_You_ don't know it one-half so well
as I! I love you better than anything in the world, love everything of
you--the turn of your head, the blessed touch of your hand, the smallest
word that comes from your dear lips--the thoughts that your forehead
hides, but which my heart guesses when I'm sane! And yet, try as hard as
I can, these mad fits take hold of me, and although I'd willingly _die_
to save you _pain_, still _I_, _I_ myself, hurt and wound you past all
bearing! It doesn't make any difference that _I_ suffer too! _I ought_
to! I deserve to--you _don't_! Oh, no! I know I'm a disappointment and a
failure!
[_Her eyes fill up with tears and her voice breaks._
AUSTIN. [_He turns to her._] No, Jinny, not so bad as that, only I
thought you were _big_--and you're _so little_, oh, _so small_!
JINNY. Yes, it's true; I'm small--I'm _small_! Oh, I'd like to be big,
too! I want to be noble and strong, but I'm not--I'm as weak as
water--only it's _boiling_ water! I want to be Brunhilde, and I'm only
Frou Frou! Yes, I'm little; but I _love_ you--_I love you!_
[_She sinks on to a stool beside him.
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