A little sob came in Sabine's throat, and she could not reply. She could only take in the splendor of his figure and his grace as he leaned there with dark bent head. And so, in a silence that seemed to throb and thrill, they stood near together for a few moments with hearts at breaking point.
Then he controlled himself; he must go at once or he could no longer answer for what he might do. She looked so sweet and sorrowful standing close to his side, her violet eyes lowered so that their long lashes made a shadow upon her dimpled cheek.
Intense magnetic attraction drew them nearer and nearer.
"Sabine!" he cried at last, hoarsely, as though the words were torn from his tortured heart. "There is something about you which tells me that you do not love Henry--that he has never made you feel--as I once made you feel, and could make you feel again." He stretched out his arms in pain. "The temptation is frightful--terrible--just to kiss you once more--Darling--Oh! I cannot bear it. I must go!" and he took a step away from her.
But _the Moment_ for Sabine had come; she could resist its force no more, every nerve in her whole body was quivering--every unknown, though half-guessed emotion was stirring her soul. Her whole being seemed to be convulsed in one concentrated desire. The reality had materialized the echoes she had often dimly felt from that night of long ago.
The wild passion which she had feared, and only that very evening had repudiated as being an impossible experience for her, had now overtaken her, and she could struggle no more.
"Michael!" she whispered breathlessly, and held out her arms.
With a cry of joy he clasped her to him in a fierce ecstasy. All the pent-up feelings in both their souls let loose at last.
It was a moment which caused time and place and all other things to be forgotten in a glory as great as though eternity had come.
"My darling, my darling!" he murmured, kissing her hair and brow and eyelids. "Oh! the hideous cruelty that it is all too late and this must be good-bye."
But Sabine clung to him half sobbing, telling him she could not bear it; he must not leave her now. And so they stood clasped together, trembling with love and misery.
"Darling," at last he besought her, while he unclasped her tender hands from round his neck. "Darling, do not tempt me--it is frightful pain, but I must keep my word. You had reason once to think that I was an uncontrollable brute, but you shall not be able to do so any more. I would never respect myself--or you--again if I let you make me faithless to Henry now. It is cruel sorrow, but we cannot think of ourselves; you know, we used too lightly for our own ends what should have been an awfully sacred tie. Do you remember, Sabine, we swore to God to love and be faithful forever--not meaning a word we said--and now we are punished--" A great sob shook his deep voice.