Part 11 (1/2)

But Stella was still pouting--and got up restlessly and went to the window.

”What can they do when they get to the Emba.s.sy?” she asked. ”Could they really take me back if they found me by telephoning round?”

”I do not think so--if you are past twenty-one.”

”I was twenty-one in April. I am not a bit afraid of them, but I do not want to have any row.”

”When my sister has arrived you must write to your aunt, and tell where you are and what are your intentions, then all will be finished.”

”Oh, I wish she would come, don't you?” Stella said.

”More than I can say, darling,” he answered, fervently. ”You will not, I hope, find me so incomprehensible then.”

He walked about the room once or twice, and at last paused in front of her.

”Stella,” he whispered, while his eyes blazed again, ”I cannot bear it, little sweetheart, to stay all alone with you here. Will you forgive me, if I leave you until Anastasia has arrived? Go and rest in your room, darling, and I will go to the station to meet her. Ivan will remain outside your door and you will be quite safe.”

But Stella put out her hands like a frightened baby.

”Oh. must you leave me?” she cried, pettishly. ”You are very cruel! You make me almost wish I had not come.”

From having swum with love and pa.s.sion his eyes suddenly gave forth a flash of steel, and his voice was like ice as he answered:

”If that is so, mademoiselle, it is not too late. I would not exact any unwilling sacrifice. Shall I take you back again?”

And then Stella's childishness melted and fell from her, and she became a real woman as she looked into his stern face.

”No--” she said, ”I will not go back. I am sorry I was so uncontrolled, but I am nervous--and I do not know exactly what I am--Sasha, please take care of me,” and she held out her hands with a piteous gesture of asking for his protection, and moved beyond all power of further control he folded her in his arms.

”My darling, my darling!” he murmured, frantically kissing her hair.

But his iron will rea.s.serted itself in a few seconds, and while he still held her he said with more calm:

”Little star, you must never speak to me like that again, as you did just now, I mean. It was unreasonable and not kind, if you but knew!

And I have a very arrogant temper, I fear, although I am nearly master of it, and shall be quite in time, I hope. We might have parted then and spoilt both our lives. Won't you believe me that I love--I adore you!” he went on tenderly. ”I am madly longing to be for you the most pa.s.sionate lover a woman ever had. It is only for your sake and for honor and our future happiness that I restrain myself now. You see I am not an Englishman who can accept half-measures. Do not make it impossible for me, sweet love!”

His voice was almost a sob in its deep notes of pleading, and Stella was touched.

”Oh! you are so dear and great,” she answered fondly. ”I am perhaps very wicked to have tempted you. If it would be wrong for you to kiss me, which I cannot understand, it is--oh, it is because I love you like that, too!”

At this ingenuous admission, pa.s.sion nearly overcame him again, and he held her so tightly it seemed as if he must crush out her very breath.

Then he put her from him and walked toward the door.

”I dare not stay another second,” he said, in a strangled voice. ”Ivan will guard your room, and my sister will come to you soon. Do as I tell you, beloved one, and then all will be well.”

With which he opened the door, and left her standing by the sofa quivering with a strange joy and perplexity--and some other wild emotion of which she had not dreamed.

CHAPTER VIII