His hands were on her now, holding her with assured possession. And suddenly Jean's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't know. I don't know what I feel. I want to care. I want you to love me. When you went away like that I was angry—and disappointed—and I thought of how I could make you care enough but something inside——"
Jerome's hands dropped. "What do you mean? What are you talking about?"
The tears ran down Jean's cheeks. "Something inside is dead. I do care—every way—but that."
"Then you don't care at all. You're not a child. Don't you know what love means?"
Jean's head dropped until he could see only her quivering lips.
"Yes—I know."
After a long silence, Jerome said quietly: "Then, there's nothing else to say." He turned away.
He was going. In another moment there would be no bridge to the empty years ahead.
"Wouldn't it be enough—the rest, everything, friendship—interest——"