"
"You told me once that you loved me."
"This moment I told you that I did so,--years ago."
"But now?"
"That is another matter."
"Violet, do you love me now?"
"That is a point-blank question at any rate," she said.
"And you will answer it?"
"I must answer it,--I suppose."
"Well, then?"
"Oh, Oswald, what a fool you are! Love you! of course I love you.
If you can understand anything, you ought to know that I have never
loved any one else;--that after what has passed between us, I never
shall love any one else. I do love you. There. Whether you throw me
away from you, as you did the other day,--with great scorn, mind
you,--or come to me with sweet, beautiful promises, as you do now, I
shall love you all the same. I cannot be your wife, if you will not
have me; can I? When you run away in your tantrums because I quote
something out of the copy-book, I can't run after you. It would not
be pretty. But as for loving you, if you doubt that, I tell you, you
are a--fool." As she spoke the last words she pouted out her lips at
him, and when he looked into her face he saw that her eyes were full
of tears. He was standing now with his arm round her waist, so that
it was not easy for him to look into her face.
"I am a fool," he said.
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