\"Whatcanwedointhedark？\"
\"Wecantalk。\"
Wewerefour；forthelastthreehourswehadbeentalking，andIwastheherooftheromance。Loveisagreatpoet，itsresourcesareinexhaustible，butiftheendithasinviewisnotobtained，itfeelswearyandremainssilent。MyAngelalistenedwillingly，butlittledisposedtotalkherself，sheseldomanswered，andshedisplayedgoodsenseratherthanwit。Toweakentheforceofmyarguments，shewasoftensatisfiedwithhurlingatmeaproverb，somewhatinthefashionoftheRomansthrowingthecatapult。Everytimethatmypoorhandscametotheassistanceoflove，shedrewherselfbackorrepulsedme。Yet，inspiteofall，Iwentontalkingandusingmyhandswithoutlosingcourage，butIgavemyselfuptodespairwhenIfoundthatmyratherartfularguingastoundedherwithoutbringingconvictiontoherheart，whichwasonlydisquieted，neversoftened。Ontheotherhand，IcouldseewithastonishmentupontheircountenancestheimpressionmadeuponthetwosistersbytheardentspeechesIpouredouttoAngela。Thismetaphysicalcurvestruckmeasunnatural，itoughttohavebeenanangle；Iwasthen，unhappilyformyself，studyinggeometry。Iwasinsuchastatethat，notwithstandingthecold，Iwasperspiringprofusely。Atlastthelightwasnearlyout，andNanettetookitaway。
Themomentwewereinthedark，IverynaturallyextendedmyarmstoseizeherwhomIloved；butIonlymetwithemptyspace，andIcouldnothelplaughingattherapiditywithwhichAngelahadavailedherselfoftheopportunityofescapingme。ForonefullhourI
pouredoutallthetender，cheerfulwordsthatloveinspiredmewith，topersuadehertocomebacktome；Icouldonlysupposethatitwasajoketoteaseme。ButIbecameimpatient。