But I have no
power of choice in the matter. How do you think I could ever get
the mastery over it?
Rebecca (standing behind his chair). By making new ties for
yourself.
Rosmer (starts, and looks up). New ties?
Rebecca. Yes, new ties with the outside world. Live, work, do
something! Do not sit here musing and brooding over insoluble
conundrums.
Rosmer (getting up). New ties! (Walks across the room, turns at
the door and comes back again.) A question occurs to my mind. Has
it not occurred to you too, Rebecca?
Rebecca (catching her breath). Let me hear what it is.
Rosmer. What do you suppose will become of the tie between us,
after to-day?
Rebecca. I think surely our friendship can endure, come what may.
Rosmer. Yes, but that is not exactly what I meant. I was thinking
of what brought us together from the first, what links us so
closely to one another--our common belief in the possibility of a
man and a woman living together in chastity.
Rebecca. Yes, yes--what of it?
Rosmer. What I mean is--does not such a tie as that--such a tie as
ours--seem to belong properly to a life lived in quiet, happy
peacefulness?
Rebecca. Well?
Rosmer. But now I see stretching before me a life of strife and
unrest and violent emotions. For I mean to live my life, Rebecca!
I am not going to let myself be beaten to the ground by the dread
of what may happen.
Pages:
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81