Once only, love, will burn the blood-red fire;
But once awaketh the wild desire;
Love pleadeth long, but what if love should tire?
Now shall we love, dear love, or shall we wait?
The day is short, the evening cometh fast;
The time of choosing, love, will soon be past;
The outer darkness falleth, love—at last.
Love, let us love ere it be late—too late.
After hastily perusing the letter which he had received, Ray Challoner thrust it quickly into his pocket, muttering hoarsely to himself that there was little time to lose. He must propose to Jess as expeditiously as possible.
He would not trust himself to figure on the result further than to assure himself that the marriage ceremony should be consummated by fair means or foul, and that, too, without delay.