“What do you want me to do now?” he asked.
“I want you to set me free.”
“Never, never. To do that would be ruin for me.”
They faced each other; she was excited, flushed—with a new look of a half-born, half-understood joy. He was sullen.
“Why—tell me why? You could not hold me to my bargain—unwillingly.”
“It would be ruin for me to release you. My uncle would cut me off—leave me nothing, and give me nothing, if you or I break off our engagement. He has heard several things about me—things which—well, I have told you enough. Darling, you would not, you could not ruin me. I love you so intensely. Think of my life, my prospects, without you!”
“To live without me.”
“What could I do?”
The joy had left her face—the flush was gone. She was pale, and her face looked haggard.
“Go, go. I will not ruin your prospects and devastate your life—go. But you must leave me alone now. Yes, I hate you.”