Rising from his posture beside her he prepared to obey. They stood for
an instant, irresolute, then, as by a common impulse, his arms opened
and she suffered herself to be clasped in his strong embrace. It
seemed to him as he felt her head upon his breast and her nervous,
wistful face looked up into his that his happiness was assured. But
she was thinking that come what might--and she was conscious of a
dreadful uncertainty in her heart--she would not deny herself this
single draught of the cup of happiness. It was a precious, sentient
joy to be thought beautiful, and to feel that she was desired for
herself alone by this hero of her ripe womanhood. So she let herself
go as one who snatches at escaping joy, and their lips met in the full
rapture of a lover's kiss.