She knew that Hozier drew her nearer.
With the daring of one who may well cast the world's convention to the winds, he gathered her to his heart and kissed her.

Then she uttered a little sob of happiness and sorrow, and fainted.
It was not until she was lying helpless in his embrace, with her head pillowed on his breast, and an arm thrown limply across his shoulder, that Philip understood what had happened.

He loved her, and she, the promised wife of another man, had tacitly admitted that she returned his love.

Born for each other, heirs of all the ages, they were destined to be separated under conditions that could not have been brought about by the worst tyrant that ever oppressed his fellow creatures.

Small blame should be his portion if in that abysmal moment there came to Philip a dire temptation.