He drew closer and put her arm around his neck. The very innocence and purity of her love inflamed his passion and enhanced her charms in his sight.
He had been loved before, but never like this, with such perfect, unquestioning love.
"Well, then, my darling, why should we wait? It must be soon, Stella."
"No, no," she said, faintly. "Why should it? I—I am very happy."
"What is it you dread? Is it so dreadful the thought that we should be alone together—all in all to each other?"
"It is not that," said Stella, her eyes fixed on the line of light that fell on the water from the rising moon. "It is not that. I am thinking of others."
"Always of others!" he said, with tender reproach. "Think of me—of ourselves."
"I wish——" she said.
"Wish," he coaxed her. "See if I cannot gratify it. I will, if it be possible."
"It is not possible," she said. "I was going to say that I wish you were not—what you are."