Hesentoutwordbyhisoffice—boythathewouldliketoseeMr。Coreyforafewminutesafterclosing。
Thetype—writergirlhadlingeredtoo，asifshewishedtospeakwithhim，andCoreystoodinabeyanceasshewenttowardLapham’sdoor。
\"Can’tseeyouto—night，Zerrilla，\"hesaidbluffly，butnotunkindly。\"PerhapsI’llcallatthehouse，ifit’simportant。\"
\"Itis，\"saidthegirl，withaspoiledairofinsistence。
\"Well，\"saidLapham，and，noddingtoCoreytoenter，heclosedthedooruponher。Thenheturnedtotheyoung，mananddemanded：\"WasIdrunklastnight？\"
XV。
LAPHAM’Sstrenuousfacewasbrokenupwiththeemotionsthathadforcedhimtothisquestion：shame，fearofthethingsthatmusthavebeenthoughtofhim，mixedwithafainthopethathemightbemistaken，whichdiedoutattheshockedandpityinglookinCorey’seyes。
\"WasIdrunk？\"herepeated。\"Iaskyou，becauseIwasnevertouchedbydrinkinmylifebefore，andIdon’tknow。\"
Hestoodwithhishugehandstremblingonthebackofhischair，andhisdrylipsapart，ashestaredatCorey。
\"Thatiswhateveryoneunderstood，ColonelLapham，\"
saidtheyoungman。\"Everyonesawhowitwas。
Don’t————\"
\"DidtheytalkitoverafterIleft？\"askedLaphamvulgarly。
\"Excuseme，\"saidCorey，blushing，\"myfatherdoesn’ttalkhisguestsoverwithoneanother。\"Headded，withyouthfulsuperfluity，\"Youwereamonggentlemen。\"
\"Iwastheonlyonethatwasn’tagentlemanthere！\"
lamentedLapham。\"Idisgracedyou！Idisgracedmyfamily！I
mortifiedyourfatherbeforehisfriends！\"Hisheaddropped。
\"IshowedthatIwasn’tfittogowithyou。I’mnotfitforanydecentplace。WhatdidIsay？WhatdidIdo？\"
heasked，suddenlyliftinghisheadandconfrontingCorey。
\"Outwithit！Ifyoucouldbeartoseeitandhearit，Ihadoughttobeartoknowit！\"
\"Therewasnothing——reallynothing，\"saidCorey。
\"Beyondthefactthatyouwerenotquiteyourself，therewasnothingwhatever。MyfatherDIDspeakofittome，\"heconfessed，\"whenwewerealone。Hesaidthathewasafraidwehadnotbeenthoughtfulofyou，ifyouwereinthehabitoftakingonlywater；ItoldhimIhadnotseenwineatyourtable。Theotherssaidnothingaboutyou。\"
\"Ah，butwhatdidtheythink？\"
\"Probablywhatwedid：thatitwaspurelyamisfortune——
anaccident。\"
\"Iwasn’tfittobethere，\"persistedLapham。\"Doyouwanttoleave？\"heasked，withsavageabruptness。
\"Leave？\"falteredtheyoungman。
\"Yes；quitthebusiness？Cutthewholeconnection？\"
\"Ihaven’ttheremotestideaofit！\"criedCoreyinamazement。
\"WhyintheworldshouldI？\"\"Becauseyou’reagentleman，andI’mnot，anditain’trightIshouldbeoveryou。
Ifyouwanttogo，Iknowsomepartiesthatwouldbegladtogetyou。Iwillgiveyouupifyouwanttogobeforeanythingworsehappens，andIshan’tblameyou。
IcanhelpyoutosomethingbetterthanIcanofferyouhere，andIwill。\"
\"There’snoquestionofmygoing，unlessyouwishit，\"
saidCorey。\"Ifyoudo————\"
\"Willyoutellyourfather，\"interruptedLapham，\"thatIhadanotionallthetimethatIwasactingthedrunkenblackguard，andthatI’vesufferedforitallday？WillyoutellhimIdon’twanthimtonoticemeifweevermeet，andthatIknowI’mnotfittoassociatewithgentlemeninanythingbutabusinessway，ifIamthat？\"
\"CertainlyIshalldonothingofthekind，\"retortedCorey。
\"Ican’tlistentoyouanylonger。Whatyousayisshockingtome——shockinginawayyoucan’tthink。\"
\"Why，man！\"exclaimedLapham，withastonishment；\"ifI
canstandit，YOUcan！\"
\"No，\"saidCorey，withasicklook，\"thatdoesn’tfollow。
Youmaydenounceyourself，ifyouwill；butIhavemyreasonsforrefusingtohearyou——myreasonswhyICAN’Thearyou。
