"Oh, please do not--do not say what you are tempted to," her voice
almost pleading. "I cannot listen; truly I cannot; I must not. It
would make us both very unhappy, and you would be sure to regret such
hasty words."
"Regret!" and he yet clung to the hand which she scarcely endeavored to
release, bending forward, hoping to read in her hidden eyes the secret
her lips guarded. "Am I, then, not old enough to know my own mind?"
"Yes--yes; I hope so, yes; but it is not for me; it can never be for
me--I am no more than a child, a homeless waif, a nobody. You forget
that I do not even know who I am, or the name I ought rightfully to
bear. I will not have it so."
"Naida, sweetheart!" and he burst impetuously through all bonds of
restraint, her flushed cheeks the inspiration to his daring. "I will
speak, for I care nothing for all this. It is you I love--love
forever. Do you understand me, darling? I love you! I love you!"
For an instant,--one glad, weak, helpless, forgetful instant,--she did
not see him, did not even know herself; the very world was lost. Then
she awoke as if from a dream, his strong arms clasped about her, his
lips upon hers.
"You must not," she sobbed. "I tell you no! I will not consent; I
will not be false to myself. You have no right; I gave you no right."
He permitted her to draw away, and they stood facing each other, he
eager, mystified, thrilling with passion almost beyond mastery, she
trembling and unstrung, her cheeks crimson, her eyes filled with mute
appeal.
"I read it in your face," he insisted. "It told of love."
"Then my face must have lied," she answered, her soft voice tremulous,
"or else you read the message wrongly. It is from my lips you must
take the answer."
"And they kissed me."
"If so, I knew it not. It was by no volition of mine. Lieutenant
Brant, I have trusted you so completely; that was not right."
"My heart exonerates me."
"I cannot accept that guidance."
"Then you do not love me."
She paused, afraid of the impulse that swept her on. "Perhaps," the
low voice scarcely audible, "I may love you too well."
"You mean there is something--some person, perhaps--standing between?"