Page:Idalia, by 'Ouida' volume 2.djvu/101

90 With the hound beside her she left the cliff, and moved slowly, for the heat was at its height, backward towards her house; a step rapidly crushed the cyclomen, the leaves were swept quickly aside, and in her path stood Erceldoune. The meeting was sudden to both. It was impossible that either could for the moment have any memory save that of the words with which they had so lately parted; over the bronze of his face the blood flushed hotly, from the fairness of hers it faded; she paused, and for the moment her worldly grace forsook her. She stood silent while he bowed before her.

"Madame, I had your promise that you would receive me; not, I hope, in vain?"

The words were slight, were ceremonious: she had forbidden him all others; but in his voice were the feverish entreaty, the idolatrous slavery to her, which, repressed in speech, were so intense in his own heart.

"I do not break my promises," she said, gently; "and—and you will not do so either. Are you staying in Capri, that you are here so early?"

His eyes looked into hers with a mute, imploring suffering that touched her more deeply than any words could have done.