"To me it will be accursed. But is it to be thus between us always? Alice, I have loved you above all women. I may say that I have never loved any woman but you; and yet I am sometimes driven to doubt whether you have a heart in you capable of love. After all that has passed, all your old protestations, all my repentance, and your proffer of forgiveness, you should have received me with open arms. I suppose I may go now, and feel that I have been kicked out of your house like a dog."
"If you speak to me like that, and look at me like that, how can I answer you?"
"I want no answer. I wanted you to put your hand in mine, to kiss me, and to tell me that you are once more my own. Alice, think better of it; kiss me, and let me feel my arm once more round your waist."

"To me it will be accursed. But is it to be thus between us always? Alice, I have loved you above all women. I may say that I have never loved any woman but you; yet I am sometimes driven to doubt whether you have a heart capable of love. After all that has passed, you should have received me with open arms. I suppose I may go now, and feel that I have been kicked out of your house like a dog."
"If you speak to me like that, how can I answer you?"
"I want no answer. I wanted you to put your hand in mine, to kiss me, and to tell me that you are once more my own. Alice; kiss me, and let me feel my arm once more round your waist."
