Let us sit a few moments at the door, on this bench. It seems to me that it will not be so hard to go away as if I went into the house and, above all, to your room. Give me your hand.
[He sits down and takes both her hands in his, while she stands beside him.
Dost love me, Jane?
Jane.Oh! I owe everything to you, Gilbert. I know it, although you concealed it from me a long time. When I was a little child, almost in the cradle, I was abandoned by my parents, and you took me. For sixteen years your arm has worked for me like a father's, your eyes have watched over me like a mother's. What should I be but for you? All that I have, you have given me; all that I am, you have made me.
Gilbert.Jane, dost love me?
Jane.Such devotion as yours, Gilbert! You work for me night and day. You wear out your eyes, you are killing yourself. And now again you are going to work all night. And never a reproach, never a harsh word, never a sign of anger. Poor as you are, you have pity even on my petty woman's whims, and gratify them. Gilbert, I never think of you without tears in my eyes. You have sometimes lacked bread, but I have never lacked ribbons.
Gilbert.Jane, dost love me?
Jane.Gilbert, I would like to kiss your feet.
Gilbert.Dost love me? dost love me? Oh! all this does not tell me that you love me. That is the word I crave, Jane! Gratitude, always gratitude! Oh! I trample your gratitude under my feet! I will have love or nothing!—To die!—Jane, for sixteen years you have been my daughter, now you will be my wife. I adopted you, now I would marry
