Page 433 - sons-and-lovers

felt he was putting himself aside. He sat there sacrificed to
her purity, which felt more like nullity. How could he kiss
her hand passionately, when it would drive her away, and
leave nothing but pain? Yet slowly he drew her to him and
kissed her.
They knew each other too well to pretend anything. As
she kissed him, she watched his eyes; they were staring
across the room, with a peculiar dark blaze in them that fas-
cinated her. He was perfectly still. She could feel his heart
throbbing heavily in his breast.
‘What are you thinking about?’ she asked.
The blaze in his eyes shuddered, became uncertain.
‘I was thinking, all the while, I love you. I have been ob-
stinate.’
She sank her head on his breast.
‘Yes,’ she answered.
‘That’s all,’ he said, and his voice seemed sure, and his
mouth was kissing her throat.
Then she raised her head and looked into his eyes with
her full gaze of love. The blaze struggled, seemed to try to
get away from her, and then was quenched. He turned his
head quickly aside. It was a moment of anguish.
‘Kiss me,’ she whispered.
He shut his eyes, and kissed her, and his arms folded her
closer and closer.
When she walked home with him over the fields, he
said:
‘I am glad I came back to you. I feel so simple with you—
as if there was nothing to hide. We will be happy?’

Sons and Lovers