But she did not; indeed, she sat herself down upon the stone at my
side and covered her face with her hands as I had done and began to weep
as I had done. Now in my turn I asked her:
"Why do you weep?"
"Because I, too, must know loneliness, and with it shame, Lord Hurachi."
At these words my heart beat and passion flamed up in me. Stretching
out my hand I drew hers away and in the dying light gazed at the face
beneath. Lo! on its loveliness there was a look which could not be
misread.
"Do you, then, also love?" I whispered.
"Aye, more, I think, than ever woman loved before. From the moment when
first I saw you sleeping in the moonbeams on the desert isle, I knew my
fate had found me, and that I loved. I fought against it because I must,
but that love has grown and grown, till now I am all love, and, having
given everything, have no more left to give."
When I heard this, making no answer, I swept her into my arms and kissed
her, and there she lay upon my breast and kissed me back.
"Let me go, and hear me," she murmured presently, "for you are strong
and I am weak.
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