intimacy.

Komel was of such a happy and cheerful disposition at heart that she
scattered pleasure always about her, but Aphiz's very love rendered
him thoughtful and perhaps at times a little melancholy; for he
feared that some future chance might in an unforeseen, way rob him
of her who was so ineffably dear to him. He did not exactly fear
that Komel's parents would sell her to go to Constantinople, though
they were now, since war and pestilence had swept away lands, home
and title, poor enough; and yet there was an undefined fear ever
acting in his heart as to her he loved. Sometimes when he realized
this most keenly, he could not help whispering his forebodings to
Komel herself.

"Nay, dear Aphiz," she would say to him, with a gentle smile upon
her countenance, "let not that shadow rest upon thy brow, but rather
look with the sun on the bright side of everything. Am I not a
simple and weak girl, and yet I am cheerful and happy, while thou,
so strong, so brave and manly, art ever fearing some unknown ill."

"Only as it regards thee, Komel, do I fear anything."

"That's true, but I should inspire thee with joy, not fear and
uneasiness."

"It is only the love I bear thee, dearest, that makes me so jealous,
so anxious, so fearful lest some chance should rob me of thee
forever," he would reply tenderly.

"It is ever thus; what is there to fear, Aphiz?"