'I will ask her to leave us quite alone then.

But now it will only be for a minute or two.' Thereupon, with the most natural movement in the world, she lifted her hands, brought his face close to hers and kissed him, drew back a little, looked gravely into his astonished eyes for some seconds, and then kissed him again.
'I love you much more than you love me,' she said with great seriousness.

'I am sure of it.' It was all very different from what he had expected.

He had vaguely fancied that for a long time every kiss would have to be won from her by a little struggle, and that every admission of her love would be the reward of his own eloquence; instead, she took the lead herself with a simplicity that touched him more than anything else could have done.
'You see!' she cried, with the intonation of a laugh not far away.

'I took you by surprise, because I am right about it! What have you to say ?' He said nothing, but his lips hurt hers a little in the silence.