"Love you!" and she started to a sitting posture, "bend your face towards me, dearest, that you may read the truth in my eyes."
And now with a soft hand on each cheek, she continues.
"Love, you dearest, does the sun-flower love its god? Does the mother her first born? Then, do I love thee, my heart's dearest, with an unchanging tender love, and with all the intensity of my woman self."
For answer, she is drawn to a close embrace, and there are ecstatic moments with only throbbing eyes to the rhythm of heart-beats.
At last Vaura breaks the silence, by saying softly:
"'Tis time for you to leave me, Lionel, and yet I cannot spare you."
"I cannot go, my own, mine, mine; oh! darling, you do not know the joy, the paradise I feel as I hold you in my arms, and think that you, my beauty, you, whom men rave of, you actually love me; God be thanked," and the love-warm kisses come to the sweet flexible lips.
At this moment, Lady Esmondet considerately talking to Mars at the door, gave the lovers time to get a conventional number of inches between them, ere she entered.
"I fear it is time you were off, Lionel; it is really too bad you cannot dine with us."
Lionel standing up, and laying one hand on Vaura's head, as it rested on the cushioned back of the sofa, said: