"I see. But you needn't lie about it--not to me. You loved me well enough, and the right way too. You can't shuffle out of it by pretending any trash about being different from other girls. You loved me well enough, and if you'd been on-coming like some creatures, I'd have hated you for it. That was all right, and you knew what you were doing very well indeed. And you're lying, I say, because it wasn't women have brought you to this. It was men. A man rather. Be plain, please, for I won't have no humbug about this. You've found some blasted man you hanker after and think you like better than me. And it's not the good part in you that have sunk to any such base beastliness; it's the bad, wicked part in you--the part I never would have believed was in you. And I've a right to know who it is. And I will know." "Hear me then, Johnny. May God strike me dead on this bridge, this instant moment, if there's any man in the world I love--or even care for. I tell you that I've never known love and most likely never shall. 'Tis long odds it be left out of me altogether. And I can't marry you for that good reason. I didn't come to it in a hurry. For one of my nature I waited and waited an amazing time, and for your sake I hoped and hoped I'd see different, and I tried hard to see different. I thought only for you, and I'm thinking only for you now. It would have been far easier for me to go on with it than break. Can't you see that? But afterwards--you're a quick man and you're a man that gives all, but wants all back again in exchange for all; and rightly so. But what when you'd found, as find you must, that I'd not loved you as you thought? Hell--hell--that's what it would have been for you." "You can spin words to hide your thoughts. I can't. You're a godless, lying traitor--and--no--no--I call that back. You don't know what you're saying. Have some mercy on a man. You're my all, Dinah. There's nothing else to life but you! Don't turn me down now--it's too late. You must see it's gone too far. You can't do it; you can't do it. I'm content to let it be as it is. If you don't love me now, I'll make you love me. I'll--all--I'll give all and want nothing again! It's cruel--it's awful--no such thing could happen. I believe you when you say there's not another man. I believe you with all my heart. And then--then why not me? Why not keep your solemn oath and promise? If anything be left out of you, let me put it in. But there's nothing left out--nothing. You're perfect, and the wenches that made you think you wasn't ban't worthy to black your boots. For Christ's sake don't go back on me--you can't--it wouldn't be you if you did."