IfyousayanotherwordImustgoaway。\"
\"Idon’tunderstandyou，\"falteredLapham，inbewilderment，whichabsorbedevenhisshame。
\"Youexaggeratetheeffectofwhathashappened，\"
saidtheyoungman。\"It’senough，morethanenough，foryoutohavementionedthemattertome，andIthinkit’sunbecominginmetohearyou。\"
Hemadeamovementtowardthedoor，butLaphamstoppedhimwiththetragichumilityofhisappeal。\"Don’tgoyet！Ican’tletyou。I’vedisgustedyou，——Iseethat；
butIdidn’tmeanto。I——Itakeitback。\"
\"Oh，there’snothingtotakeback，\"saidCorey，witharepressedshudderfortheabasementwhichhehadseen。
\"Butletussaynomoreaboutit——thinknomore。
Therewasn’toneofthegentlemenpresentlastnightwhodidn’tunderstandthematterpreciselyasmyfatherandIdid，andthatfactmustenditbetweenustwo。\"
Hewentoutintothelargerofficebeyond，leavingLaphamhelplesstopreventhisgoing。IthadbecomeavitalnecessitywithhimtothinkthebestofLapham，buthismindwasinawhirlofwhateverthoughtsweremostinjurious。
Hethoughtofhimthenightbeforeinthecompanyofthoseladiesandgentlemen，andhequiveredinresentmentofhisvulgar，braggart，uncouthnature。Herecognisedhisownallegiancetotheexclusivenesstowhichhewasbornandbred，asamanperceiveshisdutytohiscountrywhenherrightsareinvaded。Hiseyefellontheportergoingaboutinhisshirt—sleevestomaketheplacefastforthenight，andhesaidtohimselfthatDenniswasnotmoreplebeianthanhismaster；thatthegrossappetites，thebluntsense，thepurblindambition，thestupidarrogancewerethesameinboth，andthedifferencewasinabrutewillthatprobablylefttheporterthegentlermanofthetwo。
TheveryinnocenceofLapham’slifeinthedirectioninwhichhehaderredwroughtagainsthimintheyoungman’smood：itcontainedtheinsultofclownishinexperience。
Amidstthestingsandflashesofhiswoundedpride，allthesocialtraditions，allthehabitsoffeeling，whichhehadsilencedmoreandmorebyforceofwillduringthepastmonths，assertedtheirnaturalsway，andheriotedinhiscontemptoftheoffensiveboor，whowasevenmoreoffensiveinhisshamethaninhistrespass。
HesaidtohimselfthathewasaCorey，asifthatweresomewhat；yetheknewthatatthebottomofhisheartallthetimewasthatwhichmustcontrolhimatlast，andwhichseemedsweetlytobesufferinghisrebellion，secureofhissubmissionintheend。Itwasalmostwiththegirl’svoicethatitseemedtopleadwithhim，toundoinhim，effectbyeffect，theworkofhisindignantresentment，tosetallthingsinanotherandfairerlight，togivehimhopes，tosuggestpalliations，toprotestagainstinjustices。ItWASinLapham’sfavourthathewassoguiltlessinthepast，andnowCoreyaskedhimselfifitwerethefirsttimehecouldhavewishedaguestathisfather’stabletohavetakenlesswine；
whetherLaphamwasnotrathertobehonouredfornotknowinghowtocontainhisfollywhereaveterantransgressormighthaveheldhistongue。Heaskedhimself，withathrillofsuddenremorse，whether，whenLaphamhumbledhimselfinthedustsoshockingly，hehadshownhimthesympathytowhichsuchABANDONhadtheright；andhehadtoownthathehadmethimonthegentlemanlyground，sparinghimselfandassertingthesuperiorityofhissort，andnotrecognisingthatLapham’shumiliationcamefromthesenseofwrong，whichhehadhelpedtoaccumulateuponhimbysuperfinelystandingaloofandrefusingtotouchhim。
Heshuthisdeskandhurriedoutintotheearlynight，nottogoanywhere，buttowalkupanddown，totrytofindhiswayoutofthechaos，whichnowseemedruin，andnowthematerialsoutofwhichfineactionsandahappylifemightbeshaped。ThreehourslaterhestoodatLapham’sdoor。
