Dana made a gesture of impatience.
"You would: I know you better than you know yourself. See, William's love has borne an absence of four years; you have not known me as many months. Would you respect me if I were to throw him over? You know you would not."
"But all that, Aurelia, is not quite the point. Supposing he does love you as much as I do, do you love him in the same way! Do you feel you could only be happy with him, and not equally or more so with me? Will you answer me that?"
"You are pressing me hard, Richard, but the truest kindness is to tell you the truth. I do love William Gell, far, far more than I could ever love you. I do feel that my heart's life is wrapt up in him, and that if he died I should be a widow-maid all my days for his sake. And yet I love you too, Richard, you are my dear and only brother, and nothing shall ever make me love you less than that." And with moist eyes and kind looks she gave him her hand.
Dana bent and kissed it, and they walked on hand in hand like children.
