A second thought decided her, however. Pierre
Philibert would ask her no question to which she might not answer,
she said to herself.
Amelie replied to him slowly, but undoubtingly: "I think there are
such women, Pierre," replied she, "women who would never, even in
the regions of despair, forsake the man whom they truly love, no,
not for all the terrors recorded in that awful book of Dante!"
"It is a blessed truth, Amelie," replied he, eagerly; and he
thought, but did not say it, "Such a woman you are; the man who
gets your love gets that which neither earth nor heaven nor hell
can take away."
He continued aloud, "The love of such a woman is truly given away,
Amelie; no one can merit it! It is a woman's grace, not man's
deserving."
"I know not," said she; "it is not hard to give away God's gifts:
love should be given freely as God gives it to us. It has no value
except as the bounty of the heart, and looks for no reward but in
its own acceptance."
"Amelie!" exclaimed he, passionately, turning full towards her; but
her eyes remained fixed upon the ground.
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