'
She felt his hot breath on her cheek, and felt rather than saw the
scintillations of his wonderful eyes, which sent a thrill through
her; so, utterly exhausted and worn out by the overpowering nervous
force possessed by this man, she surrendered.
'Yes,' she whispered, clinging to him with dry lips and a beating
heart; 'I will come!' Then her overstrained nature gave way, and
with a burst of tears she threw herself on his breast.
Gaston let her sob quietly for some time, satisfied with having
gained his end, and knowing that she would soon recover. At last
Kitty grew calmer, and drying her eyes, she rose to her feet wan and
haggard, as if she was worn out for the want of sleep, and not by
any manner of means looking like a girl who was in love. This
appearance was caused by the revolt of her religious training
against doing what she knew was wrong. In her breast a natural
instinct had been fighting against an artificial one; and as Nature
is always stronger than precept, Nature had conquered.
'My dear Bebe,' said Vandeloup, rising also, and kissing her white
cheek, 'you must go home now, and get a little sleep; it will do you
good.'
'But you?' asked Kitty, in a low voice, as they walked slowly along.
'Oh, I,' said M. Vandeloup, airily; 'I am going to the Wattle Tree
Hotel to see my friend Pierre off to Melbourne.'
Then he exerted himself to amuse Kitty as they walked down to town,
and succeeded so well that by the time they reached Lydiard Street,
where Kitty left him to go up to Black Hill, she was laughing as
merrily as possible.
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