ground, and was pressing her feet to his lips. 'Don't do that,
Dmitri. . . . Dmitri----'

He got up.

'Then leave me! You see, Elena, when I was taken ill, I did not lose
consciousness at first; I knew I was on the edge of the abyss;
even in the fever, in delirium I knew, I felt vaguely that it was
death coming to me, I took leave of life, of you, of everything; I
gave up hope. . . . And this return to life so suddenly; this light
after the darkness, you--you--near me, with me--your voice, your
breath. . . . It's more than I can stand! I feel I love you
passionately, I hear you call yourself mine, I cannot answer for
myself. . . You must go!'

'Dmitri,' whispered Elena, and she nestled her head on his shoulder.
Only now she understood him.

'Elena,' he went on, 'I love you, you know that; I am ready to give
my life for you. . . . Why have you come to me now, when I am weak,
when I can't control myself, when all my blood's on fire . . . you are
mine, you say . . . you love me------'

'Dmitri,' she repeated; she flushed all over, and pressed still
closer to him.

'Elena, have pity on me; go away, I feel as if I should die. ... I
can't stand these violent emotions . . . my whole soul yearns for you
. . . think, death was almost parting us . . and now you are here, you
are in my arms . . . Elena----'