"Don't! For God's sake don't say that!"
"I can't help it! I tell you, I can't. It's all right now. It's always all right when you're here. But after you go—Nothing is real to me; nothing but the flowers. And you don't want me to care for them. You keep saying you hate them. They're all I've got. Won't you—can't you see that?"
"But—if—I—come—here—to—stay?"
"To—stay?"
"Would you want me here?"
He saw her hands move upward until they lay in two white spots on her breast.
"Want you?—If—only—you—knew—"
He waited a moment before he said it.
"And you—could—love—me?"
"I've always loved you."