Even then she remembered another scene, remembered her promise; even
then she thought of him, of his future, and struggled to release herself
from his embrace.
What did he say? what could he say? Where were the arguments he had
planned, the entreaties he had purposed? where the words with which he
was to tell his tale, combat her refusal, win her to a willing and happy
assent? All gone.
There was nothing but his heart and its caresses to speak for him.
Silent, with the ineffable stillness he kissed her eyes, her mouth, held
her to his breast with a passionate fondness,--a tender, yet masterful
hold, which said, "Nothing shall separate us now." She felt it,
recognized it, yielded without power to longer contend, clasped her arms
about his neck, met his eyes, and dropped her face upon his heart with a
long, tremulous sigh which confessed that heaven was won.
CHAPTER XIV
"_The golden hours, on angel wings,
Flew o'er me and my dearie._"
BURNS
The evening that followed was of the brightest and happiest; even the
adieus spoken to the soldier who was just leaving his home did not
sadden it. They were in such a state of exaltation as to see everything
with courageous and hopeful eyes, and sent Robert off with the feeling
that all these horrible realities they had known so long were but bogies
to frighten foolish children, and that he would come back to them
wearing, at the very least, the stars of a major-general.
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