I know that Pasquale would have hurled his sarcasms at me.

I know that the whole of her deliciousness was mine for the taking--mine for ever and ever.

If I had loved her less passionately I would have kissed her young throat lightly with a jest.

But to have kissed her thus with such longing as mine behind my lips would have been an outrage.
I lifted her to her feet, and rose and turned away, laughing unsteadily.
"No, my dear," said I, "that would be--unsuitable." The bathos of the word made me laugh louder.

Carlotta, aware that a joke was in the air, joined in my mirth, and her laughter rang fresh.
"What is the suitable way of kissing ?" I took her hand and saluted it in an eighteenth century manner.
"This," said I.
"Oh-h," said Carlotta.