Then she turned her hand over that she might feel those kisses on her palm, on each finger, all round her wrist, on every vein, in every pore.
'Enough!' she murmured at last, opening her eyes again, and passed her languid hand softly over Andrea's hair.
Her caress, though light, was so ineffably tender, that to the lover's soul it had the effect of a rose leaf falling into a full cup of water.
His passion brimmed over.

His lips trembled under a confused torrent of words which rose to them but which he could not express.

He had the violent and divine sensation as of a new life spreading in widening circles round him beyond all physical perception.
'What bliss!' said Elena, repeating her fond gesture, and a tremor ran through her whole person, visible through the coverlet.
But when Andrea made as if to take her hand again--'No,' she entreated, 'do not move--stay as you are, I like to have you so.' She gently pressed his head down till his cheek lay against her knee.
She gazed at him a little, still with that caressing touch upon his head, and then in a voice that seemed to faint with ecstasy she murmured, lingering over the syllables-- 'How I love you!' There was an ineffable seduction in the way she pronounced the words--so liquid, so enthralling on a woman's lips.
'Again!' whispered her lover, whose senses were languishing with passion under the touch of those hands, the sound of that caressing voice.

'Say it again--go on speaking.' 'I love you,' repeated Elena, noticing that his eyes were fixed upon her lips, and being perhaps aware of the fascination that emanated from them while pronouncing the words.
With a sudden movement she raised herself from the pillows, and taking Andrea's head between her two hands, she drew him to her, and their lips met in a long and passionate kiss.
Afterwards she fell back again, and lying with her arms stretched straight along the coverlet at her sides, she gazed at Andrea with wide open eyes, while one by one the great tears gathered slowly, and silently rolled down her cheeks.
'What is it, Elena--tell me--What is it ?' asked her lover, clasping her hands and leaning over her to kiss away the tears.
She clenched her teeth and bit her lips to keep back the sobs.
'Nothing--nothing--go now, leave me--please! You shall see me to-morrow--go now.' Her voice and her look were so imploring that Andrea obeyed.
'Good-bye,' he said, and kissed her tenderly on the lips, carrying away upon his own the taste of her salt tears.

'Good-bye! Love me--and do not forget.' As he crossed the threshold, he seemed to hear her break into sobs behind him.