They were sitting on the bank of a stream, where the lip of turf hung over a hollow bank of yellow earth, and he was hacking away with a stick, as he did when he was perturbed and cruel.
"I have been thinking," he said, "we ought to break off." "Why ?" she cried in surprise.
"Because it's no good going on." "Why is it no good ?" "It isn't.

I don't want to marry.

I don't want ever to marry.

And if we're not going to marry, it's no good going on." "But why do you say this now ?" "Because I've made up my mind." "And what about these last months, and the things you told me then ?" "I can't help it! I don't want to go on." "You don't want any more of me ?" "I want us to break off--you be free of me, I free of you." "And what about these last months ?" "I don't know.

I've not told you anything but what I thought was true." "Then why are you different now ?" "I'm not--I'm the same--only I know it's no good going on." "You haven't told me why it's no good." "Because I don't want to go on--and I don't want to marry." "How many times have you offered to marry me, and I wouldn't ?" "I know; but I want us to break off." There was silence for a moment or two, while he dug viciously at the earth.