human
But, dearest one, murmured Dan,
gpt
My poor boy, she said gently,
human
Love you! My God, have I not proved it! What more would you have me do?
gpt
she answered quickly.
human
You have proved it, but I have thought that it was not possible.
gpt
And you--you do care--oh, tell me--
human
What do you mean? Have I--
gpt
No, no, no! This--take the paper. You must not again give it me, I desire that you will not. She drew the paper from her muff with an impulsive movement and thrust it toward him.
human
Take it, I implore you.
gpt
But why--?
human
Because that you shall not give your honour to a woman such as I am. _Mai vraiment_, I love you. That is why you must take back the paper.
gpt
But you must explain--
human
But you love me, you have said so. I cannot, I will not let you go.
gpt
Listen to me, my friend, she said, her voice rising for the moment above the whisper in which she had cautiously spoken heretofore.
human
From the first I have deceived you, betrayed you, played upon your affection but to betray you afresh. And now I find that I love you. I am not that which you call good, but it is impossible that I injure you. Go back to your friends.
gpt
Never! I love you. What matters now anything that you have said or done? And you love me. Ah dearest one, what can that mean but good?
human
she interrupted speaking rapidly,
gpt
I am what you Americans call 'a bad woman',--the sort of woman that you know nothing of. I was the woman who sixteen years ago stayed at the Inn at the Red Oak with François de Boisdhyver, the woman your mother called nurse, who cared for his little daughter. And now I have told you all. Will you know from now that I am a thousand times unworthy? _Pour l'amour de Dieu_, give it to me to do this one act of honour and of generosity.