"That," said Talbot, mildly, "is not an answer to my question."
"But how do I know?" said Brooke, in a voice like a wailing child.
"But how can I? how can I?" cried Talbot. "And when you are here—you, Brooke, who know all my heart! Can I give you up? I cannot! You may give me up, if you like."
"Why don't you say, if I can?" said Brooke.
"Oh—any way," said Talbot, wearily.
There was another silence.
"Marry him!" cried Talbot, at last, breaking the silence with vehement abruptness. "I cannot! I cannot! It would be wicked. I should desecrate the holy sacrament. I could not utter that vow before the holy altar. Never! Yet I can't stay here where he is. He will be wishing to see me. He will be coming soon—he may be coming now. I will not see him. I will not speak with him again. I will write to him. I will leave this place, and at once."
"Leave this place!" repeated Brooke. "Where can you go?"
"Why, I'll go home," said Talbot, firmly.
"Home?"