To me she is as sacred as a sister.

And if there be only my madness to part you, it will pass by, I shall know how to conquer it." "Marie loves you," repeated Guillaume in his gentle, obstinate way.

"I don't reproach you with anything.

I well know that you have struggled, and have never betrayed yourself to her either by word or glance.
Yesterday she herself was still ignorant that she loved you, and I had to open her eyes....

What would you have?
I simply state a fact: she loves you." This time Pierre, still quivering, made a gesture of mingled rapture and terror, as if some divine and long-desired blessing were falling upon him from heaven and crushing him beneath its weight.
"Well, then," he said, after a brief pause, "it is all over....