"Never will I do so," she replied.

"I gave it to you frankly, freely and joyfully, and my affection and admiration for you have never changed." Nevertheless, with more firmness in his hitherto broken voice, Guillaume retorted: "You love Pierre, and it is Pierre whom you ought to marry." "No," she again insisted, "I belong to you.

A tie which years have tightened cannot be undone in an hour.

Once again, if I love Pierre I swear to you that I was ignorant of it this morning.

And let us leave the matter as it is; do not torture me any more, it would be too cruel of you." Then, quivering like a woman who suddenly perceives that she is bare, in a stranger's presence, she hastily pulled down her sleeves, and even drew them over her hands as if to leave naught of her person visible.