Timidly she lifted her head.

She was very pale, and her breath came and went quickly.

He gazed at her in speechless suspense,--and saw as in a vision the pure radiance of her face and star-like eyes shining more and more closely upon him.

Then came a touch,--soft and sweet as a roseleaf pressed against his lips,--and for one mad moment he remembered nothing,--he was caught up like Homer's Paris in a cloud of gold, and knew not which was earth or heaven.
"You love me, Thelma ?" he murmured in a sort of wondering rapture.

"I cannot believe it, sweet! Tell me--you love me ?" She looked up.