"Haunte was insane with passion."

"So am I," said Maskull quietly. "My body seems full of rocks, all
grinding against one another."

"This is what I was afraid of."

"It appears I shall have to kiss her too."

Corpang pulled his arm. "Have you lost all manliness?"

But Maskull impatiently shook himself free. He plucked nervously at
his beard, and stared at Sullenbode. His lips kept twitching. After
this had gone on for a few minutes, he stepped forward, bent over the
woman, and lifted her bodily in his arms. Setting her upright
against the rugged tree trunk, he kissed her.

A cold, knifelike shock passed down his frame. He thought that it
was death, and lost consciousness.

When his sense returned, Sullenbode was holding him by the shoulder
with one hand at arm's length, searching his face with gloomy eyes.
At first he failed to recognise her; it was not the woman he had
kissed, but another. Then he gradually realised that her face was
identical with that which Haunte's action had called into existence.
A great calmness came upon him; his bad sensations had disappeared.

Sullenbode was transformed into a living soul. Her skin was firm,
her features were strong, her eyes gleamed with the consciousness of
power. She was tall and slight, but slow in all her gestures and