His face was as calm as a sculptured stone.
"Do you despise me for loving you?" she asked again, with a sudden
flush.
"No. I do not despise you." Something in her tone had pierced through
his stupor and had found an answer. She started at the sound of his
voice. It was as though he had been awake and had known the weight of
what she had been saying, and her anger rose at the cold reply.
"No--you do not despise me, and you never shall!" she exclaimed
passionately. "You shall love me, as I love you--I will it, with all
my will! We are created to be all, one to the other, and you shall not
break through the destiny of love. Love me, as I love you--love me with
all your heart, love me with all your mind, love me with all your soul,
love me as man never loved woman since the world began! I will it, I
command it--it shall be as I say--you dare not disobey me--you cannot if
you would."
She paused, but this time no answer came. There was not even a
contraction of the stony features.
"Do you hear all I say?" she asked.
"I hear."
"Then understand and answer me," she said.
"I do not understand. I cannot answer."
"You must. You shall. I will have it so. You cannot resist my will, and
I will it with all my might. You have no will--you are mine, your body,
your soul, and your thoughts, and you must love me with them all from
now until you die--until you die," she repeated fiercely.
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