Then she went on: "Oh, my dear lover, it is the same question now.

_You cannot break your word._ Nothing but misfortune could follow.

It is a hard law, but I know it is true, and it is fate.

We put in action the force which brings all that we receive, and we who have courage pay the price without flinching, and, above and beyond all momentary pleasure or pain, we must be true to ourselves." "I cannot, I cannot!" he groaned in agony.

"How can you condemn me to such a fate ?--tied to this woman whose every influence is degrading to me; parted from you whom I adore--I would rather be dead.