"
"I cannot stand this sort of thing any longer. Not even for you,
Lucia, can I run the risk of losing the little brains I possess,
which is extremely likely to happen if I let things, as you say, go
on as they are."
"Why?" she said, fretfully, turning her head from side to side.
"What do I do to you?"
I did not answer this, but I raised myself so that I could look into
her face, and our eyes met. She flushed crimson, and did not repeat
the question.
"You will kill me if you worry me like this!" she said, evasively,
and she did actually look very ill at the moment.
"My sweet, why do you not trust me with the cause of all this
hesitation? Are you afraid of me, or do you misunderstand me? Lucia,
the woman I have once loved is the woman I must always love.
Whatever had happened, whatever she had done, whatever I had heard
of her or from her, I should love her still. Has anything occurred
since you were with me in Paris that you are afraid to tell me of?
Has anyone else come between us? If so, tell me. I shall understand
everything. If there is anything to forgive, I will forgive
everything. I swear there is nothing that can make any difference to
my love for you."
Lucia looked me steadily in the face now. A contemptuous smile
curved her lips, all the confusion died out of her eyes, and they
filled with a limitless arrogance and self-reliance.
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