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           "Ithink,"hesaidandhisvoicetrembled,"thatifIlostfaithinyouI’dlosefaithinGod."

           Shelookedathimwithsuchastartledfacethatheaskedherthematter.

           "Nothing,"shesaidslowly,"onlythis:fivemenhavesaidthattomebefore,anditfrightensme."

           "Oh,Clara,isthatyourfate!"

           Shedidnotanswer.

           "Isupposelovetoyouis—"hebegan.

           Sheturnedlikeaflash.

           "Ihaveneverbeeninlove."

           Theywalkedalong,andherealizedslowlyhowmuchshehadtoldhim...neverinlove....Sheseemedsuddenlyadaughteroflightalone.HisentitydroppedoutofherplaneandhelongedonlytotouchherdresswithalmosttherealizationthatJosephmusthavehadofMary’seternalsignificance.Butquitemechanicallyheheardhimselfsaying:

           "AndIloveyou—anylatentgreatnessthatI’vegotis...oh,Ican’ttalk,butClara,ifIcomebackintwoyearsinapositiontomarryyou—"

           Sheshookherhead.

           "No,"shesaid;"I’dnevermarryagain.I’vegotmytwochildrenandIwantmyselfforthem.Ilikeyou—Ilikeallclevermen,youmorethanany—butyouknowmewellenoughtoknowthatI’dnevermarryacleverman—"Shebrokeoffsuddenly.

           "Amory."

           "What?"

           "You’renotinlovewithme.Youneverwantedtomarryme,didyou?"

           "Itwasthetwilight,"hesaidwonderingly."Ididn’tfeelasthoughIwerespeakingaloud.ButIloveyou—oradoreyou—orworshipyou—"

           "Thereyougo—runningthroughyourcatalogueofemotionsinfiveseconds."

           Hesmiledunwillingly.