I care--terribly now." He kissed her, and his kiss was passionate.

"No one shall ever think anything but good of you, my Stella," he said.
She clung to him.

"Ah, but the outside world doesn't matter," she said.
"It is only we ourselves, and our secret, innermost hearts that count.
Everard, let us be more than true to each other! Let us be quite, quite open--always!" He held her fast, but he made no answer to her appeal.
Her eyes sought his.

"That is possible, isn't it ?" she pleaded.

"My heart is open to you.