"Have you? And who is she, really? Of course I know her name--but--but what do you know about her? I have had no answer to my letters since I've been out here, is the poor thing still working?"
"She's--not exactly working for a living, dear, and she is--is----"
He stopped short with a world of perplexity in his eyes, then went on as slowly and mechanically as Leonie had done.
"Perhaps, dear, I--I had--better not say any more until--until I have everything quite clear."
And he drew his hand sharply across his eyes as Leonie sighed.
"Very well!" she replied gently. "Just as you think best."
"Tell me you love me, Leonie, let me be sure of that, let me just hear you say it once."
She put out both her hands, and he took them and kissed them.
"Dear, do you count me as _so_ little? Don't you know, cannot you feel that a love like mine endures for ever?"
"Do you still want the little white house behind the white wall--Leonie, _do_ you!"
"Well, marry me--marry me, beloved, and give me the right to protect you--from trouble, and these slanderous, murderous tongues."
Leonie's face was lovely to behold, swept by a wave of colour, and with eyes like stars; but she shook her head although a little smile parted the crimson mouth.
"No! Jan! Nothing will make me change. Not until we know and until I am cured. Do you think I would risk our love, and our happiness? I shall never, never marry you as long as I have this--this longing to--this desire to--to--oh! what is it. Find out what has happened to me, find out what I do when I walk in my sleep--just how mad I am, and if the madness can be cured, and if it can, _then_ I will--will----"
It was no pretty sight to watch her striving to speak, her mouth opening and shutting without sound, her hands against her throat.
Then she looked at him suddenly, smiling sweetly, and put both hands in his, while he, sick with pain and unconfessed fear, changed the conversation abruptly by the grace of understanding.
"I think you ought to go away, Leonie--to the hills--for a change. It's getting frightfully hot, why don't you?"
"Yes!--I might--I think I will--I'm so tired of everything--so very--very tired!"
Leonie bent her head a little sideways as though listening, made a strange little movement with both her hands, then placed the open palms against her forehead and replied: