It would prove his destruction."
"Your own superiority, of course, rendering you immune?"
"Maybe." At least, whether she knew it or not, she loved his serenity.
"Maybe--and maybe I'm an exception too."
He sat very still. She had turned away once more.
"You'll be back again in the spring?" he asked with that gentleness he
saved for her alone.
"I hope--I think so." The smallness of her voice angered her. She
feigned a short, carefree laugh. "Unless I am too busy. Getting
married seems to become a more and come complicated problem of proper
costuming, doesn't it, with every passing season!"
She couldn't have told why she said it; she was trying to think of
something else to say which would be kinder by far. And then, half
lifting her, he had swung her around to him. For a moment he held her,
face close to that small, frightened face buried in its deep collar,
while she struggled uselessly against those hard arms which tried not
to hurt her. Her lips continued to rebel, long after her eyes had
closed--long after body and brain were quiescent.
"You mustn't!" she gasped. "Oh, I can't let you . . . the moon . . .
we--we're sure to be seen!"
His lips on hers silenced that last incoherent resistance. She sat,
wavy brown head bowed, when he had set her free.
"I was going to ask you not to forget!" There was no weariness now in
his voice.
Pages:
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317