"I have been in your colliery, sir, for a year, and if you will keep me on I should like to stay."
"You shall stay only on one condition—as my wife," cried Ivan, pressing her hand to his heart.
All who were at the foot of the hill saw this action; they could almost hear his words.
Evila shook her head and drew away her hand. "No, no. Allow me to be your servant, a maid in your house, the maid of your wife. I shall be quite happy; I expect nothing more."
"But I wish it. You have come back to me; you are mine. How could you be so cruel as to be a year so near me and never to tell me?"
"Oh, sir, you cannot raise me to your position!" said Evila, with a sad yet dignified expression. "If you knew all you would never forgive me."
"I know everything, and forgive everything."
These words proved that Ivan knew nothing. If he had known the truth he would have been aware there was absolutely nothing to forgive. As it was, he pressed his young love close to his heart, while she murmured:
"You may forgive me, but the world will never pardon you."
"The world!" cried Ivan, raising his head proudly. "My world is here"—laying his hand on his breast. "The world! Look round you from this hill. Everything that lives in this valley owes its breath to me; every blade of grass has to thank me that it is now green. Hill and valley know that, under God, I have saved them from destruction. I have acquired a million, and I have not despoiled any one. With every penny I receive a blessing. In the palace of the prince and in the cottage of the widow I have dried the tears of despair; I have delivered my enemies from a living grave, and I have saved their wives and children from the misfortune of being widows and orphans. My name is spoken of with admiration all over the globe, and yet I have hid myself here, not to be troubled with their praises; I do not care for praise. The most lovely of women has smiled on me and loved me, but she was not of my world. She is dead, and the key of her coffin is a perpetual reminder to me that her world has passed away. My world is within me, and into that inner world of mine no one has ever entered, no one will ever enter, but you! Speak, Evila; answer me. Will you try to love me?"