In the doorway she turned.
"I can't help it.

I can't help it, father.

I love him--but I love you too," she cried.

"I don't want to go--oh, I don't want to go! Why do you-- ?" her voice choked; she did not finish the sentence; or if she did, he could not hear.
Then she opened the door wide, and disappeared into the darkness of the unlighted stairway, murmuring, "Pity--have pity on me, holy Mother, Vierge Marie!" Then the door closed behind her almost with a bang.
After a moment of stupefied inaction Jean Jacques hurried over and threw open the door she had closed.

"Zoe--little Zoe, come back and say good-night," he called.