'I cannot exactly answer now, either.'

'Why can't you?'

'Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else.'

'Yes, indeed, you are!' he exclaimed in a voice of intensest
appreciation, at the same time gliding round and looking into her
face.

'Eyes in eyes,' he murmured playfully; and she blushingly obeyed,
looking back into his.

'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly.

'No, certainly not. Anybody might look; and it would be the death
of me. You may kiss my hand if you like.'

He expressed by a look that to kiss a hand through a glove, and
that a riding-glove, was not a great treat under the
circumstances.

'There, then; I'll take my glove off. Isn't it a pretty white
hand? Ah, you don't want to kiss it, and you shall not now!'

'If I do not, may I never kiss again, you severe Elfride! You know
I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen. I
would die for you, Elfride!'

A rapid red again filled her cheeks, and she looked at him