Page:A Virgin Heart.pdf/77

Rh nimity, the more so since Rose, in gratitude no doubt to M. Hervart for his defence of her old garden, kept her mouth a long time pressed to his. She was growing breathless and her breasts rose under her thin white blouse. M. Hervart was tempted to touch them. He made bold, and his gesture was received without indignation. They looked at one another, anxious to speak, but ﬁnding no words. Their mouths came together once more. M. Hervart gently pressed Rose's breast, and a small hand squeeed his other hand. It was a perilous moment. Realising this, M. Hervart tried to put an end to the contact. But the little hand squeeezd his own more tightly and in a convulsive movement her knee came into contact with his leg. The tension was broken. Their hands were loosened, they drew away from one another, and for the ﬁrst time after a kiss, Rose shut her eyes.

M. Hervart felt a pain in the back of his neck.

He began thinking of that season of Platonic love he had once passed at Versailles with a virtuous woman, and he was frightened; for that passion of light kisses and hand-pressures