Is it a
sign of strength to wail under a sorrow that cannot be cured,--or
of truth to perpetuate the appearance of a woe?'
'Has it been an appearance with me?'
'I am speaking of myself now. I am driven to speak of myself by
the bitterness of your words. It was you who decided.'
'You accepted my decision easily.'
'Because it was based not only on my unfitness for such a
marriage, but on yours. When I saw that there would be perhaps
some years of misery for you, of course I accepted your decision.
The sweetness had been very sweet to me.'
'Oh Frank, was it ever sweet to you?'
'And the triumph of it had been very great. I had been assured of
the love of her who among all the high ones of the world seemed to
me to be the highest. Then came your decision. Do you really
believe that I could abandon the sweetness, that I could be robbed
of my triumph, that I could think I could never again be allowed
to put my arm round your waist, never again feel your cheek close
to mine, that I should lose all that had seemed left to me among
the gods, without feeling it?'
'Frank, Frank!' she said, rising to her feet, and stretching out
her hands as though she were going to give him back all these
joys.
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