Dip
your heart in that stream, Kitty, and feel it grow in your breast. Take
a nurse's dress--put your hand in mine--and come! I can't promise you
luxuries or ease. You've had enough of those. Come and open another door
in the House of Life! Take starving women and hunted children into your
arms--- feel with them--weep with them--look with them into the face of
death! Make friends with nature--with rocks, forests, torrents--with
night and dawn, which you've never seen, Kitty! They'll love
you--they'll support you--the rough people--and the dark forests.
They'll draw nature's glamour round you--they'll pour her balm into your
soul. And I shall be with you--beside you!--your guardian--your
lover--your
lover, Kitty--till death do us part."
He looked at her with the smile which was his only but sufficient
beauty; the violent, exciting words flowed in her ear, amid the sound of
rising waves and the distant talk of the fishermen. His hand crushed
hers; his mad, imploring eyes repelled and constrained her. The wild
hungers and curiosities of her being rushed to meet him; she heard the
echo of her own words to Ashe: "More life--more
life!--even though it
lead to pain--and agony--and tears!"
Then she wrenched herself away--suddenly, contemptuously.
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