He was on the point of leaving when in the voice of an entreating child she whispered, in anguish:
“Oh! Don’t go!”
Roberto returned.
“I’ll not lead you astray,” cried Esther. “Take me away from here. No. I’ll not complain. I’ll be a sister to you,—a servant, if you wish. Do with me whatever you will, but don’t abandon me. Some one would come along and take advantage of my weakness and it would be so much the worse for me.”
“Let us be off, then,” murmured Roberto, touched. “Aren’t you going to let Bernardo know?”
Esther seized a sheet of letter-paper and wrote, in a large hand: “Don’t wait for me. I’m not coming back.” Then nervously she put on her hat and joined Roberto, who was waiting at the door.
“But if you don’t really want to accompany me, Roberto, please don’t do it. Not through any sense of obligation, no,” said Esther, her eyes brimming with tears.
“You’ve said you’ll be my sister. Let’s be going,” he replied, with affection in his voice. Then she fell upon his bosom. Brushing aside the curls from her forehead, he kissed her tenderly.
“No, not like that, not like that,” exclaimed Esther, all atremble, and, seizing Roberto by the wrists she offered her lips to his.