"How proud I am to belong to you! You are my pride. One single minute passed near you suffices to make me feel another woman, absolutely other. You suddenly communicate to me another blood and another mind. I am no longer Hippolyte, the Hippolyte of yesterday. Give me a new name."
He named her:
"Soul!"
They fell into each other's arms in a furious embrace, as if to pluck and unroot the kisses which blossomed on their lips. Then Hippolyte disengaged herself, and repeated:
"Now, I'll leave you. Where's my room? Let me see it."
George passed an arm around her waist and led her into the bedroom. She gave a cry of admiration when she perceived the thalamus thalamorum, draped with a large yellow damask counterpane.
"But we shall get lost in it!"
And she laughed as she walked all round the monument.
"The most difficult thing will be to get into it."
"First, you'll place your foot upon my knee, in accordance with the old-time custom of the peasants in these parts."