Page:Bianca, or, The Young Spanish Maiden (Toru Dutt).djvu/24

290 air. "Yes she does—and I do." He said the last words very low, and she did not hoar them. She gave him her hand. "Goodbye," said she; he had bent down to shake hands with her as she sat on the grass; he took her hand in his and looked into her face; a strange light, a deep passion was in his hazel eyes; impetuously, as if urged by an irresistible destiny, he stooped down and kissed her on the month. The instant after, he was gone. Bianca looked after him. A strange feeling of unutterable bliss mingled with pain came upon her; "Oh,If he would kiss me again!" She felt as if she had drunk of the heavenly hydromel of the poets, she wanted to take a deeper draught of the drink of the gods. She had never been kissed by a man. Mr. Garcia had not kissed her once since she was four years old. How strange, how soul-thrilling that touch of his ups was. It sent all the dark blood rushing to her olive cheeks and forehead. She buried her face in her hands and wept. Was it for joy or for sorrow? She felt as if she had committed a great sin. It seemed all so strange to her! "How shall I tell father, for I must tell him! Oh how shall I tell him! How could he do it,—how could he? He shouldn’t have done it." She murmured, the tears in her eyes; but she smiled through them, presently. "How warm and strange his lips were, pressed close,close to mine." She sighed and rose; "I must tell father."

Mr. Garcia was in his study when Bianca entered his room. He looked up, smiling; "Well,what do you want, child.—Why, you have been crying—what for?" She came and kneeling beside him, with bent head, took his hand. "Father," said she, "Lord Moore kissed me today." "The devil he did!" He exclaimed, taking away his hand from hers. "What more? Nothing more, father." "Where was it?" "On my lips, father." "No—no—I mean where did all this happen?" "In the garden, father, just now." His angry manner frightened her; she was sobbing. "What's the use of crying," said he angrily. "Shame on you I I thought you had more spirit than suffer a man to insult you!" She turned round; her tears were checked; there was a deep fire in her eyes. "Father;he did not insult me I