"It can'tgo on at his age, " she said. "After all, he's forty. I couldunderstand it in a young man, but I think it's horrible in a man of his years,with children who are nearly grown up. His health will never stand it. "

Anger struggledin her breast with misery.

"Tell himthat our home cries out for him. Everything is just the same, and yeteverything is different. I can't live without him. I'd sooner kill myself. Talkto him about the past, and all we've gone through together. What am I to say tothe children when they ask for him? His room is exactly as it was when he leftit. It's waiting for him. We're all waiting for him. "

Now she told meexactly what I should say. She gave me elaborate answers to every possibleobservation of his.

"You willdo everything you can for me?" she said pitifully. "Tell him what astate I'm in. "

I saw that shewished me to appeal to his sympathies by every means in my power. She wasweeping freely. I was extraordinarily touched. I felt indignant at Strickland'scold cruelty, and I promised to do all I could to bring him back. I agreed togo over on the next day but one, and to stay in Paris till I had achievedsomething. Then, as it was growing late and we were both exhausted by so muchemotion, I left her.

“象他这样的年龄，不能老过这种生活，”她说，“他到底是四十岁的人了。如果是一个年轻人，我是能够理解的。可是他这种年纪就太可怕了，他的孩子都快长大成人了。再说他的身体也受不住。”

愤怒同痛苦在她胸中搏斗着。

“告诉他，他的家在召唤他回来。家里什么都同过去一样，但是也都同过去不一样了。没有他我无法生活下去。我宁可杀死自己。同他谈谈往事，谈谈我们的共同经历。如果孩子们问起来，我该对他们说什么呢？他的屋子还同他走的时候一模一样。他的屋子在等着他呢。我们都在等着他呢。”

我到那里该谈什么，她句句都告诉我了。她甚至想到思特里克兰德可能说什么话。教给我怎样答对。

“你会尽一切力量替我把这件事办好吧？”她可怜巴巴地说，“把我现在的处境告诉他。”

我看出来，她希望我施展一切手段打动他的怜悯心。她的眼泪一个劲儿往下落。我心里难过极了。我对思特里克兰德的冷酷、残忍非常气愤，我答应她我要尽一切力量把他弄回来。我同意再过一天就启程，不把事情办出个眉目决不回来。这时天色已晚，我们两人也都由于感情激动而疲惫不堪，我就向她告辞了。