"Would you mind looking at me?"
"No...."
But her eyes wavered, and the soft red ran up again into her face, as she met that young, keen look, all fierce with wounded love.
"How dare you say that I do not love you really?" he demanded, his voice shaking with passion. "Even Selene didn't trample on Endymion——"
She went pale.
"My dear...."
"How can you call me 'your dear,' and yet set your foot down like that—hard—right on my bare heart! How can you suggest that my love for you is not real?"
He flung his arm about her suddenly—caught both her hands in his.
"Listen...." he said. "Perhaps because I bring you worship, too, you think that I don't love you with man's love.... But it's because I love you so madly that I bring you worship. I wouldn't soil the soles of your shoes with what most men call love. I never believed in this kind ... this that I feel for you. But, by God! I've found it is real! It only kneels because it's so strong. Because it's so strong, it has reverence. Do you understand? Now give me your lips to worship. Don't waste them in words. You needn't fear my kisses ... white Moon. I wouldn't sully you with base fire."
He had drawn her to her feet. He held her crushed against him. His face was white and fine with purifying fire.