She did not seem to notice the closeness of his hold for a moment or two; then she suddenly became conscious of it, and, with a flush rising to her face, she tried to draw away.
“Stay,” he said; and his voice was very deep and full of music that penetrated through her heart. “Don’t move. Rest awhile!”
She obeyed. She felt her heart beating under his hand—not feebly, but with a strong, tumultuous pulse.
“I am all right now,” she said, with a shy laugh. “Let me get up again. I am quite right, and not a bit hurt.”
“Stay,” he said again. “Esmeralda—”
She looked up at him; then her long lashes hid her eyes.
“Esmeralda—give me my answer! Will you be my wife? Ah! forgive me; I ought not to ask you now—”
She did not draw away from him; but her head drooped.
There was a moment’s silence, then she said “Yes!”
The way in which the word was spoken almost awed him.