For some moments she stood so, panting a little.

Then blushing deeper than ever, but with a dazzling smile, she looked up.
"Are you sure it is not you who are blind ?" she said.
That was all, but it was enough, for it told me that, unaccountable, incredible as it was, this radiant daughter of a golden age had bestowed upon me not alone her pity, but her love.

Still, I half believed I must be under some blissful hallucination even as I clasped her in my arms.

"If I am beside myself," I cried, "let me remain so." "It is I whom you must think beside myself," she panted, escaping from my arms when I had barely tasted the sweetness of her lips.

"Oh! oh! what must you think of me almost to throw myself in the arms of one I have known but a week?
I did not mean that you should find it out so soon, but I was so sorry for you I forgot what I was saying.