I've thought of this hour of our meeting a hundred, a thousand times, in all sorts of places, in all sorts of circumstances.

And now it has come! Celia, I love you, dear, I love you! Speak to me, dear! Oh, I know I'm not worthy of a single thought, a single breath of yours; but let my love plead for me, and--speak to me, Celia!" She sat enthralled by that magic which has been omnipotent since this weary world of ours began, and will be till it ends.

It was easy enough for him to say "speak," but ah, how difficult it was for her to obey, when her heart was too full for words! Instead of speech, she turned her face to him; and laid her hand on his, which held hers nearest to him.
There was a thrill of a passionate love in that gentle touch; and Derrick's heart flamed up.

He caught her in his arms, and their lips joined in that first ecstatic interchange of soul and heart.

Presently, she lay on his breast, her face still upturned to his kisses, her eyes meeting his with the fullness, the fearlessness of a girl's first and perfect love.
Silence reigned in the little wood; a squirrel, which had been watching them from a distance, leapt noiselessly from a branch and stood and surveyed them with piquant interest; the good god Pan hovered about them and murmured his blessings on their mortal love.