confusedly: she was so full of emotion that she dared not trust
herself further.

"Does time count, then, so much with conventional people?" he
demanded. "For me it has no significance in relation to feeling.
If you would only look at me instead of down at those small hands,
then you would not be able to tell me these foolish things!"

This was so true that Stella could not deny it, her breath came
rather fast; it was the supreme moment her life had yet known.

"You are frightened because the training of your education still
holds you and not nature. Your acquired opinion tells you you are
engaged to another man, and ought not to listen to me."

"Of course I ought not to," she murmured.

"Of course you ought--how else can you come to any conclusion if
you do not hear my arguments--sweet, foolish one!"

She did look at him now with two startled eyes.

"Listen attentively, darling pupil, and sweet love," he said. He
was leaning with one arm on the back of the bench supporting his
head on his hand, turned quite toward her, who sat with clasped
nervous fingers clutching her fan. His other hand lay idly on his
knee, his whole attitude was very still. The soft lights were just
enough for him to see distinctly her small face and shining hair;
his own face was in shadow, but she could feel the magnetism of
his eyes penetrating through her very being.