human
Have you given your life for me this time?
gpt
No, no. I shall be all right now I've got rid of the poison, he answered.
human
I'll bind my hand up with this handkerchief----
gpt
I'll bind it, she cut him short; and taking the handkerchief from him she tore it quickly into strips. Then with practised skill she bandaged the wound.
human
That must do till we get to my tent, she told him.
gpt
There I've lint and real bandages that I use for the men when they hurt themselves, and I'll sponge your hand with disinfectant. But, my Soldier, my poor Soldier, how can I bear it if you leave me? You won't, will you?
human
Not if I can possibly help it,
gpt
How soon can we be sure that you've cut all the poison out?
human
In a few minutes, I think.
gpt
And if you haven't, it's--death?
human
I can't let myself die,
gpt
It's for my sake you care like that, I know! Sanda said.
human
And _I_ can't let you die--anyhow, without telling you something first. Does the poison, if you've got it in you, kill very quickly?
gpt
It does, rather, Max admitted, still apologetically, because he could not bear to have Sanda suffer for him.
human
But it's a painless sort of an end, not a bad one, if it wasn't for--for----
gpt
For leaving me alone. I understand. And because you may have to--very soon, though I pray not--I shall tell you what I never would have told you except for this. Only, if you get well, you must promise not to speak of it to me--nor even to seem to remember; and truly to forget, if you can.
human
I promise,
gpt
It's this: I know you care for me, Max, and I care for you, too, dearly, dearly. All the love I had ready for Richard flowed away from him, like a river whose course had been changed in a night by a tremendous shock of earthquake. Gradually it turned toward you. You won it. You deserve it. I should be a wretch--I shouldn't be natural if I didn't love you! That's all I had to tell. I couldn't let you go without knowing. And if you do go, I shall follow you soon, because I couldn't live through a day more of my awful life without you.
human
Now I _know_ that I can't die! Max's voice rang out.
gpt
If there was poison in my blood, it's killed with the joy of what you've said to me.
human
Joy! Sanda echoed.
gpt
There can be no joy for us in loving each other, only sorrow.
human
There's joy in love itself, said Max.
gpt
Just in knowing.
human
Though we're never to speak of it again?
gpt
Even though we're never to speak of it again.