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Hichens, Robert Smythe, 1864-1950

"A Spirit in Prison"

It may be--I don't know whether
it is; but I don't pretend to such strength. I don't believe it is
ever given to women. Perhaps even strength has its sex--I sometimes
think so. I have my strength, believe me. But don't require of me the
peculiar strength that is male."
"The truth is that you love living in the past as the Bedouin loves
living in the desert."
"It was my oasis," she answered, simply.
"And all these years--they have made no difference?"
"Did you think they would? Did you think they had?"
"I hoped so. I thought--I had begun to think that you lived again in
Vere."
"Emile, you can always stand the truth, can't you? Don't say you
can't. That would hurt me horribly. Perhaps you do not know how
sometimes I mentally lean on you. And I like to feel that if you knew
the absolute truth of me you would still look upon me with the same
kind, understanding eyes as now. Perhaps no one else would. Would you,
do you think?"
"I hope and believe I could," he said. "You do not live in Vere.


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