They had their supper, and then again she was in his arms. He told her about this trouble--he showed how the love of her was consuming him. Far into the night they sat talking, and he poured out his heart to her, he bore her with him to the mountain-tops of his desire. He took down a book of Spenser’s, and read her the “Epithalamium”; he read her Shelley’s “Epip sychidion,” which they both loved. All the power of Thyrsis’ genius was turned now to passion, and the hidden forces of him were revealed as never had they been revealed to her before. He became eloquent; he talked to her as he had lived with himself; he awed her and frightened her, as he had that evening upon the hill-top. Then at last, as the tide of his feeling swept him away again, he clasped her to him tightly, and hid his face in her neck. “I love you! Oh, I love you!” he cried.
She had sunk back and closed her eyes. “My Thyrsis!” she whispered.
“You love me?” he asked. “You are quite sure?”
He kissed her; again and again he kissed her, until he had made sure of her desire. Then suddenly, he began with trembling fingers to unfasten the neck of her dress.
For a moment she did not comprehend what he meant. Then she gave a start. “Thyrsis!” she cried.
And she sprang up, staring at him with fright in her eyes.
“Thyrsis!” she gasped. “What--what were you going to do?”
And at her question, shame swept over him. He was horrified at himself. How could he find words to tell her what he had been going to do?
He turned away with a moan, and put his hands over his face. “Oh God, I can’t stand this!” he exclaimed.
Suddenly he went to his hat and coat. “I must go out!” he said.
“I mean I’ve got to go somewhere!” he replied. “I can’t stand it--I can’t stay here.”
“Thyrsis!” she cried, wildly. And she sprang to him and flung her arms about him. “No, no!” she cried. “No!”
And she pressed him tightly to her. “Thyrsis!” she whispered. “Can’t you understand? Don’t be so stupid, dear!”
“Yes, sweetheart--can’t you see? I’m only a child! And it’s so strange! It frightens me! Try to realize how I feel!”
“Do? Why you must _make_ me, Thyrsis!” And as she said this she hid her face upon his shoulder and sobbed. “You are a man, Thyrsis, you are a man, and I am only a girl! Do what you want to! Don’t pay any attention to me!”