I stopped, spoke to her, and asked her name.
Constance, she told me, and her father's, Gerald. Oh, my love, the
long years of suspense were ended to me then! I cannot tell you how
dark the world seemed to me then. I struggled on, however, with my
sorrows. Then I met you. Your being with Gerald and having the little
one with you only too truly proved that my conjecture was right. I saw
you, as I believed, the happy wife of Gerald, and knew no difference
until this morning. When I met him then, he stopped and urged me to
come and see him. I asked after his wife, and remarked that time had
changed her but very little, when, to my amazement, he said he did not
know I had ever met Mrs. Moreton. Then came the explanation. I parted
with the noble fellow only a few moments ago, and here I am now. Tell
me, love, that all my waiting--never wandering from my love for you
for an hour, has not been in vain. Speak, love!"
"Ernest Ellwood, what mean you by speaking to me thus? Allow me to
rise. Your mind is certainly very much affected. Nothing but insanity
can excuse this language to me. I will order the carriage to convey
you home to your wife and daughter."
"My wife--oh, yes, now I know.
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