“Because I was too frightened of you to—and yet, I do not know but that it would be better for us to keep it to ourselves. It is the surest way to repair my boldness in lifting my eyes to you. But the misfortune is accomplished—the crime, if you will, for really it was a great crime. Accuse fate, but not my heart—— ”
“You are mad, and you alarm me.”
“Oh, if you will consent to marriage to sanctify this guilty union.”
“Marriage,” said Andrea, receding.
“For pity, consent to be my wife!”
“Your wife?”
“Oh,” sobbed Gilbert, “say that you forgive me for that dreadful night, that my outrage horrifies, but you forgive me for my repentance; say that my long restrained love justifies my action.”
“Oh, it was you?” shrieked Andrea with savage fury. “Oh, heavens!”
Gilbert recoiled before this lovely Medusa’s head expressing astonishment and fright.
“Was this misery reserved for me, oh, God?” said the noble girl, “to see my name doubly disgraced—by the crime and by the criminal? Answer me, coward, wretch, was it you?”