Then he dropped it and took her suddenly by her small throat, almost violently, and turned her face up to his; but she was not frightened, and she smiled in his grasp.
'I did not mean to love you!'
He still held her as he spoke; she put up her hands together and took his wrists, but not to free herself; instead, she pressed his hold closer upon her throat, as if to make him choke her.
'I wish you would kill me now!' she cried, in a trembling, happy little voice.
He laughed low, and shook her the least bit, as a strong man shakes a child in play, but her eyes drew him to her more and more.
'It would be so easy now,' she almost whispered, 'and I should be so happy!'
Then they kissed; and as their lips touched they closed their eyes, for they were too near to see each other any longer. Her head sank back from his upon his arm, for she was almost fainting, and he laid his palm gently on her forehead and pushed away her hair, and looked at her long.
'I had not meant to love you,' he said again.
Her lips were still parted, tender as rose-leaves at dewfall, and her eyes glistened as she opened them at the sound of his voice.
'Are you sorry?' she asked faintly.