And she was free of him, even more than he of her.
"And," he continued, "we shall always be more or less each other's work.
You have done a lot for me, I for you.

Now let us start and live by ourselves." "What do you want to do ?" she asked.
"Nothing--only to be free," he answered.
She, however, knew in her heart that Clara's influence was over him to liberate him.

But she said nothing.
"And what have I to tell my mother ?" she asked.
"I told my mother," he answered, "that I was breaking off--clean and altogether." "I shall not tell them at home," she said.
Frowning, "You please yourself," he said.
He knew he had landed her in a nasty hole, and was leaving her in the lurch.

It angered him.
"Tell them you wouldn't and won't marry me, and have broken off," he said.

"It's true enough." She bit her finger moodily.