"Please, let me at least tell you something!" "Well, what is it?" she asked and sat still; she turned her face away, but she listened. And he began speaking rapidly and incoherently; his heart-beats trembled in his voice, which was persuasive and full of tenderness. She could see that all he wanted was to make her understand how unspeakably he loved her; how he had been conquered, subdued as never before. She must believe him; it had lain dormant and grown in his heart since the very first time he met her. He had fought and struggled to keep his feelings within bounds; but it was true--such a struggle was not very effective. It was too sweet to yield, and so one yielded. One fought on with a steadily slipping grip. And now the end had come; he could not fight any more, he was entirely disarmed.... "I believe my breast will burst asunder."... Still leaning away from him, she had turned her face and was gazing at him while he spoke. Her hands had ceased their ineffectual efforts and were now resting on his, tightly clasped around her waist; she saw the blood leap through the veins along his throat. She straightened up and sat erect; his hands were still around her, but she did not seem to notice it now. She seized her gloves and said with quivering lips: "But, Irgens, you should not say such things to me. You know you shouldn't. It is sad, but I cannot help it now." "No, you are right; I don't suppose I ought to have said it, but--" He gazed at her; his lips were trembling too. "But, Miss Aagot, what would _you_ do if your love made you weak and powerless; if it robbed you of your senses and blinded you to everything else? I mean--" "Yes, but say nothing more!" she interrupted. "I understand you in a way, but--You know, I cannot listen to this." She looked at the arms around her waist, and with a sudden jerk she moved away and got up. She was still so confused that she remained standing immobile; she did not even brush the heather from her dress. And when he got up she made no effort to go, but remained where she was. "Listen, I want you to promise not to tell this to anybody. I am afraid-- And you must not think of me any more. I had no idea that you really cared; of course, I thought that you liked me very much--I had begun to think that; but I never thought--'How could _he_ care for _me?_' I always thought. If you want me to I will go back to Torahus and stay there awhile." He was deeply moved; he swallowed hard and his eyes grew moist. This delicious simplicity, these candid words, her very attitude, which was free from fear and entirely unaffected--his feelings flared up in him like a consuming flame: No, no, not to Torahus--only stay! He would control himself, would show her that he could control himself; she must not go away. Even should he lose his mind and perish altogether--rather that, if she would only stay!