He heard Nacha sob.
"I love you too much, Nacha," he went on, "to accept such a sacrifice. Stay with me, take care of me for a little while—yes—that I can allow—but to let you unite your life that is still so young with that of a broken invalid—no! I cannot."
His words, falling like so many blows on her heart, only strengthened her resolution.
"I am not doing this out of affection nor out of gratitude. It is for my own sake!"
"Nacha, you are young! You must not sadden your whole life—look at the situation I am in. It is more than probable that I shall have hunger, poverty at least, to look forward to."
"I can resign myself to all that. You told me once that it was necessary to suffer—I have never forgotten what you said!"
"But a whole lifetime of it, Nacha!"
"A whole lifetime then! I accept it—I desire it. I want to redeem the past—I want to deserve forgiveness...."
"Who is there to forgive you, Nacha?" he exclaimed, drawing her toward him.