Attimeswhathenowwishedtodohadseemedforeverimpossible，andagainithadseemedasifhecouldnotwaitamomentlonger。
Hehadnotbeencareless，butverymindfulofwhatheknewmustbethefeelingsofhisownfamilyinregardtotheLaphams，andhehadnotconcealedfromhimselfthathisfamilyhadgreatreasonandjusticeontheirsideinnotwishinghimtoalienatehimselffromtheircommonlifeandassociations。Themostthathecouldurgetohimselfwasthattheyhadnotallthereasonandjustice；
buthehadhesitatedanddelayedbecausetheyhadsomuch。
Oftenhecouldnotmakeitappearrightthatheshouldmerelypleasehimselfinwhatchieflyconcernedhimself。
HeperceivedhowfarapartinalltheirexperiencesandidealstheLaphamgirlsandhissisterswere；howdifferentMrs。Laphamwasfromhismother；howgrotesquelyunlikewerehisfatherandLapham；andthedisparityhadnotalwaysamusedhim。
Hehadoftentakenitveryseriously，andsometimeshesaidthathemustforegothehopeonwhichhisheartwasset。
Therehadbeenmanytimesinthepastmonthswhenhehadsaidthathemustgonofurther，andasoftenashehadtakenthisstandhehadyieldedit，uponthisorthatexcuse，whichhewasawareoftrumpingup。Itwaspartofthecomplicationthatheshouldheunconsciousoftheinjuryhemightbedoingtosomeonebesideshisfamilyandhimself；
thiswasthedefectofhisdiffidence；andithadcometohiminapangforthefirsttimewhenhismothersaidthatshewouldnothavetheLaphamsthinkshewishedtomakemoreoftheacquaintancethanhedid；andthenithadcometoolate。Sincethathehadsufferedquiteasmuchfromthefearthatitmightnotbeasthatitmightbeso；andnow，inthemood，romanticandexalted，inwhichhefoundhimselfconcerningLapham，hewasasfarasmightbefromvainconfidence。Heendedthequestioninhisownmindbyaffirmingtohimselfthathewasthere，firstofall，toseeLaphamandgivehimanultimateproofofhisownperfectfaithandunabatedrespect，andtoofferhimwhatreparationthisinvolvedforthatwantofsympathy——ofhumanity——whichhehadshown。
XVI。
THENovaScotiasecond—girlwhoansweredCorey’sringsaidthatLaphamhadnotcomehomeyet。
\"Oh，\"saidtheyoungman，hesitatingontheouterstep。
\"Iguessyoubettercomein，\"saidthegirl，\"I’llgoandseewhenthey’reexpectinghim。\"
Coreywasinthemoodtobeswayedbyanychance。
Heobeyedthesuggestionofthesecond—girl’spatronisingfriendliness，andlethershuthimintothedrawing—room，whileshewentupstairstoannouncehimtoPenelope。
\"Didyoutellhimfatherwasn’tathome？\"
\"Yes。Heseemedsokindofdisappointed，Itoldhimtocomein，andI’dseewhenheWOULDbein，\"saidthegirl，withthehumaninterestwhichsometimesreplacesintheAmericandomestictheserviledeferenceofothercountries。
AgleamofamusementpassedoverPenelope’sface，assheglancedatherselfintheglass。\"Well，\"shecriedfinally，droppingfromhershouldersthelightshawlinwhichshehadbeenhuddledoverabookwhenCoreyrang，\"Iwillgodown。\"
\"Allright，\"saidthegirl，andPenelopebeganhastilytoamendthedisarrayofherhair，whichshetumbledintoamassonthetopofherlittlehead，settingoffthepaledarkofhercomplexionwithaflashofcrimsonribbonatherthroat。Shemovedacrossthecarpetonceortwicewiththequaintgracethatbelongedtohersmallfigure，madeadissatisfiedgrimaceatitintheglass，caughtahandkerchiefoutofadrawerandsliditintoherpocket，andthendescendedtoCorey。
