human
Crisµstomo!
gpt
Yes, I am Crisµstomo, replied the young man gravely.
human
An enemy, a man who has reason to hate me, Elias, has rescued me from the prison where my friends put me.
gpt
By the dead body of my mother, I pledged myself, whatever my future, to try to make you happy. I have risked all that remains to me, to come and fulfil that promise. Chance lets me speak to you, Maria; we shall never see each other again. You are young now; some day your conscience may upbraid you. Before I go away forever, I have come to say that I forgive you. Be happy--farewell!
human
Crisµstomo! she said,
gpt
God has sent you to save me from despair. Listen and judge me!
human
I did not come to call you to account; I came to bring you peace.
gpt
I want none of the peace you bring me. I shall find peace for myself. You scorn me and your scorn will make even death bitter.
human
I wish you to believe that I have always loved you.
gpt
Ah! you doubt me! you doubt your childhood's friend, who has never hidden a single thought from you! When you know my history, the sad story that was told me in my illness, you will pity me; you will no longer wear that smile. Why did they not let me die in the hands of my ignorant doctor! You and I should both have been happier!
human
You force me to this, by your doubts; may my mother forgive me! In one of the most painful of my nights of suffering, a man revealed to me the name of my real father. If he had not been my father, this man said, he might have pardoned the injury you had done him.
gpt
What was I to do? she went on.
human
Ought I to sacrifice to my love the memory of my mother, the honor of him who was supposed to be my father, and the good name of him who is? And could I have done this without bringing dishonor upon you too?
gpt
But the proof--have you had proof? There must be proof!
human
Here are two letters of my mother's, she said,
gpt
What remained for me to do? Could I tell you who my father was? Could I bid you ask his pardon, when he had so made your father suffer? Could I say to my father, who perhaps would have pardoned you--could I say I was his daughter? Nothing remained but to suffer, to guard my secret, and die suffering! Now, my friend, now that you know the sad story of your poor Maria, have you still for her that disdainful smile?
human
Maria, you are a saint!
gpt
I am blessed, because you believe in me----
human
And yet, said Crisµstomo, remembering,
gpt
I heard you were to marry----
human
Yes, sobbed the poor child,
gpt
But?
human
I shall not forget my vows to you.
gpt
What is your thought?
human
The future is obscure. I do not know what I shall do; but I know this, that I can love but once, and that I shall not belong to one I do not love. And you? What will you do?
gpt
I am no longer anything but a fugitive--I shall fly, and my flight will soon be overtaken, Maria----
human
Fly, fly! she said.
gpt
Adieu!