And his lips rested on that little warm, quivering, feverish hand, and they could no more be separated from it.
And, when at length he withdrew his mouth from it, he found that Suzanne was so near to him that he heard the beatings of her heart.
—Leave me, said the imprudent girl, I entreat you, leave me. Oh, why are you doing that?
And she tried with vain efforts to loosen herself from the embrace.
But he murmured softly:
—Leave you, oh, never; you shall be my companion in life as you are my betrothed before the Eternal. Leave you, dear Suzanne, sweet mystic rose, chosen vessel. See, there is something stronger than all the laws and all the proprieties; it is a look from you. Why do you repulse me? I speak to you as to the Virgin, and I kiss your knees. Chaste betrothed of the Levite, let me espouse you before God.
She struggled with all her might, excited and maddened. But what can the dove do in the talons of the hawk! Pressed to his breast by his vigorous arms, it was in vain that she asked for pity. Hell might have opened, ere he would have dropped his prey.
The struggle lasted several minutes, passionate, silent, ardent. Woman is weak. Soon nothing was heard … a sob … and all died away in the dense shade.
The startled cricket was silent, and it alone might have counted the sighs, while in the neighbouring ditch the toad unwearied continued its love-song.