But all that I saw in you I loved. Rowan, and I
believed that I saw everything. Remember this, if false thoughts
of me ever come to you! I expect to live a long time: the memory
of my love of you will be the sorrow that will keep me alive."
After a few moments of silent struggle she moved nearer.
"Do not touch me," she said; "remember that what love makes dear,
it makes sacred."
She put out a hand in the darkness and, closing her eyes over
welling tears, passed it for long remembrance over his features:
letting the palm lie close against his forehead with her fingers in
his hair; afterward pressing it softly over his eyes and passing it
around his neck. Then she took her hand away as though fearful of
an impulse. Then she put her hand out again and laid her fingers
across his lips. Then she took her hand away, and leaning over,
laid her lips on his lips:
"Good-by!" she murmured against his face, "good-by! good-by!
good-by!"
Mrs. Conyers had seen Rowan and Isabel together in the parlors
early in the evening. She had seen them, late in the evening, quit
the house. She had counted the minutes till they returned and she
had marked their agitation as they parted. The closest association
lasting from childhood until now had convinced her of the
straightforwardness of Isabel's character; and the events of the
night were naturally accepted by her as evidences of the renewal of
relationship with Rowan, if not as yet of complete reconciliation.
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