"But what if he granted no such pardon, Alice? I will grant none such. You are my wife, my own, my dearest, my chosen one. You are all that I value in the world, my treasure and my comfort, my earthly happiness and my gleam of something better that is to come hereafter. Do you think that I shall let you go from me in that way? No, love. If you are ill I will wait till your illness is gone by; and, if you will let me, I will be your nurse."
"I am not ill."

"But what if he granted no such pardon, Alice? I will grant none such. You are my wife, my dearest chosen one. You are all that I value in the world, my treasure and my comfort. Do you think that I shall let you go from me in that way? No, love. If you are ill I will wait till your illness is gone; and, if you will let me, I will be your nurse."
"I am not ill."
