tudy of the inviting creature not two yards
away, he partially raised himself on an elbow. The contemplation of this
lady he had found at all times entrancing; but now, from her unconscious
carelessness and freedom she became of absorbing interest. Her dignity
was asleep, as it were: her caution forgotten. With captivated eyes he
drank in the graceful outlines of her figure beneath the white dress,
the gentle movement of the chest, the limp hands on the pine-needles.
Some of the pride and reserve of the clean-cut, patrician face--of which
he stood in awe--had melted away in slumber.

Maybe the murmur of the pines with the drowsy, languorous breeze relaxed
his conscience; at all events the contours of the upturned lips were
irresistible. Silently he rolled over once--the soft carpet of
pine-needles abetting the manoeuvre--until his face was at right
angles to her own, and very near. Then cautiously and slowly he pressed
his lips to hers. This contact brought a thrill of ecstasy--an
intoxication to his senses. But the joy was brief.

More quickly than his startled wits could follow she had pushed away his
face and risen to her feet. Erect, with burning cheeks, she looked down
into his startled eyes with an expression that brought him sharply to
his senses. It was a look of amazement, of incredulity, of contempt--of
everything in short that he had hoped never to encounter in her face
again. For a moment she stood regarding him, her breast heaving, a stray
lock of hair across a hot cheek, the most distant, the most exalted, and
the most beautiful figure he had ever seen. Then, without a word, she
walked away. Across the open, sunlit space his eyes followed her, until,
through the doorway of the cottage, she disappeared.

For a moment he remained as he was, upon the ground, half reclining,
staring blankly at the doorway. Then, slowly, he lowered himself and lay
at full length along the ground, his face in his hands.

Of the flight of time he had no knowledge: but, at last, when he rose to
his feet he appeared older. He was paler. His eyes were duller. About
the mouth had come lines which seemed to indicate a painful resolution.
But to the shrunken legs he had summoned a sufficient force to carry
him, without wavering, to the cottage door. He entered and dropped, as a
man uncertain of his strength, into the nearest chair--the one beside
the doorway. Solomon, who had followed at his heels, looked up
inquiringly into the ema