It's a
hell of big cities, of strife, of blood-letting, of wickedness. I
never knew how great a hell it was until I came up here--among YOU. I
wish to God I could stay--always!"
"You love her," breathed Jan. "You can stay."
"I can't," groaned Thornton. "I can't--unless--"
"What, m'sieur?"
"Unless I lose everything--but her."
Jan's fingers trembled as they sought Thornton's hand.
"And everything is--is--nothing when you give it for love and
happiness," he urged. "The great God, I know--"
"Everything," cried Thornton. "Don't you understand? I said
EVERYTHING!" He turned almost fiercely upon his companion. "I'd give
up my name--for HER. I'd bury myself back there in the forests and
never go out of them--for HER. I'd give up fortune, friends, lose
myself for ever--for HER. But I can't. Good God, don't you
understand?"
Jan stared. His eyes grew large and dark.
"I've spent ten years of WORSE than hell down there--with a woman,"
went on Thornton. "It happens among us--frequently, this sort of hell.
I came up here to get out of it for a time. You know--now. There is a
woman down there who--who is my wife. She would be glad if I never
returned. She is happy now, when I am away, and I have been happy--for
a time. I know what love is.
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