For a moment they were silent, both feeling too agitated to speak.

Beyond the shadow of the bushes the world lay silent in the mellow moonlight, a soft breathing stole up to them from the heaving sea below, a whispering breeze played on their faces, and through it all the insidious glamour of the dance, which had enchanted the simple rustic girl, wove like a silver thread.
"Morva," he said at last, pressing the hand which he held in his, "thou knowest well what I want to say.

If I had learning like Will's now, I would not be hunting for words like this, but indeed, lass, I am fair doited with love of thee.

Answer me, dost love me too?
I think, Morva," and he drew her closer, "I think thou dost not hate me ?" "Oh, no," she whispered, "but--but--" and she slowly endeavoured to withdraw from his detaining grasp, "but, Gethin, I am promised to Will." "What?
What didst say, girl ?" said Gethin, in an agitated voice.
"Thou hast promised to marry Will ?" There was a long pause of silence, during which the lapping of the waves on the beach, the rustle of the leaves in the bushes, together with their own fluttering breaths, were distinctly audible.
"Didst say that, Morva ?" "Yes, indeed, 'tis true," said the girl, in a low voice.
"But--but does Will love thee ?" "Yes, he loves me," answered Morva sadly, but steadily, "and I love him, and I must listen to no other man, for I have promised him." "Promised him! when ?" said Gethin, trying to steady his voice.
"Oh, many times, many times; two nights ago, here, under this very broom bush, I promised to be true and unchangeable." "Is this true indeed, then?
Hast promised thyself away from me ?" said Gethin, looking round as if dazed and stunned.
"Yes," she answered again, in a low voice.

"Will asked me if I loved him, and I said 'Yes, I love thee with all my heart, and I love everyone at Garthowen the same, and would willingly give my life for them.'" "And what did he say to that ?" asked Gethin in a scornful tone.
"He said, 'twas right I should feel like that, for they had all been kind to me, ever since the sea cast me up here, a little helpless baby; and he said 'twould ill repay their kindness to break his heart." Gethin snatched at her hand hungrily.
"Will I tell thee, lass, what I would have answered if I had been Will?
I would have said, 'Love me, Morva, _more_ than all the others at Garthowen; love me more than all the world beside; love me as I love thee, girl! Nothing less will satisfy me; no riches, no worldly goods, no joy, no happiness will be of any account to me if I have not all thy love.'" "Stop, Gethin, stop," said Morva, turning away.
But Gethin continued, still detaining her hands in his, "That is what I would have said, Morva, if I were Will.