"No! No!" she cried, and struggled in my arms, so that I caught
her hands, and held them close, and kissed them many times.
"Oh, Charmian! Charmian!--don't you know--can't you see--it
is you I want--you, and only you forever; whatever you were
--whatever you are--I love you--love you, and always must!
Marry me, Charmian!--marry me! and you shall be dearer than
my life--more to me than my soul--" But, as I spoke, her hands
were snatched away, her eyes blazed into mine, and her lips
were all bitter scorn, and at the sight, fear came upon me.
"Marry you!" she panted; "marry you?--no and no and no!" And so
she stamped her foot, and sobbed, and turning, fled from me, out
of the cottage.
And now to fear came wonder, and with wonder was despair.
Truly, was ever man so great a fool!