The clock had struck four. They were sitting side by side on the sofa,
both exhausted, pale, quite calm now. Vincent began to talk again, more
in his usual voice.
"Angelica," he said, "Eddie told me that he asked you to marry him, and
that you refused him."
"Of course I did, Vincent."
"It was a mistake, my dear. It’s the very best thing you could do--both
for yourself and for me."
"Oh, Vincent!" she cried. "I couldn’t! You know I couldn’t!"
"Angelica," he said, solemnly, "do it for my sake. Be my sister. I swear
to you that all base and sensual feelings have left my heart. I am
purged of all my lust."
Well, so he was, for the moment; but by weariness, not by religion. He
had talked himself into exhaustion.
"You couldn’t do better," he went on. "I’m not selfish, not jealous. My
wish is to see you happy, and you would be happy with Eddie. He’s a good
man."
He was, in fact, so worn out after his outburst that he felt compelled
to get rid of Angelica, not only for the present, but forever. He didn’t
recognize the feeling. He was conscious only of a great desire to
dispose of her, which he fancied was concern for her welfare.
"I want to see your life happy and blessed," he said. "I want to see you
with your children about you, you with your beautiful Madonna face. I
want always to be near you, but only to worship you. I will be your
brother, your friend. I long to see this, Angelica!"
"No," she said, "I don’t want to. It wouldn’t suit me. I’m not so crazy
about getting married, anyway."
"For me, Angelica! I beg you!"
"No, not even for you. I don’t want to, and that’s enough. I’m young,
Vincent. I have all my life before me. You needn’t worry about me." A
mortal weariness assailed her. "I guess I’ll go now," she said. "I’m
pretty tired. Good night, Vincent!"
He kissed her solemnly on the brow and opened the door for her. She shut
herself into her own room.
"Oh, Gawd!" she sighed. "_Now_ what? This is getting too much for me.
Can’t even think any more. I don’t know----”
She undressed and got into bed, though the sky had grown gray in the
east. She felt obliged to sleep, even if it were only for an hour; but
before she closed her eyes----
"One thing’s certain," she said. "I’m going away from here, right away.
I can’t stand any more of this!"