What have I
ever done for you?"
"In giving me your friendship--"
Again she interrupted him, saying, "That virtually means giving
you the chance for continued self-sacrifice. Any man or woman in
the land would give you friendship on such terms, YOUR terms with
me. But you do not answer my question; yet you have answered it
over and over again. Were you in my place with your unselfish
nature, you could not take so very much without an inevitable
longing to return all in your power."
He was deeply agitated. Burying his face in his hands, he said
hoarsely, "I must not look at you, or my duty may be too hard. Ah,
you are banishing peace and serenity now with a vengeance! I
recognize your motive--whither your thoughts are tending. Your
conscience, your pity, your exaggerated gratitude are driving you
to contemplate a self-sacrifice compared with which mine is as
nothing. Yet the possibility of what you suggest is so sweet, so--
oh, it is like the reward of heaven for a brief life!" Then he
bowed his head lower and added slowly, as if the words were forced
from him, "No, Helen, you shall not reward me.
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