She turned away from him, to move off. But he detained her.
"What do you want to do?" he whispered.
"If I can't live with you, I must die," she said, quietly, with her eyes closed, as if she were thus awaiting death.
"Don't speak of dying, Anna. Don't make my regret worse than it is. It's I who have spoiled your life."
"It doesn't matter."
"It's I who have put bitterness into your sweet youth."
"It doesn't matter."
"It's I who have stirred you up to rebel against Cesare Dias, against your sister Laura, against the wish of your parents and all your friends."
"It doesn't matter."