His anger hurt her with a pain she could not endure . It was unbearable that Jasper should be angry with her . In that moment she realized that she loved him -- that the words he had spoken when unconscious of her presence were the sweetest she had ever heard , or ever could hear . Nothing mattered at all , save that he loved her and was angry with her . `` Do n't say such dreadful things to me , '' she stammered , `` I did not mean to listen . I could not help it . I shall never laugh at you . Oh , Jasper '' -- she looked bravely at him and the fine soul of her shone through the flesh like an illuminating lamp -- `` I am glad that you love me ! and I am glad I chanced to overhear you , since you would never have had the courage to tell me otherwise . Glad -- glad ! Do you understand , Jasper ? '' Jasper looked at her with the eyes of one who , looking through pain , sees rapture beyond . `` Is it possible ? '' he said , wonderingly . `` Alice -- I am so much older than you -- and they call me the Awkward Man -- they say I am unlike other people '' -- `` You ARE unlike other people , '' she said softly , `` and that is why I love you . I know now that I must have loved you ever since I saw you . '' `` I loved you long before I saw you , '' said Jasper . He came close to her and drew her into his arms , tenderly and reverently , all his shyness and awkwardness swallowed up in the grace of his great happiness . In the old garden he kissed her lips and Alice entered into her own . CHAPTER XXVI .
UNCLE BLAIR COMES HOME It happened that the Story Girl and I both got up very early on the morning of the Awkward XXXXX 's wedding day .
Alice Jasper Man XXVI anger awkwardness people presence rapture shyness