"It is a horrible history and I hate it," Tamara said. "Such ways I do
not understand. For me love means something tender and true which could
never want to injure the thing it loved."

He looked at her gravely.

"Lately I have wondered what love could mean for me. Tell me what you
think, Madame," he said.

She resolved not to allow any emotion to master her, though she was
conscious of a sudden beating of her heart.

"You would torture sometimes, and then you would caress."

"I would certainly caress."

He moved from his position and walked across the room, while he talked
as though the words burst from him.

"Yes, I should demand unquestioning surrender, and if it were refused
me, then I might be cruel. And if my love were cold or capricious,
_then_ I would leave her. But if she loved me truly--my God, it would
be bliss."

"Think how it would hurt her when you did those foolish things though,"
Tamara said.

He stopped short in his restless walk.

"No one does foolish things when he is happy, Madame. All such