"I love you," he said. "You know I love you...."
"Don't!"
"I loved you the minute I set eyes on you, and I wanted to meet you again ... and then I was jealous of Gilbert because you took so much notice of him and so little of me, and ... I love you, I love you!"
She thrust him from her. "You're hurting me," she said, and she panted as she spoke.
"I want to hurt you," he answered.
"But you mustn't...."
He did not let her finish her sentence. He pressed his lips hard on hers until his strength seemed to pass away from him. He felt in some strange way that her eyes were closed and that she was moaning....
He put his arms about her again, and drew her head gently on to his breast. "My dear," he said softly, bending over her and kissing her hair.
She lay very still in his arms, so still that he thought she had fallen asleep. Her long lashes trembled a little, and then she opened her eyes, sighing contentedly as she did so. He smiled down at her, and she smiled in response. Then she put her hand up and stroked his cheek and ruffled his hair.