"We must kill ourselves. There is no other way out of it."
"Kill ourselves!" he repeated in the same tone of consternation.
"Death, or flight. Take your choice."
"But, Odette, you are insane. Your ideas are entirely too dramatic. You never see such tragedies except on the stage. When we are so happy in our love, that is not the time to commit suicide!"
"But there is no other way of escape that I can discover. We have committed a crime, and must abide the consequences. We can flee, it is true. I am ready now to take your arm and go out with you into the world, giving up home and reputation for your love. Come, shall we go?"
"No; that is impossible, too."
Odette was filled with contempt at his cowardly indecision.
"Do you want to give me up?" she cried. "Would you leave me?"
"Leave you? never! You know I can not live without you. But I hesitate to sacrifice your honor, your reputation—"
"My honor! that was tarnished long ago when I gave it into your keeping. My reputation—what do I care for the respect of others, when I have lost my own!"