TheLaphamdrawing—roominNankeenSquarewasintheparti—colouredpaintwhichtheColonelhadhopedtorepeatinhisnewhouse：thetrimofthedoorsandwindowswasinlightgreenandthepanelsinsalmon；thewallswereaplaintintofFrenchgreypaper，dividedbygiltmouldingsintobroadpanelswithawidestripeofredvelvetpaperrunningupthecorners；thechandelierwasofmassiveimitationbronze；themirroroverthemantelrestedonafringedmantel—coverofgreenreps，andheavycurtainsofthatstuffhungfromgiltlambrequinframesatthewindow；thecarpetwasofasmallpatternincrudegreen，which，atthetimeMrs。Laphamboughtit，coveredhalfthenewfloorsinBoston。Inthepanelledspacesonthewallsweresomestone—colouredlandscapes，representingthemountainsandcanyonsoftheWest，whichtheColonelandhiswifehadvisitedononeoftheearlyofficialrailroadexcursions。InfrontofthelongwindowslookingintotheSquarewerestatues，kneelingfigureswhichturnedtheirbacksuponthecompanywithin—doors，andrepresentedallegoriesofFaithandPrayertopeoplewithout。Awhitemarblegroupofseveralfigures，expressinganItalianconceptionofLincolnFreeingtheSlaves，——aLatinnegroandhiswife，——withourEagleflappinghiswingsinapproval，atLincoln’sfeet，occupiedonecorner，andbalancedthewhat—notofanearlierperiodinanother。Thesephantasmsaddedtheirchilltothatimpartedbythetoneofthewalls，thelandscapes，andthecarpets，andcontributedtotheviolenceofthecontrastwhenthechandelierwaslightedupfullglare，andtheheatofthewholefurnacewelledupfromtheregistersintothequiveringatmosphereononeoftherareoccasionswhentheLaphamsinvitedcompany。
Coreyhadnotbeeninthisroombefore；thefamilyhadalwaysreceivedhiminwhattheycalledthesitting—room。
Penelopelookedintothisfirst，andthenshelookedintotheparlour，withasmilethatbrokeintoalaughasshediscoveredhimstandingunderthesingleburnerwhichthesecond—girlhadlightedforhiminthechandelier。
\"Idon’tunderstandhowyoucametobeputinthere，\"
shesaid，assheledthewaytothecozierplace，\"unlessitwasbecauseAlicethoughtyouwereonlyhereonprobation，anyway。Fatherhasn’tgothomeyet，butI’mexpectinghimeverymoment；Idon’tknowwhat’skeepinghim。DidthegirltellyouthatmotherandIrenewereout？\"
\"No，shedidn’tsay。It’sverygoodofyoutoseeme。\"
Shehadnotseentheexaltationwhichhehadbeenfeeling，heperceivedwithhalfasigh；itmustallbeuponthislowerlevel；perhapsitwasbestso。\"TherewassomethingIwishedtosaytoyourfather————Ihope，\"hebrokeoff，\"you’rebetterto—night。\"
\"Ohyes，thankyou，\"saidPenelope，rememberingthatshehadnotbeenwellenoughtogotodinnerthenightbefore。
\"Weallmissedyouverymuch。\"
\"Oh，thankyou！I’mafraidyouwouldn’thavemissedmeifIhadbeenthere。\"
\"Ohyes，weshould，\"saidCorey，\"Iassureyou。\"
Theylookedateachother。
\"IreallythinkIbelievedIwassayingsomething，\"
saidthegirl。
\"AndsodidI，\"repliedtheyoungman。Theylaughedratherwildly，andthentheybothbecamerathergrave。
Hetookthechairshegavehim，andlookedacrossather，whereshesatontheothersideofthehearth，inachairlowerthanhis，withherhandsdroppedinherlap，andthebackofherheadonhershouldersasshelookedupathim。
Thesoft—coalfireinthegratepurredandflickered；
thedrop—lightcastamellowradianceonherface。
Shelethereyesfall，andthenliftedthemforanirrelevantglanceattheclockonthemantel。
\"MotherandIrenehavegonetotheSpanishStudents’concert。\"
\"Oh，havethey？\"askedCorey；andheputhishat，whichhehadbeenholdinginhishand，onthefloorbesidehischair。
Shelookeddownatitfornoreason，andthenlookedupathisfacefornoother，andturnedalittlered。
Coreyturnedalittleredhimself。Shewhohadalwaysbeensoeasywithhimnowbecamealittleconstrained。
