Do you
think that would be easy? And do you think I do not suffer at the mere
idea of it?"
"Since it must be--"
"There is no must," answered Orsino with energy. "You would ruin your
life and mine for the mere shadow of a memory which you choose to take
for a binding promise. I will not let you do it."
"You will not?" She looked at him quickly with an expression of
resistance.
"No--I will not," he repeated. "We have too much at stake. You shall not
lose all for both of us."
"You are wrong, dear one," she said, with sudden softness. "If you love
me, you should believe me and trust me. I can give you nothing but
unhappiness--"
"You have given me the only happiness I ever knew--and you ask me to
believe that you could make me unhappy in any way except by not loving
me! Consuelo--my darling--are you out of your senses?"
"No. I am too much in them. I wish I were not. If I were mad I should--"
"What?"
"Never mind. I will not even say it. No--do not try to take my hand, for
I will not give it to you.
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