human
He is my husband,
gpt
You never felt a spark of love for him! he said.
human
You married him--curse him!--against your will!
gpt
Nevertheless, I married him,
human
These things are provided for in the States, he said.
gpt
If you won't come to me without the sanction of the law, I will wait while you get it. I will wait till you are free--till I can make you my lawful wife. That's a fair offer anyway. He began to smile.
human
See what a slave you have made of me! he said.
gpt
I've never offered any woman marriage before.
human
Oh, don't you know me better than that? she said.
gpt
Nap, I am not the sort of woman to throw off the yoke like that. It is true that I never loved him, and I do not think that I shall ever live with him again. But still--I married him, and while he lives I shall never be free--never, never!
human
Yet you are mine,
gpt
No--no!
human
Look at me! he said.
gpt
Do you remember that day in March--the day you saw me whipped like a dog?
human
Oh, don't! she whispered, shuddering.
gpt
Don't!
human
You felt that thrashing far more than I did, though it made a murderer of me. You were furious for my sake. Did you never ask yourself why? Then in a lower voice, bending towards her,
gpt
Do you think I didn't know the moment I saw your face above mine? Do you think I didn't feel the love in your arms, holding me up? Do you think it isn't in your eyes--even now?
human
Oh, hush! she said again piteously.
gpt
Nap, you are hurting me. I cannot bear it. Even if it were so, love--true love--is a sacred thing--not to be turned into sin.
human
Sin! he said.
gpt
What is sin? Is it sin to fulfil the very purpose for which you were created?
human
I'm a wicked pagan no doubt, he said, with a touch of recklessness.
gpt
Everyone will tell you so. I fancy I've told you so myself more than once. Yet you needn't shrink as if I were unclean. I have done nothing that you would hate me for since I have known you.