'THE DEWY MORN' 235 



eyes that seemed to see him only — to whom the whole 

 world, the hills round them, the sky over, was not — eyes 

 that drew his towards them, and held his vision in defiance 

 of his will. If once you look over the side of a boat into 

 the clear sea, you must continue looking — the depth 

 fascinates the mind. Some depth in her rapt gaze 

 fascinated him. 



' Her eyebrows arched — not too much arched — the 

 curve of the cheek, roseate, almost but not quite smiling, 

 carried his thought downwards to her breathing lips. 

 Her lips were apart, rich, dewy, curved ; they kissed him 

 by their expression, if not in deed. In that instant his 

 heart throbbed violently ; the beat rose to thrice its usual 

 rate. 



' The first moment of awaking to a happy morning, the 

 daylight that means a joyful event ; the first view of the 

 sea in youth, when the blue expanse brings tears to the 

 eyes — in these there is some parallel to the sudden, the 

 extreme, and the delicious feeling that shot through him. 

 To reach the ideal of human happiness it is necessary to be 

 for the moment unconscious of all, except the cause. For 

 that moment he had no consciousness except of her, such 

 Was the power of her passion glowing in her face. 



' Even Felise, eager to retain him with her, and un- 

 hesitatingly employing every means, could not maintain 

 that gaze. Unabashed and bold with love, she was too 

 true, too wholly his, to descend to any art. Her gaze, 

 passionate as it was, was natural and unstudied ; therefore 

 it could not continue. Her eyes drooped, and he was 

 released. 



' Immediately, as if stung to a sense of his honour, he 

 placed his hands on the horse, sprang up, and seated 

 himself. 



' " I — I have much to do," he said, embarrassed to the 

 last degree, and holding out his hand. 



' She would not see it. She took the bridle, and stroked 

 Ruy's neck, placing her cheek almost against the glossy 

 skin. Obeying the pressure of his knee, Ruy began to 



