One realizes the fact, yet goes on thinking
of them just the same."
"Well," murmured Carrissima, "you should try--you should try to mend
your ways in the future."
"Do you think you could do it?" he asked.
"What?" asked Carrissima.
"Shut your eyes!"
"Mark!" she cried, after a pause.
"Well?" he said.
"Look----"
She was leaning back with her eyes tightly closed; her little face
puckered, and one hand resting on each arm of the chair.
At the sight all Mark's hesitation fell away, and rising impulsively,
he took her cheeks between his palms and kissed her lips. The touch of
nature made them kin, but not within the tables of affinity. They
might have reasoned with themselves for months longer in vain, but
being thrown alone together, their feelings quickly found free play.
It was true that Carrissima, although she may have hoped, and indeed
she did devoutly hope for such a consummation, was in the sequel taken
rather sharply by surprise. She had not anticipated this sudden
_denouement_! The time for procrastination had passed, however, and as
she opened her eyes she wound her arms about Mark's neck.
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