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"A little pitted speck in garnered fruit
That, rotting inward, slowly moulders all."
Why did we meet—or, rather, why was not one of us born a woman? Had you only been some poor girl'
"'Come, leave aside your morbid fancies, and tell me candidly if you would have loved me more than you do.'
"He looked at me sadly, but could not bring himself to utter an untruth. Still, after awhile he added, sighing:—
'"There is a love that is to last,
When the hot days of youth are past."
Tell me, Camille, is such love ours?'
"'Why not? Can you not always be as fond of me as I am of you, or do I only care for you on account of the sensual pleasures you afford me? You know that my heart yearns for you when the senses are satiated and the desire is blunted.'
"'Still, had it not been for me, you might have loved some woman whom you could have married'
"'And have found out, but too late, that
