There was a long pause.
“You are unreasonable. I cannot do it,” he said.
“Good-bye,” said she.
He looked at the hand which she had thrust out to him, but he did not take it.
“You really mean me to vote against my party?” said he.
“What other way can you prove to me that you are superior to party considerations?” said she.
“It would mean self-effacement politically,” said he. “Oh, you do not appreciate the gravity of the thing.”
He turned abruptly away from her and strode across the room.
She remained silent where he had left her.
“I did not think you capable of so cruel a caprice as this,” he continued, from the fireplace. “You do not understand the consequences of my voting against my party.”