The men quickly disappeared, and John took Stella’s hand:
“Come, dearest, we must go.”
“Yes,” she answered, timidly clinging to his arm and holding him back.
“We must hurry,” he urged.
“I won’t hurry,” she said with tender wilfulness.
“When a woman won’t, she won’t,” John laughed.
She gently stroked his hand and slowly slipped her arm in his as she allowed him to lead her out into the moonlight beside the white silent pillars.
“Wait here until I bring the horses,” John said, gently disengaging his arm.
Stella clung to him firmly.
“No, don’t go yet. Why hurry? Let them wait. I wish to be alone with you for a while here on this beautiful spot. It’s all so new and wonderful. This knowing that I love and am loved! I’ve just begun to live the past hour. I’m afraid to go back to the world.”