小说园

第43部分（第6页）

her。　So　he　came　at　length　to　kiss　her；　and　she　was　almost

betrayed　by　his　insidious　kiss。　Her　open　mouth　was　too　helpless

and　unguarded。　He　knew　this；　and　his　first　kiss　was　very　gentle；

and　soft；　and　assuring；　so　assuring。　So　that　her　soft；

defenseless　mouth　became　assured；　even　bold；　seeking　upon　his

mouth。　And　he　answered　her　gradually；　gradually；　his　soft　kiss

sinking　in　softly；　softly；　but　ever　more　heavily；　more　heavily

yet；　till　it　was　too　heavy　for　her　to　meet；　and　she　began　to

sink　under　it。　She　was　sinking；　sinking；　his　smile　of　latent

gratification　was　being　more　tense；　he　was　sure　of　her。　He

let　the　whole　force　of　his　will　sink　upon　her　to　sweep　her　away。

But　it　was　too　great　a　shock　for　her。　With　a　sudden　horrible

movement　she　ruptured　the　state　that　contained　them　both。

〃Dont……dont！〃

It　was　a　rather　horrible　cry　that　seemed　to　e　out　of　her；

not　to　belong　to　her。　It　was　some　strange　agony　of　terror　crying

out　the　words。　There　was　something　vibrating　and　beside　herself

in　the　noise。　His　nerves　ripped　like　silk。

〃Whats　the　matter？〃　he　said；　as　if　calmly。　〃Whats　the

matter？〃

She　came　back　to　him；　but　trembling；　reservedly　this

time。

Her　cry　had　given　him　gratification。　But　he　knew　he　had　been

too　sudden　for　her。　He　was　now　careful。　For　a　while　he　merely

sheltered　her。　Also　there　had　broken　a　flaw　into　his　perfect

will。　He　wanted　to　persist；　to　begin　again；　to　lead　up　to　the

point　where　he　had　let　himself　go　on　her；　and　then　manage　more

carefully；　successfully。　So　far　she　had　won。　And　the　battle　was

not　over　yet。　But　another　voice　woke　in　him　and　prompted　him　to

let　her　go……let　her　go　in　contempt。

He　sheltered　her；　and　soothed　her；　and　caressed　her；　and

kissed　her；　and　again　began　to　e　nearer；　nearer。　He　gat