\"Doyouknowhowwarmitisout—of—doors？\"heasked。
\"No，isitwarm？Ihaven’tbeenoutallday。\"
\"It’slikeasummernight。\"
Sheturnedherfacetowardsthefire，andthenstartedabruptly。\"Perhapsit’stoowarmforyouhere？\"
\"Ohno，it’sverycomfortable。\"
\"Isupposeit’sthecoldofthelastfewdaysthat’sstillinthehouse。Iwasreadingwithashawlonwhenyoucame。\"
\"Iinterruptedyou。\"
\"Ohno。Ihadfinishedthebook。Iwasjustlookingoveritagain。\"
\"Doyouliketoreadbooksover？\"
\"Yes；booksthatIlikeatall。\"
\"Thatwasit？\"askedCorey。
Thegirlhesitated。\"Ithasratherasentimentalname。
Didyoueverreadit？——Tears，IdleTears。\"
\"Ohyes；theyweretalkingofthatlastnight；it’safamousbookwithladies。Theybreaktheirheartsoverit。
Diditmakeyoucry？\"
\"Oh，it’sprettyeasytocryoverabook，\"saidPenelope，laughing；\"andthatoneisverynaturaltillyoucometothemainpoint。Thenthenaturalnessofalltherestmakesthatseemnaturaltoo；butIguessit’sratherforced。\"
\"Hergivinghimuptotheotherone？\"
\"Yes；simplybecauseshehappenedtoknowthattheotheronehadcaredforhimfirst。Whyshouldshehavedoneit？Whatrighthadshe？\"
\"Idon’tknow。Isupposethattheself—sacrifice————\"
\"ButitWASN’Tself—sacrifice——ornotself—sacrificealone。
Shewassacrificinghimtoo；andforsomeonewhocouldn’tappreciatehimhalfasmuchasshecould。
I’mprovokedwithmyselfwhenIthinkhowIcriedoverthatbook——forIdidcry。It’ssilly——it’swickedforanyonetodowhatthatgirldid。Whycan’ttheyletpeoplehaveachancetobehavereasonablyinstories？\"
\"Perhapstheycouldn’tmakeitsoattractive，\"
suggestedCorey，withasmile。
\"Itwouldbenovel，atanyrate，\"saidthegirl。
\"Butsoitwouldinreallife，Isuppose，\"sheadded。
\"Idon’tknow。Whyshouldn’tpeopleinlovebehavesensibly？\"
\"That’saveryseriousquestion，\"saidPenelopegravely。
\"Icouldn’tanswerit，\"andshelefthimtheembarrassmentofsupportinganinquirywhichshehadcertainlyinstigatedherself。Sheseemedtohavefinallyrecoveredherowneaseindoingthis。\"Doyouadmireourautumnaldisplay，Mr。Corey？\"
\"Yourdisplay？\"
\"ThetreesintheSquare。WEthinkit’squiteequaltoanopeningatJordan&Marsh’s。\"
\"Ah，I’mafraidyouwouldn’tletmebeseriousevenaboutyourmaples。\"
\"Ohyes，Ishould——ifyouliketobeserious。\"
\"Don’tyou？\"
\"Wellnotaboutseriousmatters。That’sthereasonthatbookmademecry。\"
\"Youmakefunofeverything。MissIrenewastellingmelastnightaboutyou。\"
\"Thenit’snouseformetodenyitsosoon。ImustgiveIreneatalkingto。\"
\"Ihopeyouwon’tforbidhertotalkaboutyou！\"
Shehadtakenupafanfromthetable，andheldit，nowbetweenherfaceandthefire，andnowbetweenherfaceandhim。Herlittlevisage，withthatarch，lazylookinit，toppedbyitsmassofduskyhair，anddwindlingfromthefullcheekstothesmallchin，hadaJapaneseeffectinthesubduedlight，andithadthecharmwhichcomestoanywomanwithhappiness。
Itwouldbehardtosayhowmuchofthissheperceivedthathefelt。Theytalkedaboutotherthingsawhile，andthenshecamebacktowhathehadsaid。Sheglancedathimobliquelyroundherfan，andstoppedmovingit。
\"DoesIrenetalkaboutme？\"sheasked。\"Ithinkso——yes。
Perhapsit’sonlyIwhotalkaboutyou。Youmustblamemeifit’swrong，\"hereturned。
\"Oh，Ididn’tsayitwaswrong，\"shereplied。\"ButI
hopeifyousaidanythingverybadofmeyou’llletmeknowwhatitwas，sothatIcanreform————\"
\"No，don’tchange，please！\"criedtheyoungman。
Penelopecaughtherbreath，butwentonresolutely，——
\"orrebukeyouforspeakingevilofdignities。\"
