"Certainly. And so I permitted myself to relax—a little."
"In the cellar?"
"Yes.... And I nearly paid for it, didn't I?"
"I ought to have kissed you," said I with sulky conviction.
"Do you think so?"
"I'm sorry I didn't."
"I'm sorry, too." She sprang to her feet, laughing and scared: "Wait! Listen. I'm sorry only because it was the only moment that ever could have happened in my life when I might have submitted to that simple and bourgeoise experience known as being kissed. Now it can never happen again, Don Michael. And I shall journey, unsaluted, to my virgin tomb."
She lifted her gray eyes sparkling with malice:
"Because a young man was too timid to offer me the curious and unique experience of being kissed, I must expire, eventually, in total ignorance of that interesting process."
Her face changed subtly as I started to my feet, and something in the beautiful altered features halted me.