The Craze of Christina — page 238: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

a 234 The Craze of Christina. must be so, Mark. You yourself have laid down this horrible condition, that we are to wait three years.’’ | ‘“*T?—I? Oh, you know that it is not my doing! that it is as hard, nay, far harder on me than on you. Why do you blameme for a folly of which I am but the helpless victim !’’ “You are not helpless! you can break through that odious condition if you will, just as you broke through the other one.”’ ‘‘And reduce both myself and you to pov- erty! How can you ask me to do so?”’ They began walking up and down again side by side in silence. Chris stole side glances at her companion. He was evidently terribly agi- tated; his breath came rapidly, his lips worked, he clenched and unclenched his hands spasmodi- cally. She was sorry for him, but she took care not to betray her pity. ‘*Let me put it to you plainly, and briefly, once again, Mark,’’ she resumed in a quiet and gentle yoice. ‘“‘I cannot remain engaged to you for three years; it is out of the question. I refuse absolutely todo so. If you still adhere to your determination, still cling to this wretched gold which has come like a nightmare between~us, then there is nothing more to be said, because you will then prove to me indisputably that you (Eo) A) (26) (00) KS (E(0)