Amid those strange people he seemed to her ever nearer, ever dearer, altogether true, and devoted with his whole soul.
He pacified her; he promised to rescue her from the house of Caesar; he promised not to desert her, and said that he would serve her.

Besides, he had spoken before at Aulus's only in general about love and the happiness which it can give; but now he said directly that he loved her, and that she was dear and most precious to him.

Lygia heard such words from a man's lips for the first time; and as she heard them it seemed to her that something was wakening in her as from a sleep, that some species of happiness was embracing her in which immense delight was mingled with immense alarm.

Her cheeks began to burn, her heart to beat, her mouth opened as in wonder.

She was seized with fear because she was listening to such things, still she did not wish for any cause on earth to lose one word.