"
I looked for a moment into her eyes. Seeing me hesitate, they
grew pathetic.
"Oh-h," she said, reproachfully.
I know I am a fool. 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. "That is so dull." She caught up
Polyphemus and buried her face in his fur. "That's the way I
should like to be kissed.
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