"Don't ask me," she entreated. "I'm better now."
She tried to smile, but the sweet lips trembled. Young hadn't seen her so stirred in all the years of her residence in his house. He'd been able to hold his love in check while he saw her happy and content, but her present pitiful state broke down the barriers he'd erected and hardly conscious of the change in his attitude, he kissed her.
Tess drew away sharply. The strange new quality in his caress aroused an answering thrill the length of her body. In that moment she discovered how deeply she loved Deforrest Young.
"Don't ... don't kiss me! Never, never kiss me again."
What was it she had said? The man felt his heart contract with a shooting pain.
"Why, child, I've kissed you since you were a little girl.... Why shouldn't I?"
"I don't know, I don't know," she faltered. "Somehow it's different, now."
Something in her tones, some dejection in the bowed head brought the man's hand from the shrouding curls. His heart began to live again, to come forth from beneath his stern will and make known its own desire.
"Tess," his voice tense with emotion, "will you marry me?... Will you, Tess?"
The girl got to her feet, swaying. Marry him? Her fingers twisted together as her eyes dropped before the expression of his. He, too, was on his feet, holding out his arms.