"No, it is not your fault, Emily," he said. "Only my own weakness
and folly. Your love repays me for all I have undergone; that was
all I ever wanted."
When she had exhausted herself in passionate consolation, she left
him for a few moments to get him food, and he ate of it like a
famished man.
"If I can only get money enough to leave the country, I am saved,"
he said. "If I stay here, I shall be found, and they will imprison
me for years. I had rather kill myself!
"Mr. Waymark will give us the money," was the reply, "and we will go
away together."
"That would betray me; it would be folly to face such a risk. If I
can escape, then you shall come to me."
"Oh, you will leave me!" she cried. "I shall lose you, as I did
before, but this time for ever! You don't love me, Paul! And how can
I expect you should? But let me go as your servant. Let me dress
like a man, and follow you. Who will notice then?"
He shook his head.
"I love you, Emily, and shall love you as long as I breathe. To hear
you speak to me like this has almost the power to make me happy. If
I had known it, I shouldn't have stayed so long away from you; I
hadn't the courage to come, and I thought the sight of me would only
be misery to you.
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