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STRAIT IS THE GATE 174

“But what is it I can do, my friend?" she said at once: “You are in love with a phantom." “No, not with a phantom, Alissa." "With a creature of your imagination." "Alas ! I am not inventing. She was once my friend. I call upon her. Alissa! Alissa! it was you I loved. What have you done with yourself? What have you made yourself become?” She remained a few moments without answering, slowly pulling a flower to pieces and keeping her head down. Then, at last: "Jerome, why don't you simply admit that you love me less?” "Because it's not true! Because it's not true!" I exclaimed indignantly; "because I never loved you more." "You love me -- and yet you regret me!” said she, trying to smile, and slightly shrugging her shoulders. “I cannot put my love into the past.” The ground was giving way beneath me; and I caught at anything. “It must pass with the rest.” “A love like mine will pass only with me." "It will gradually grow less. The Alissa whom you think you still love, already exists only in

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