"What is it?" he said once more, half in a whisper. "What do you mean?
Would you ruin me? Would you see me go to ruin?"

"No! To the contrary, shall I allow you to hasten into the usual ruin
of a man? If you go yonder, what will be the fate of Meriwether Lewis?
You have spoken beautifully to me at times--you have awakened some
feeling of what images a woman may make in a man's heart. I have been
no more to you than any woman is to any man--the image of a dream.
But, that being so beautiful, ought I to allow you to turn it to ruin?
Shall I let you go down in savagery? Ah, if I thought I were
relinquishing you to that, this would be a heavy day for me!"

"Can you fancy what all this means to me?" he broke out hoarsely.

"Yes, I can fancy. And what for me? So much my feeling for you has
been--oh, call it what you like--admiration, affection, maternal
tenderness--I do not know what--but so much have I wished, so much
have I planned for your future in return for what you have given
me--ah, I do not dare tell you. I could not dare come here if I did
not know that I was never to see or speak to you again. It tears my
heart from my bosom that I must say these things to you. I have risked
all my honor in your hands. Is there no reward for that? Is my
recompense to be only your assertion that I torment you, that I
torture you? What! Is there no torture for me as well? The thought
that I have done this covertly, secretly--what do you think that costs
me?"

"Your secret is absolutely safe with me, Theodosia. No, it is not a
secret! We have sworn that neither of us would lay a secret upon the
other. I swear that to you once more."

"And yet you upbraid me when I say I cannot give you up to any fate
but that of happiness and success--oh, not with me, for that is beyond
us two--it is past forever. But happiness----"

"There are some words that burn deep," he said slowly. "I know that I
was not made for happiness."

"Does a woman's wish mean nothing to you? Have I no appeal for you?"

Something like a sob was torn from his bosom.

"You can speak thus with me?" he said huskily. "If you cannot leave me
happiness, can you not at least leave me partial peace of mind?"

She stood slightly swaying, silent.

"And you say you will not relinquish me, you will not let me go to
that fate which surely is mine? You say you will not let me be savage?
I say I am too nearly savage now. Let me go--let me go yonder into the
wilderness, wh