Милий друг
Madame Walter Takes a Hand
IonlywishtorepeatthatIloveyou."
Shestammered:"Afterwhatyoupromisedme—itistoobad—toobad."
Heseemedtomakeagreateffort,thenhecontinuedinasubduedvoice:"See,howIcancontrolmyself—andyet—letmeonlytellyouthis—Iloveyou—yes,letmegohomewithyouandkneelbeforeyoufiveminutestoutterthosethreewordsandgazeuponyourbelovedface."
Shesufferedhimtotakeherhandandrepliedinbrokenaccents:"No,Icannot—Idonotwishto.Thinkofwhatmyservants,mydaughters,wouldsay—no—no—itisimpossible."
Hecontinued:"Icannotlivewithoutseeingyou;whetheritbeatyourhouseorelsewhere,ImustseeyouforonlyamomenteachdaythatImaytouchyourhand,breathetheairstirredbyyourgown,contemplatetheoutlinesofyourform,andseeyourbeautifuleyes."
Shelistenedtremblinglytothemusicallanguageoflove,andmadeanswer:"No,itisimpossible.Besilent!"
Hespokeverylow;hewhisperedinherear,comprehendingthatitwasnecessarytowinthatsimplewomangradually,topersuadehertoappointameetingwhereshewilledatfirst,andlateronwherehewilled.
"Listen:Imustseeyou!Iwillwaitatyourdoorlikeabeggar.Ifyoudonotcomedown,Iwillcometoyou,butIshallseeyouto-morrow."
Sherepeated:"No,donotcome.Ishallnotreceiveyou
