Sure I am far
from blaming you, my dear. But let it pass, 'tis enough that I know you
love him as he loves you."
Again her mood changed in the twinkling of an eye. She sank down upon
the hassock, laughing merrily.
"O wise Monsieur John! how well you read a woman's heart! 'Tis you
should be the lover, instead of Dick. He rides a-courting as he would
charge a legion on a battle-field. But nothing would ever tempt you to
be so masterful rough, would it, Monsieur John? You would look deep into
your sweetheart's eyes and say--Tell me what you would say, _mon ami_?"
Ah, my dears, I hope no one of you will ever be tempted as I was tempted
then. I forgot my dear lad, forgot honor, forgot everything save that I
had leave to tell her how I had loved her from the first; how I should
go on loving her to the end. So for a moment I hung trembling on the
brink; and then she pushed me over.
"Is this how you would do, Monsieur--Monsieur Ogre?--sit stock still and
glower at the poor thing as if you were between two minds as to loving
her or eating her?"
I bent quickly, took her face between my hands and kissed her
twice--thrice.
"That is what I should do. Now that you have made me what I was not
before, are you satisfied?"
'Twas long before she gave me a word. And when she spoke it was only to
say: "Are you not most monstrous ashamed, Monsieur John?"
"No!" said I. "I am but a man, and you have roused that part of me that
knows neither shame nor remorse.
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