"Nor I."
She trailed a white hand in the water as they sped up stream. The light touched her hair lovingly, bringing gleams of gold and amber from the depths.
Alden's Silence
"Dear," he said, "did you think that, after last night, I could urge you to violate your solemn oath or even to break your word?"
"I hoped not, but I didn't know."
"I see it all clearly now. If more was meant for us to have, more would be right for us to take. Back in the beginning this was meant for you and me—just this, and nothing more."
"How could there be more? Isn't love enough?"
"Surely, but the separation hurts. Never even to see your face or touch your hand again!"
"I know," she said, softly. "I'll want you, too."
A thousand things struggled for utterance, but, true to his word, he remained silent. His whole nature was merged into an imperious demand for her, the cry of the man's soul for the woman who belonged to him by divine right.