"Oh! thank you—thank you for that assurance!" exclaimed Cecilia; and, as if yielding to an unconquerable burst of feeling, she threw herself into his arms: "you shall be as a brother to me; and our friendship, our love, shall be eternal!"
Her rich red mouth was pressed upon the rector's lips; her arms were wound around him; and for a moment he yielded to the intoxicating delight of that pleasure so new to him.
But ere he was entirely culpable, his guardian genius struck his soul with a sudden remorse; and, disengaging himself from the syren's arms, he imprinted one long—burning—delicious kiss upon her lips; then, murmuring, "To-morrow, to-morrow, dearest Cecilia, I will see thee again," rushed from the room.
"He is mine!" exclaimed the lady, as the door closed behind him; "irrevocably mine!"
CHAPTER CXXIX.
THE FALL.
REGINALD Tracy returned to his own abode, his breast agitated with a variety of conflicting feelings.
He pushed his old housekeeper, who announced to him that dinner was ready, rudely aside, and hurried up to his own chamber.
There he threw himself upon his knees, and endeavoured to pray to be released from temptation.
For he now comprehended all the dangers which beset him, although he suspected not the perfidy and artifice of the tempter.
But not a word of supplication could he utter from the mouth which still burned with the thrilling kisses of the beautiful Cecilia.