He laughed gloomily. "There is one means by which I might prevent her," he said; "and if she insists, I could resort to it."
But again he felt disgust at the idea which he had before entertained for a moment, and then rejected as monstrous.
"Leave me alone!" he cried out to her. "I am sick and tired of it all ... I must end it."
"Only, don't run away," she whimpered, clinging to him once more. "Don't run away--anything rather than that."
"I agree with you," he replied; "there is one other course for me to take--better than flight" He shuddered, and was silent.
"You mean die?" she asked, half inquisitive, half terrified, pressing herself against him, like a child in the dark.
He nodded. "You must see there is no third course."
"Yes, I see. Then die," she whispered, throwing back her head with an inviting smile. "Much better die."
He grew hot. "You seem to be in a tremendous hurry to get rid of me," he said with half fretful jocularity.
"To get rid of you?" she asked, offended. "Do you think I would let you die without me?"