kissed her; and again began to e nearer; nearer。 He gathered
himself together。 Even if he did not take her; he would make her
relax; he would fuse away her resistance。 So softly; softly;
with infinite caressiveness he kissed her; and the whole of his
being seemed to fondle her。 Till; at the verge; swooning at the
breaking point; there came from her a beaten; inarticulate;
moaning cry:
〃Dont……oh; dont!〃
His veins fused with extreme voluptuousness。 For a moment he
almost lost control of himself; and continued automatically。 But
there was a moment of inaction; of cold suspension。 He was not
going to take her。 He drew her to him and soothed her; and
caressed her。 But the pure zest had gone。 She struggled to
herself and realized he was not going to take her。 And then; at
the very last moment; when his fondling had e near again; his
hot living desire despising her; against his cold sensual
desire; she broke violently away from him。
〃Dont;〃 she cried; harsh now with hatred; and she flung her
hand across and hit him violently。 〃Keep off of me。〃
His blood stood still for a moment。 Then the smile came again
within him; steady; cruel。
〃Why; whats the matter?〃 he said; with suave irony。
〃Nobodys going to hurt you。〃
〃I know what you want;〃 she said。
〃I know what I want;〃 he said。 〃Whats the odds?〃
〃Well; youre not going to have it off me。〃
〃Arent I? Well; then Im not。 Its no use crying about it;
is it?〃
〃No; it isnt;〃 said the girl; rather disconcerted by his
irony。
〃But theres no need to have a row about it。 We can kiss good
night just the same; cant we?〃
She was silent in the darkness。
〃Or do you want your hat and umbrella to go home this
minute?〃