He
prowls just like a wild animal."
A moment's silence came after Peter's return to the fire. Then he said:
"Will you give it to me, Miss D'Alloi?" But his voice in truth, made the
words, "Give me what I ask, my darling."
"Yes," said Leonore softly. "On your birthday." Then Leonore shrank back
a little, as if afraid that her gift would be sought sooner. No young
girl, however much she loves a man, is quite ready for that first kiss.
A man's lips upon her own are too contrary to her instinct and previous
training to make them an unalloyed pleasure. The girl who is over-ready
for her lover's first kiss, has tasted the forbidden fruit already, or
has waited over-long for it.
Peter saw the little shrinking and understood it. What was more, he
heeded it as many men would not have done. Perhaps there was something
selfish in his self-denial, for the purity and girlishness which it
indicated were very dear to him, and he hated to lessen them by anything
he did. He stood quietly by her, and merely said, "I needn't tell you
how happy I am!"
Leonore looked up into Peter's face.
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