She would listen to
nothing. "For what do you reproach me?" The question could not help
embarrassing him; for he had nothing with which to reproach her, except
that she had been the object of his love, a reproach which of all men
on earth he should be the last to make; and that she was poor, which he
was ashamed to utter; and that she was uneducated, which could be no
serious obstacle, for she made up for ignorance by natural wit and
intelligence, and innate refinement. She wanted reasons, he could
offer none except: "Why, dear child, surely you will see that we must
part now." That, however, was precisely what she could not perceive,
and she continued to weep, saying mournfully: "Rudolf, Rudolf, do not
leave me. I love you, and that is always something. I want nothing
except to have you keep me with you. No one will ever love you as I
do."
These unspeakably painful scenes, to which Rudolf had not the courage
to put a heroic end, were repeated many days. When Pauline's tears
became unendurable, he went out and wandered for hours through the
streets, restless, out of humour, tortured.
Pages:
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212