My love has been reverent and humble . I have asked nothing . I ask nothing now but your friendship . Do n't take that from me , Sara . Do n't be angry with me . '' `` I am angry , '' repeated Sara , `` and I think I have a right to be . '' `` Perhaps so , '' he said simply , `` but not because I have loved you . Such love as mine ought to anger no woman , Sara . But you have a right to be angry with me for presuming to put it into words . I should not have done so -- but I could not help it . It rushed to my lips in spite of me . Forgive me . '' `` I do n't know whether I can forgive you for not telling me before , '' said Sara steadily . '' That is what I have to forgive -- not your speaking at last , even if it was dragged from you against your will . Did you think I would make you such a very poor wife , Jeff , that you would not ask me to marry you ? '' `` Sara ! '' he said , aghast . `` I -- I -- you were as far above me as a star in the sky -- I never dreamed -- I never hoped -- '' `` That I could care for you ? '' said Sara , looking round at last . `` Then you were more modest than a man ought to be , Jeff .
I did not know that you loved me , or I should have found some way XXXXX make you speak out long ago .
That above against as at because for than to whether