Let
me be your housekeeper, your servant, your slave. This news that has
shocked you so has torn the veil from my eyes. I thought I had cooled my
love down to friendship and tender esteem; but no, now I see you as
unhappy as myself, now I can speak and wrong no one, I own I--oh Alfred
my heart burns for you, bleeds for you, yearns for you, sickens for you,
dies for you."
"Oh, hush! hush! Mrs. Archbold. You are saying things you will blush for
the next moment."
"I blush now, but cannot hush; I have gone too far. And your happiness as
well as mine is at stake. No young girl can understand or value such a
man as you are: but I, like you, have suffered; I, like you, am constant;
I, like you, am warm and tender; at my age a woman's love is bliss to him
who can gain it; and I love you with all my soul, Alfred. I worship the
ground you walk on, my sweet, sweet boy. Say you the word, dearest, and I
will bribe the servants, and get the keys, and sacrifice my profession
for ever to give you liberty (see how sweet the open face of nature is,
sweeter than anything on earth, but love); and all I ask is a little,
little of your heart in return.
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