He kissed her, and the intensity of passion began to burn him again.

Somebody was at the door.
He ran upstairs; she returned to her room, moving as if in a trance.
After that the fire slowly went down.

He felt more and more that his experience had been impersonal, and not Clara.

He loved her.

There was a big tenderness, as after a strong emotion they had known together; but it was not she who could keep his soul steady.