"But you did before?"
He longed desperately to confess everything, but he could not speak. He
felt her recede from him; their delightful intimacy was broken. She did
not insist further, and self-contempt kept him silent, till he broke
out, "Oh, it's you who must help _me_!"
"I've done all I can for you. You must find out the rest for yourself."
"I don't dare to think how much you have to find out about me."
"Tell me!"
"I haven't the courage."
She let her hand fall lightly upon his for an instant. "Well, that only
proves, doesn't it, that, so long as there's anything insurmountable in
the way of directness and simplicity, you haven't gone all the way. I'll
wait."
"I'm so afraid of losing your sympathy and your respect."
"But you can't stop still!"
"I'm afraid of losing _you_!"
He saw the tears come into her eyes. "Ah, there's only one way you can
lose me," she said deliberately.
"How?" He was eager.