You can ruin me by the droop of an eyelash."
"I should have told you at first who I am," she said finally. "I will
not betray what you told me in ignorance--"
"But Amaryllis told me this before you came."
"Nevertheless, tell me no more; if I must be a partizan, I shall be a
partizan to my husband."
"There is nothing for you here, clinging to this man," he continued
persuasively. "This woman brought him a great dowry. She is ambitious
and therefore jealous. You will win nothing but mistreatment, and
worse, if you stay here for him."
"It is my place," she said.
After a moment's helpless silence, he demanded bitterly:
"Dost thou love that man?"
The truth leaped to her lips with such wilful force that he read the
reply on her face, though her eyes were down and by intense resolution
she restrained the denial. He was close to her, speaking quickly under
the pressure of his earnestness.
"I have sacrificed name, birthright, fortune--even honor--that I might
be free to love thee!"
She drew back from him hurriedly, afraid that his very insistence
would destroy her fortitude.
"Let me not have bankrupted myself for a trust thou wilt not give!"
"It--it is not mine to give," she stammered.
"Otherwise--otherwise--" he prompted, leaning near her. But she put
him back from her, desperately.
"Go, go!" she whispered.
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