“Ask me nothing,” she whispered. “Tell me what to do.”
“I tell you?” he said, releasing and stepping back from her. He forced his trembling lips to resolution. “What does your heart say, Yolande? your stainless womanhood? your duty to yourself?”
“My duty to my father, Louis.”
“Now, God help me! Is that a note of wavering in your voice? This man’s rich and powerful, and I’m neither.”
“Louis, I’ll not upbraid you.”
“For duty’s sake to tie yourself to a leper! What abuse of authority will not women plead to justify their treacheries!”
“Will you break my heart? If I married him from duty, I should kill myself from love.”
“Hush, dearest! hush, my lily! I was a brute and coward. Forgive me. Yolande, Yolande! have I offended you beyond recall?”
“I forgive you, indeed. But, Louis, were it not better just now to think than kiss?”
“Yes, to think, Yolande. I would carry you by force if driven to it.”