"Yes."
"That's not possible."
"Why not?"
"Because, if so, you would marry him. If you loved nobody but Van der Staal, you would marry him."
"I am opposed to marriage."
"Nonsense! You're not marrying him, so that you may be free. And, if you want to be free, I also am entitled to ask for my moment of love."
She gave him a strange look. He felt her scorn.
"You ... you don't understand me at all," she said, slowly and compassionately.
"You understand me."
"Oh, yes! You are so very simple!"