She shrugged her shoulders without looking up:
“There are other sick people who need me....”
“I mean will Sister ... will Hedvig come with me as my wife?”
Hedvig shrank further into her corner. Her wretched fear once again took possession of her and thrust her into the deepest shadows.
“No, ... I can’t, ... I will never be anybody’s wife....”
For a moment Percy looked at her with anxious amazement. He had lately done his utmost to appear as well and as manly as possible, and then the poor fellow all of a sudden completely changed his pose.
“But I ... I am not a real man, Hedvig. Not now, at least. I am only a convalescent. And I don’t know if I can live without your presence.”
She was white and her hands trembled.
“If we can go on living as we have done before, then....”
“Yes, till I am well ... and you yourself want it otherwise....”