Eve's face had suddenly aged; her eyelids were red and swollen, and blotches marbled her quivering cheeks, down which her tears again began to trickle.

"My poor, poor Gerard," said she, "how heavily I weigh on you.

Oh! do not deny it! I feel that I am an intolerable burden on your shoulders, an impediment in your life, and that I shall bring irreparable disaster on you by my obstinacy in wishing you to be mine alone." He tried to speak, but she silenced him.

"No, no, all is over between us.
I am growing ugly, all is ended.

And besides, I shut off the future from you.