Philip--in one who, as you must well remember, would sooner
cut off his own hand than counsel a base thing or do an unfaithful
act. You are guiltless of this charge under which you left England; you
endure it rather than do what you deem dishonorable to clear yourself.
That is noble--that is great. But it is possible, as I say, that you
may exaggerate the abnegation required of you. Whoever was the criminal
should suffer. Yours is magnificent magnanimity; but it may surely be
also false justice alike to yourself and the world."

He turned on her almost fiercely in the suffering she dealt him.

"It is! It was a madness--a Quixotism--the wild, unconsidered act of
a fool. What you will! But it is done; it was done forever--so long
ago--when your young eyes looked on me in the pity of your innocent
childhood. I cannot redeem its folly now by adding to it baseness. I
cannot change the choice of a madman by repenting of it with a coward's
caprice. Ah, God! you do not know what you do--how you tempt. For pity's
sake, urge me no more. Help me--strengthen me--to be true to my word. Do
not bid me do evil that I may enter paradise through my sin!"

He threw himself down beside her as the incoherent words poured out, his
arms flung across the pile of cushions on which he had been seated, his
face hidden on them. His teeth clinched on his tongue till the blood
flowed; he felt that if the power of speech remained with him he should
forswear every law that had bound him to silence, and tell her all,
whatever the cost.

She looked at him, she heard him, moved to a greater agitation than ever
had had sway over her; for the first time the storm winds that swept by
her did not leave her passionless and calm; this man's whole future was
in her hands. She could bid him seek happiness dishonored; or cleave to
honor, and accept wretchedness forever.

It was a fearful choice to hold.

"Answer me! Choose for me!" he said vehemently. "Be my law, and be my
God!"

She gave a gesture almost of fear.

"Hush, hush! The woman does not live who should be that to any man."

"You shall be it to me! Choose for me!"

"I cannot! You leave so much in darkness and untold----"

"Nothing that you need know to decide your choice for me, save one thing
only--that I love you."

She shuddered.

"This is madness! What have you seen of me?"

"Enough to love you while my life shall last, and love no other woman.
Ah! I was but an African trooper in you