Shelookeddownatthefan，nowflatinherlap，andtriedtogovernherhead，butittrembled，andsheremainedlookingdown。Againtheyletthetalkstray，andthenitwashewhobroughtitbacktothemselves，asifithadnotleftthem。
\"IhavetotalkOFyou，\"saidCorey，\"becauseIgettotalkTOyousoseldom。\"
\"YoumeanthatIdoallthetalkingwhenwe’re——together？\"
Sheglancedsidewiseathim；butshereddenedafterspeakingthelastword。
\"We’resoseldomtogether，\"hepursued。
\"Idon’tknowwhatyoumean————\"
\"SometimesI’vethought——I’vebeenafraidthatyouavoidedme。\"
\"Avoidedyou？\"
\"Yes！Triednottobealonewithme。\"
Shemighthavetoldhimthattherewasnoreasonwhysheshouldbealonewithhim，andthatitwasverystrangeheshouldmakethiscomplaintofher。Butshedidnot。
Shekeptlookingdownatthefan，andthensheliftedherburningfaceandlookedattheclockagain。
\"MotherandIrenewillbesorrytomissyou，\"shegasped。
Heinstantlyroseandcametowardsher。Sherosetoo，andmechanicallyputoutherhand。Hetookitasiftosaygood—night。\"Ididn’tmeantosendyouaway，\"
shebesoughthim。
\"Oh，I’mnotgoing，\"heansweredsimply。\"Iwantedtosay——tosaythatit’sIwhomakehertalkaboutyou。
TosayI————ThereissomethingIwanttosaytoyou；
I’vesaiditsooftentomyselfthatIfeelasifyoumustknowit。\"Shestoodquitestill，lettinghimkeepherhand，andquestioninghisfacewithabewilderedgaze。\"YouMUST
know——shemusthavetoldyou——shemusthaveguessed————\"
Penelopeturnedwhite，butoutwardlyquelledthepanicthatsentthebloodtoherheart。\"I——Ididn’texpect——I
hopedtohaveseenyourfather——butImustspeaknow，whatever————Iloveyou！\"
Shefreedherhandfrombothofthosehehadcloseduponit，andwentbackfromhimacrosstheroomwithasinuousspring。
\"ME！\"Whateverpotentialcomplicityhadlurkedinherheart，hiswordsbroughtheronlyimmeasurabledismay。
Hecametowardsheragain。\"Yes，you。Whoelse？\"
Shefendedhimoffwithanimploringgesture。
\"Ithought——I——itwas————\"
Sheshutherlipstight，andstoodlookingathimwhereheremainedinsilentamaze。Thenherwordscameagain，shudderingly。\"Oh，whathaveyoudone？\"
\"Uponmysoul，\"hesaid，withavaguesmile，\"Idon’tknow。
Ihopenoharm？\"
\"Oh，don’tlaugh！\"shecried，laughinghystericallyherself。
\"Unlessyouwantmetothinkyouthegreatestwretchintheworld！\"
\"I？\"heresponded。\"Forheaven’ssaketellmewhatyoumean！\"
\"YouknowIcan’ttellyou。Canyousay——canyouputyourhandonyourheartandsaythat——you——sayyounevermeant——thatyoumeantme——allalong？\"
\"Yes！——yes！Whoelse？Icameheretoseeyourfather，andtotellhimthatIwishedtotellyouthis——toaskhim————Butwhatdoesitmatter？Youmusthaveknownit——youmusthaveseen——andit’sforyoutoanswerme。
I’vebeenabrupt，Iknow，andI’vestartledyou；butifyouloveme，youcanforgivethattomylovingyousolongbeforeIspoke。\"
Shegazedathimwithpartedlips。
\"Oh，mercy！WhatshallIdo？Ifit’strue——whatyousay——youmustgo！\"shesaid。\"Andyoumustnevercomeanymore。
Doyoupromisethat？\"
\"Certainlynot，\"saidtheyoungman。\"WhyshouldI
promisesuchathing——soabominablywrong？Icouldobeyifyoudidn’tloveme————\"
\"Oh，Idon’t！IndeedIdon’t！Nowwillyouobey。\"
\"No。Idon’tbelieveyou。\"\"Oh！\"
Hepossessedhimselfofherhandagain。
\"Mylove——mydearest！Whatisthistrouble，thatyoucan’ttellit？Itcan’tbeanythingaboutyourself。
Ifitisanythingaboutanyoneelse，itwouldn’tmaketheleastdifferenceintheworld，nomatterwhatitwas。
IwouldbeonlytoogladtoshowbyanyactordeedIcouldthatnothingcouldchangemetowardsyou。\"
\"Oh，youdon’tunderstand！\"
\"No，Idon’t。Youmusttellme。\"
\"Iwillneverdothat。\"
