You know well that
I am no traitor, and that I do not fly for fear."
"Yes," she answered, in a changed tone, for his manly words touched her,
"I know that."
"It is for you that I fly, for your sake I will eat this dirt and crown
myself with shame. I fly that for the second time I may save you."
"And in return you demand--what?"
"Yourself."
"That I will not give, Caleb. I reject your offer."
"I feared it," he answered huskily, "who am accustomed to such denials.
Then I demand this, for know that if once you pass your word I may trust
it: that you will not marry the Roman Marcus."
"I cannot marry the Roman Marcus any more than I can marry you, because
neither of you are Christians, and as you know well it is laid upon
me as a birth duty that I may take no man to husband who is not a
Christian."
"For your sake, Miriam," he answered slowly, "I am prepared to be
baptised into your faith. Let this show you how much I love you."
"It does not show that you love the faith, Caleb, nor if you did love it
could I love you. Jew or Christian, I cannot be your wife."
He turned his face to the wall and for a while was silent. Then he spoke
again.
"Miriam, so be it. I will still save you. Go, and marry Marcus, if
you can, only, if I live, I will kill him if I can, but that you need
scarcely fear, for I do not think that I shall live.
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