Page:The Novels and Tales of Henry James, Volume 1 (New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907).djvu/295

 the remission of my sins. For a man who should really give me a certain feeling—I have never had it, but I should know it when it came—I would send Prince Casamassima and his millions to perdition. I don't know what you think of me for saying all this; I suppose we have not climbed up here under the skies to play propriety. Why have you been at such pains to assure me, after all, that you are a little man and not a great one, a weak one and not a strong? I innocently imagined at first that your eyes—because they 're so beautiful—declared you strong. I think they declare nothing but just their beauty. That would be enough—if you were a being like me. But I want some one so much better than myself! Your voice, at any rate, caro mio, condemns you; I always wondered at it; it 's not the voice of a conqueror!"

"Give me something to conquer," Roderick answered, "and when I say that I thank you from my soul, my voice, whatever you think of it, shall speak the truth!"

Christina for a moment said nothing, and Rowland was now too interested to think of moving. "You pretend to such devotion," she went on, "and yet I 'm sure you have never really chosen between me and that person in America."

"Do me the great favour not to speak of her," Roderick almost groaned.

"Why not? I say no ill of her, and I think all kinds of good. I 'm certain she is a far better girl than I, and far more likely to make you happy."

"This is happiness, this present palpable 261