"You do not understand.

The way is open! We can escape, Clotilde, we can escape!" "I cannot! I cannot!" she wailed, still resisting him.
"You are afraid ?" "Afraid ?" she repeated the word in a tone of wonder.

"No, but I cannot.
I promised him.

I cannot.

And, O God!" she continued, in a sudden outburst of grief, as the sense of general loss, of the great common tragedy broke on her and whelmed for the moment her private misery.