the night before he abandoned himself to the hunger her beauty
excited, and she offered him no resistance.

At last she freed herself, and, straightening the disorder of her
hair, smiled at him mistily.

"Wait. Please--"

"Beautiful!" His eyes were aflame. "You're my wife. Nothing can
change that."

"Nothing except--yourself. Now, you MUST listen to me." She forced
him reluctantly into his chair and seated herself opposite. He
leaned forward and kissed her once more, then seized her hand and
held it. At intervals he crushed his lips into its pink palm. "We
must start honestly," she began. "Do you mind if I hurt you?"

"You can't hurt me so long as you don't--leave me. Your eyes have
haunted me every night. I've seen the curve of your neck--your
lips. No woman was ever so perfect, so maddening."

"Always that. You're not a husband at this moment; you're only a
man."

He frowned slightly.

"That's what makes this whole matter so difficult," she went on.
"Don't you see?"

He shook his head.