Sanine stood up, and moved towards her.
“What is it?” she asked in alarm.
“It’s all right, I am only going to …”
Sina rose in her turn, and attempted to get to the rudder.
The boat rocked so violently that she well nigh lost her balance, and involuntarily she caught hold of Sanine, after falling almost into his arms. At that moment, almost unconsciously, and never believing it possible, she gently prolonged their contact. It was this touch of her that in a moment fired his blood, while she, sensible of his ardour, irresistibly responded thereto.
“Ah!” exclaimed Sanine, in surprise and delight.
He embraced her passionately, forcing her backwards, so that her hat fell off.
The boat rocked with greater violence, as invisible wavelets dashed against the shore.
“What are you doing?” she cried, in a faint voice. “Let me go! For heaven’s sake! … What are you doing? …”
She struggled to free herself from those arms of steel, but Sanine crushed her firm bosom closer, closer to his own, till such barriers as there had been between them ceased to exist.