"My darling, my darling!" he murmured, frantically kissing her
hair. But his iron will reasserted itself in a few seconds, and
while he still held her he said with more calm:

"Little star, you must never speak to me like that again, as you
did just now, I mean. It was unreasonable and not kind, if you but
knew! And I have a very arrogant temper, I fear, although I am
nearly master of it, and shall be quite in time, I hope. We might
have parted then and spoilt both our lives. Won't you believe me
that I love--I adore you!" he went on tenderly. "I am madly
longing to be for you the most passionate lover a woman ever had.
It is only for your sake and for honor and our future happiness
that I restrain myself now. You see I am not an Englishman who can
accept half-measures. Do not make it impossible for me, sweet
love!"

His voice was almost a sob in its deep notes of pleading, and
Stella was touched.

"Oh! you are so dear and great," she answered fondly. "I am
perhaps very wicked to have tempted you. If it would be wrong for
you to kiss me, which I cannot understand, it is--oh, it is
because I love you like that, too!"

At this ingenuous admission, passion nearly overcame him again,
and he held her so tightly it seemed as if he must crush out her
very breath. Then he put her from him and walked toward the door.

"I dare not stay another second," he said, in a strangled voice.