"No, that's true," she replied, "you haven't done anything to me, nothing at all either bad or good."
He stroked his beard meditatively. "As we are here, child, and it seems that we both can't sleep, come and sit down. Sit down beside me; we may find lots to talk about."
She felt dimly, "Now I must defend myself." But how could she resist? Already he had seized her by the shoulder and drawn her to the steps of the obelisk, where he had been sitting before.
"What am I to do here?" she asked, cowering down.
"Be sincere, out with it. You are not happy, my child?"
She shrugged her shoulders twice. "Not even now!" she said.
He suppressed a smile. "Come, confess.... What ails you? We have all remarked on the change in you. Grandmamma is beginning to worry about it. If you are fond of her, you will be sorry for that, eh?"
She shook her head, struggling with her tears. "I want to be fond of everybody--everybody."
"Yes, and don't you see we are all anxious that you should be happy? Don't you understand that, you obstinate one?"
"Don't, you only try to hurt me." And she thrust her elbows at him.