Part 36 (1/2)
”Philip, Philip, you must not go--you cannot go--you shall not go!”
He could see her bosom heaving under her loose red bodice. She took hold of his arm and dragged at it.
”Won't you spare me? Will you shame me to death? Must I tell you? If you won't speak, I will. You cannot leave me, Philip, because--because--what do I care?--because I love you!”
”Don't say that, Kate!”
”I love you, Philip--I love you--I love you!”
”Would to G.o.d I had never been born!”
”But I will show you how sweet it is to be alive. Take me, take me--I am yours!”
Her upturned face seemed to flash. He staggered like one seized with giddiness. It was a thing of terror to behold her. Still he struggled.
”Though apart, we shall remember each other, Kate.”
”I don't want to remember. I want to have you with me.”
”Our hearts will always be together.”
”Come to me then, Philip, come to me!”
”The purest part of our hearts--our souls----”
”But I want _you!_ Will you drive a girl to shame herself again? I want _you_, Philip! I want your eyes that I may see them every day; and your hair, that I may feel it with my hands; and your lips--can I help it?--yes, and your lips, that I may kiss and kiss them!”
”Kate! Kate! Turn your eyes away. Don't look at me like that!” She was fighting for her life. It was to be now or never.
”If you won't come to me, I'll go to you!” she cried; and then she sprang upon him, and all grew confused, the berries of the nightshade whipped his forehead, and the moon and the stars went out.
”My love! My darling! My girl!”
”You won't go now?” she sobbed.
”G.o.d forgive me, I cannot.”
”Kiss me. I feel your heart beating. You are mine--mine--mine! Say you won't go now!”
”G.o.d forgive us both!”
”Kiss me again, Philip! Don't despise me that I love you better than myself!”
She was weeping, she was laughing, her heart was throbbing up to her throat. At the next moment she had broken from his embrace and was gone.
”Kate! Kate!”