She sort of wants me so much that I can't give myself." "Wants you how ?" "Wants the soul out of my body.

I can't help shrinking back from her." "And yet you love her!" "No, I don't love her.

I never even kiss her." "Why not ?" Clara asked.
"I don't know." "I suppose you're afraid," she said.
"I'm not.

Something in me shrinks from her like hell--she's so good, when I'm not good." "How do you know what she is ?" "I do! I know she wants a sort of soul union." "But how do you know what she wants ?" "I've been with her for seven years." "And you haven't found out the very first thing about her." "What's that ?" "That she doesn't want any of your soul communion.

That's your own imagination.