With a long breath, as it were of unspeakable relief, he caught her in his arms vehemently, passionately.
So far she had been very shrinking and maidenly with him in their solitary moments, and he had been all delicate chivalry and respect, tasting to the full the exquisiteness of each fresh advance towards intimacy, towards lover's privilege, adoring her, perhaps, all the more for her reserve, her sudden flights, and stiffenings.

But to-night he asked no leave, and in her astonishment she was almost passive.
"Oh, do let me go!" she cried at last, trying to disengage herself completely.
"No!" he said with emphasis, still holding her hand firmly.

"Come and sit down here.

They will look after themselves." He put her, whether she would or no, into an arm-chair and knelt beside her.
"Did you think it was hardly kind," he said with a quiver of voice he could not repress, "to let me hear for the first time, in public, that you had promised to go to one of that man's meetings after refusing again and again to come to any of mine ?" "Do you want to forbid me to go ?" she said quickly.

There was a feeling in her which would have been almost relieved, for the moment, if he had said yes.
"By no means," he said steadily.