She is wise and moral, and decorous and prim; but she is a hypocrite, and
has no touch of real heart in her composition. Not abuse her when she has
robbed me of all, all, all that I have in the world! Go to her. You had
better go at once. I did not mean to say all this, but it has been said,
and you must leave me. I, at any rate, cannot play the hypocrite. I wish I
could." He rose and came to her, and attempted to take her hand, but she
flung away from him. "No," she said, "never again; never, unless you will
tell me that the promise you made me when we were down on the seashore was
a true promise. Was that truth, sir, or was it a--lie?"
"Lizzie, do not use such a word as that to me."
"I cannot stand picking my words when the whole world is going round with
me, and my very brain is on fire. What is it to me what my words are? Say
one syllable to me, and every word I utter again while breath is mine
shall be spoken to do you pleasure. If you cannot say it, it is nothing to
me what you or any one may think of my words. You know my secret, and I
care not who else knows it. At any rate, I can die." Then she paused a
moment, and after that stalked steadily out of the room.
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