“Have been—eh?” said this cruel cross-examiner.
“Do not let us waste time,” said Eleonora, in a trembling voice; “you know very well.”
“Do I?”
“Now, Frank!”
“If you only knew what it would be worth to me to hear you say it!”
“I’m afraid it would be only worth pain and grief to you, and anger from every one,” said she, in a low dejected voice, “far more than I am worth.”
“You? Trust me to judge of that, Lenore. Would not you be worth all, and more than all, that flesh or spirit could feel! I could face it all for one look from you!” said Frank, with fervour from his heart of hearts.
“You make me more and more afraid. It is all too wretched to lead any one into. Since I knew the whole truth, I have tried to spare you from it.”
“That is why you have been so cold, and held so cruelly aloof all this time, so that if I had not caught one ray now and then, you would have broken my heart, Lenore; as it is, I’ve been wretched beyond description, hardly able to sleep by night or speak rationally by day. How had you the heart to serve me so, like a stony Greek statue?”
“I thought it must be right. It seemed to break my own heart too.”