I took her in my arms and kissed her dear, soft, half-open lips.

"Well," I asked softly, "have you anything else to say, Astarte,

before we play billiards?"

She looked up, and I saw the old, delicious smile breaking through

her tears.

"Only that I was right after all," she whispered. "I said you were

too strong for me, Stephen."

The Cruise of the "Scandal", and other stories · 第 40 / 94 题