I am not going to have my course of life
prescribed for me, either by any living soul or by another.
Rebecca. No, no--do not! Be a free man in everything, John!
Rosmer. Do you understand what is in my Mind, then? Do you not
know? Do you not see how I could best win my freedom from all
these harrowing memories from the whole sad past?
Rebecca. Tell me!
Rosmer. By setting up, in opposition to them, a new and living
reality.
Rebecca (feeling for the back of the chair). A living--? What do
you mean?
Rosmer (coming closer to her). Rebecca--suppose I asked you now--
will you be my second wife?
Rebecca (is speechless for a moment, then gives a cry of joy).
Your wife! Yours--! I!
Rosmer. Yes--let us try what that will do. We two shall be one.
There must no longer be any empty place left by the dead in this
house.
Rebecca. I--in Beata's place--?
Rosmer. And then that chapter of my life will be closed--
completely closed, never to be reopened.
Rebecca (in a low, trembling voice). Do you think so, John?
Rosmer. It must be so! It must! I cannot--I will not--go through
life with a dead body on my back. Help me to throw it off,
Rebecca; and then let us stifle all memories in our sense of
freedom, in joy, in passion. You shall be to me the only wife I
have ever had.
Rebecca (controlling herself). Never speak of this, again. I will
never be your wife.
Pages:
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82