"Then you expect me to give up my family, my business, my country—everything."
"I will have everything, or nothing."
She rose as she said these words, and stood looking into his face with eyes full of love and trouble.
"Then God help me, Theodora," he faltered, "for this hour I die to every hope of happiness in this life!" He lifted her hand, and his tears dropped on it as he kissed it. "Farewell! Farewell!"
He was standing before her the image of despairing Love, and she lifted her eyes, and they met the passionate grief in his. She could not bear it. "Oh, Robert!" she sobbed, "Oh, Robert, I do love you. I have loved none but you. I never shall love any other." She laid her head against his shoulder, and he silently kissed her many times, and then went slowly away.
He went straight to his brother with his sorrow, and David listened in grave silence, until the story of the interview was over. Then he said softly:
"Poor Theodora!"
Robert was astonished, even hurt by the exclamation. "Why do you pity Theodora?" he asked. "It is I you ought to pity."
"You ought to have had pity on yourself, Robert. Of course, you are miserable, and you will be far more miserable. How could you bear to give your wife such a cowardly disappointment; how could you do it?"
"I do not understand you, David—cowardly——"