"Why you would think of it at every hour of the day." "No, I swear it. Besides, listen, if you go away I will enlist and get killed." This boyish threat quite overcame her; she clasped Jean in a passionate and tender embrace. He went on: "I love you more than you think--ah much more, much more. Come, be reasonable. Try to stay for only one week. Will you promise me one week? You cannot refuse me that?" She laid her two hands on Jean's shoulders, and holding him at arm's length she said: "My child, let us try and be calm and not give way to emotions. First, listen to me. If I were ever to hear from your lips what I have heard for this month past from your brother, if I were once to see in your eyes what I read in his, if I could fancy from a word or a look that I was as odious to you as I am to him--within one hour, mark me--within one hour I should be gone forever." "Mother, I swear to you--" "Let me speak. For a month past I have suffered all that any creature can suffer. From the moment when I perceived that your brother, my other son, suspected me, that as the minutes went by, he guessed the truth, every moment of my life has been a martyrdom which no words could tell you." Her voice was so full of woe that the contagion of her misery brought the tears to Jean's eyes. He tried to kiss her, but she held him off. "Leave me--listen; I still have so much to say to make you understand. But you never can understand. You see, if I stayed--I must--no, no. I cannot." "Speak on, mother, speak."