"That's not to the point," said Eve. "You say I gave him a promise: I ask what that promise was?" "The very question I put to you. I know what he says it was, and I want to hear if what he says is true. Surely," he added, seeing she hesitated, "if this is only a friend, and a friend who is to be looked on like a brother, you can't have given him any promise that if you can remember you can't repeat." Eve's face betrayed her displeasure. "Really, Adam," she said, "I know of no right that you have to take me to task in this manner." "No," he answered: "I was going to ask you to give me that right when you interrupted me. However, that's very soon set straight. I've told you I love you: now I ask you if you love me, and, if so, whether you will marry me? After you've answered me I shall be able to put my questions without fear of offence." "Will you, indeed?" said Eve. "I should think that would rather depend upon what the answer may be." "Whatever it may be, I'm waiting for it," said Adam grimly. "Let me see: I must consider what it was I was asked," said Eve. "First, if--" "Oh, don't trouble about the first: I shall be satisfied of that if you answer the second and tell me you will accept me as a husband." "Say keeper." "Keeper, if that pleases you better." "Thank you very much, but I don't feel quite equal to the honor. I'm not so tired yet of doing what pleases myself that I need submit my thoughts and looks and actions to another person." "Then you refuse to be my wife?" "Yes, I do." "And you cannot return the love I offer you?" Eve was silent. "Do you hear?" he said. "Yes, I hear." "Then answer: have I got your love, or haven't I?" "Whatever love you might have had," she broke out passionately, "you've taken care to kill." "Kill!" he repeated. "It must have been precious delicate if it couldn't stand the answering of one question. Look here, Eve. When I told you I had given you my heart and every grain of love in it, I only spoke the truth; but unless you can give me yours as whole and as entire as I have given mine, 'fore God I'd rather jump off yonder rock than face the misery that would come upon us both. I know what 'tis to see another take what should be yours--to see another given what you are craving for. The torture of that past is dead and gone, but the devil it bred in me lives still, and woe betide the man or woman who rouses it!" Instinctively Eve shrank back: the look of pent-up passion frightened her and made her whole body shiver. "There! there! don't alarm yourself," said Adam, passing his hand over his forehead as if to brush away the traces which this outburst had occasioned: "I don't want to frighten you. All I want to know is, can you give me the love I ask of you?" "I couldn't bear to be suspected," faltered Eve. "Then act so that you would be above suspicion."