an idea that perhaps we shall not agree
so well if we learn to know more of each other."
She bent her eyes upon me with a half-frightened expression.
"How strange you should think that!" she murmured--"I have felt the
same--and yet I really like you very much--I always liked you--I wish
you would believe it!"