In her aloofness it was as though she were
trying to hold herself, from the consciousness of his presence.
He too remained silent. For he was filled with the very things against
which he had come to protest.
It was Karl who was very close; it was the thoughts of Karl's life which
filled him. His heart had never been so warm for his friend, his
appreciation had never been so great as now. Karl, and all that Karl
meant, had never been so close, and so dear. And the words he finally
said to Ernestine, words of passionate tenderness spoken in utter
unconsciousness of how far he had gone from his purpose, were: "I do not
believe any of us half appreciated Karl!"
Startled, she gave him a long, strange look. "No, Dr. Parkman,"--very
low--"neither do I."
"I have been looking into it since. I wanted to throw Karl's results to
the right man. He was head and shoulders above them all."
There was a slow closing of her eyes, but she was not shrinking from him
now;--this the kind of hurt she was able to bear.
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