Richard
Hilton at last turned, and, in a voice of hesitating entreaty,
pronounced her name--
"Asenath!"
She took away her hands, and slowly lifted her face. She was pale,
but her eyes met his with a frank, appealing, tender expression,
which caused his heart to stand still a moment. He read no
reproach, no faintest thought of blame; but--was it pity?--was it
pardon?--or----
"We stand before God, Richard," said she, in a low, sweet,
solemn tone. "He knows that I do not need to forgive thee. If
thee requires it, I also require His forgiveness for myself."
Though a deeper blush now came to cheek and brow, she met his gaze
with the bravery of a pure and innocent heart. Richard, stunned
with the sudden and unexpected bliss, strove to take the full
consciousness of it into a being which seemed too narrow to contain
it. His first impulse was to rush forward, clasp her passionately
in his arms, and hold her in the embrace which encircled, for him,
the boundless promise of life; but she stood there, defenceless,
save in her holy truth and trust, and his heart bowed down and gave
her reverence.
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