He felt the uselessness of tears and words, and with a renewal of life said—
“What shall we do, Maria?”
“Our duty,” she replied severely.
“To whom have we a duty to fulfil, Maria? To what?”
“We have a duty first of all to ourselves, Marco. And that is to live in truth and liberty of soul. Since our love is ended and our dream of happiness is over, let us not lie an instant longer, and separate.”
“For ever, Maria?”
“For ever, Marco.”
“Shall I never see you again, my friend?”
“I shall not see you, and you will not seek me. We will fly as far as we can and ought from each other.”
“That is very cruel, Maria.”