ttle breathlessly,
while one by one he let the pebbles fall into the pool, counting
inexorably as they fell.

"Thirteen! Fourteen, fifteen--and that's the last!" As he spoke he
turned toward her, and she, reading something of his purpose in his
eyes, turned to flee, felt his long arms about her, felt herself swung
up and up and so lay crushed and submissive in his fierce embrace as he
turned and began to bear her across the garden. Then, being helpless,
she began to plead with him.

"Ah, don't, don't--dear! Geoffrey! Put me down! Where are you taking me?
If any one sees us--"

"Let them!" he muttered grimly; "you're my wife!"

So he bore her across the garden into the arbour and laying her upon the
divan, sank beside it on his knees, panting a little.

"A little weak--still!" said he, "but not so bad--you're no scraggy
sylph, thank heaven! Hermione--look at me!" But she turned and hid her
face against him, for his clasp was close about her still. So he stooped
and kissed her hair, her glowing cheek, her soft white neck, and, in
that instant--wonder of wonders--her arms were around him, strong,
passionate arms that clung and drew him close--then strove wildly to
hold him away.

"Loose me!" she cried, "let me go! Geoffrey--husband, be generous and
let me go!" But he lifted her head, back and back across his arm until
beneath her long lashes her eyes looked into his.

"Hermione, when will you--be my wife?"

Against him he could feel the sweet hurry of her breathing, and stooping
he spoke again, lip to lip:

"Hermione, when will you be my wife?"

But, even while he kissed her, between those quivering, parted lips came
a murmur of passionate prayer and pleading.

"Oh, my love, wait--wait! Let me tell you--ah, loose me and let me tell
you."

Slowly his hold relaxed, and, twisting in his arms, she slipped upon her
knees beside him, and, crouching close, hid her face against him.

"Beloved," she whispered quickly, breathlessly, "oh, dear man that I
love so--there is something between us, a shadow of shame and horror
that is with me day and night and always must be. While you lay sick it
was there, torturing me with every moan and sigh you uttered. It is
with me wherever I go--it is between us now--yes, now--even while I
strain you in my arms like this. I have watched you grow strong and well
again, I've seen the love in your eyes, and I've yearned to be to
you--all you would have me, but because of this shadow