Marie, gracious one, step forth and teach these poor ignoramuses the gospel of love. Teach them that true love is set high above pride and honour, and that it cannot stoop at all. Love makes no question of thine and mine, it knows no difference between good and evil, between worthiness and unworthiness.
When Marie lay crying in my arms she knew only that she loved me, that she saw me perhaps for the last time and that not a moment was to be lost. Marie has never given me more passionate kisses than those which burned through her tears. These kisses were like the farewell of the sun before he vanished into the night.
XXIIIThen we said good-bye to each other, quiet and self-controlled.
Again I preached the gospel of love to Marie, and again she admitted that I was right.
I said that as we must part some day it was better to do so before we grew tired of each other. 'Before you are tired of me,' she suggested. 'No, not that only,' I continued. 'For the day will come when your love will fade too.' She smiled incredulously, but with a little nod she said, 'Perhaps so,'
I spoke like a merchant to his thoughtless partner. I took out the day-book and ledger. I proved clearly and logically that we had started out on a dangerous enterprise, and that it would end with failure if we continued. Better to stop before the
