Keene, knowing the passionate nature of the girl woman, letting himself reveal the great love of Benedict despite the laughing nature, and the torrent of light jest that rolls from his lips.
She rose to it, keeping well under control even when with the confession of her love almost unconsciously forced from her:
“‘I love you with so much of my heart, that none is left to protest.’”
He caught her to his heart, kissing her hair as he murmured passionately—“Come, bid me do anything for thee.”
She paled, but laughed as he released her, with sweetest witchery pelting him with taunts until he protests:
“‘By this hand, Claudio shall render me a dear account,’” and the scene ends.
She stood perfectly still, then swayed a moment, falling on a chair as he went forward.
Seeing the severe tension to which her nerves were pitched, he left her again, quietly looking over some books, but watching her covertly, knowing she would not faint now.
And in a few minutes she drew a deep breath and got to her feet again, going to him, her eyes asking the question her lips could not utter.
He took her hands in his, pressing them with a strong close grasp.