"Roma," he began again, trembling all over, "there have been two men in
me all this time, and one of them has been trying to protect you from
the world and from yourself, while the other ... the other has been
wanting you to despise all his objections, and trample them under your
feet.... If I could only believe that you know all you are doing, all
the risk you are running, and the fate you are willing to share ... but
no, it is impossible."
"David," she cried, "you love me! If you didn't love me, I should know
it now--at this moment. But I am braver than you are...."
"Let me go. I cannot answer for myself."
"I am braver than you are, for I have not only stripped myself of all my
possessions, and of all my friends ... I have even compromised myself
again and again, and been daring and audacious, and rude to everybody
for your sake.... I, a woman ... while you, a man ... you are afraid ...
yes, afraid ... you are a coward--that's it, a coward!... No, no, no!
What am I saying?... David Leone!"
And with a cry of passion and remorse she flung both arms about his
neck.
He had stood, during this fierce struggle of love and pain, holding
himself in until his throbbing nerves could bear the strain no longer.
"Come to me, then--come to me," he cried, and at the moment when she
threw herself upon him he stretched out his arms to receive her.
"You do love me?" she said.
"Indeed, yes! And you?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
He clasped her in his arms with redoubled ardour, and pressed her to his
breast and kissed her. The love so long pent up was bursting out like a
liberated cataract that sweeps the snow and the ice before it.
All at once the girl who had been so brave in the great battle of her
love became weak and womanish in the moment of her victory. Under the
warmth of his tenderness she dropped her head on to his breast to
conceal her face in her shame.
"You will never think the worse of me?" she faltered.
"The worse of you! For loving me?"
"For telling you so and forcing myself into your life?"
"My darling, no!"
She lifted her head, and he kissed away the tears that were shining in
her eyes.
"But tell me," he said, "are you sure--quite sure? Do you know what is
before you?"