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II] son was sleeping in his cot. She, too, was asleep. I wakened her from sleep and told her. I cried beside her bed; and I pierced her heart.

O, Richard, why did you do that?

Betray her?

No. But tell her, waken her from sleep to tell her. It was piercing her heart.

She must know me as I am.

But that is not you as you are. A moment of weakness.

[Lost in thought.] And I was feeding the flame of her innocence with my guilt.

[Brusquely.] O, don't talk of guilt and innocence. You have made her all that she is. A strange and wonderful personality—in my eyes, at least.

[Darkly.] Or I have killed her.

Killed her?

The virginity of her soul.

[Impatiently.] Well lost! What would she be without you?