Then she turned her face a little, and their lips met.
Lucina had never since her childhood kissed any man but her father, and as for Jerome, he had held such things with a shame of scorn.
This meant much to both of them, and the shock of such deep meaning caused them to start apart, as if with fear of each other.

Lucina raised her head, and even pushed Jerome away, gently, and he loosened his hold and stood up before her, all pale and trembling.
"You must forgive me--I--forgot myself," he said, with quick gasps for breath, "I won't--sit--down there again." Then he went on, speaking fast: "I have been--wanting to tell you, but there was no chance.

I could not come to see you any longer.

I could not.

I thought a man could go to see a woman when he was in love with her, and could bear it when the love was all on his side, and there was no--chance of marriage.