"Shall it be as I say?" said Rebecca; "and shall we, dear, be friends
while we live?"
"No," said Nina, suddenly.
"You cannot bring yourself to do so much for the man you love?"
"No, I cannot. Could you throw yourself from the bridge into the
Moldau, and drown yourself?"
"Yes," said Rebecca, "I could. If it would serve him, I think that I
could do so."
"What! in the dark, when it is so cold? The people would see you in the
daytime."
"But I would live, that I might hear of his doings, and see his
success."
"Ah! I could not live without feeling that he loved me."
"But what will you think of his love when it has ruined him? Will it be
pleasant then? Were I to do that, then--then I should bethink myself of
the cold river and the dark night, and the eyes of the passers-by whom
I should be afraid to meet in the daytime. I ask you to be as I am. Who
is there that pities me? Think again, Nina. I know you would wish that
he should be prosperous."
Nina did think again, and thought long. And she wept, and the Jewess
comforted her, and many words were said between them beyond those which
have been here set down; but, in the end, Nina could not bring herself
to say that she would give him up.
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