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Page 35
"Oh, you adorable one!" he said. "It is not wrong--not the least
wrong. Only presently, when you do understand, you will realize
how very much I loved you to-day."
But Stella was still pouting--and got up restlessly and went to
the window.
"What can they do when they get to the Embassy?" she asked. "Could
they really take me back if they found me by telephoning round?"
"I do not think so--if you are past twenty-one."
"I was twenty-one in April. I am not a bit afraid of them, but I
do not want to have any row."
"When my sister has arrived you must write to your aunt, and tell
where you are and what are your intentions, then all will be
finished."
"Oh, I wish she would come, don't you?" Stella said.
"More than I can say, darling," he answered, fervently. "You will
not, I hope, find me so incomprehensible then."
He walked about the room once or twice, and at last paused in
front of her.
"Stella," he whispered, while his eyes blazed again, "I cannot
bear it, little sweetheart, to stay all alone with you here. Will
you forgive me, if I leave you until Anastasia has arrived? Go and
rest in your room, darling, and I will go to the station to meet
her. Ivan will remain outside your door and you will be quite
safe."
But Stella put out her hands like a frightened baby.
"Oh. must you leave me?" she cried, pettishly. "You are very
cruel! You make me almost wish I had not come."
From having swum with love and passion his eyes suddenly gave
forth a flash of steel, and his voice was like ice as he answered:
"If that is so, mademoiselle, it is not too late. I would not
exact any unwilling sacrifice. Shall I take you back again?"
And then Stella's childishness melted and fell from her, and she
became a real woman as she looked into his stern face.
"No--" she said, "I will not go back. I am sorry I was so
uncontrolled, but I am nervous--and I do not know exactly what I
am--Sasha, please take care of me," and she held out her hands
with a piteous gesture of asking for his protection, and moved
beyond all power of further control he folded her in his arms.
"My darling, my darling!" he murmured, frantically kissing her
hair. But his iron will reasserted itself in a few seconds, and
while he still held her he said with more calm:
"Little star, you must never speak to me like that again, as you
did just now, I mean. It was unreasonable and not kind, if you but
knew! And I have a very arrogant temper, I fear, although I am
nearly master of it, and shall be quite in time, I hope. We might
have parted then and spoilt both our lives. Won't you believe me
that I love--I adore you!" he went on tenderly. "I am madly
longing to be for you the most passionate lover a woman ever had.
It is only for your sake and for honor and our future happiness
that I restrain myself now. You see I am not an Englishman who can
accept half-measures. Do not make it impossible for me, sweet
love!"
His voice was almost a sob in its deep notes of pleading, and
Stella was touched.
"Oh! you are so dear and great," she answered fondly. "I am
perhaps very wicked to have tempted you. If it would be wrong for
you to kiss me, which I cannot understand, it is--oh, it is
because I love you like that, too!"
At this ingenuous admission, passion nearly overcame him again,
and he held her so tightly it seemed as if he must crush out her
very breath. Then he put her from him and walked toward the door.
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