Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/214

218 remained kneeling before the chair from which I had risen, and fixed her eyes upon my face with a piteous gaze, while she trembled from head to foot and seemed almost afraid to draw her breath. I advanced a few steps further towards the door, looking back at her over my shoulder as I went. But I must have been lost to all sense of humanity to have steeled my heart against the mute appeal of her lovely face. So far was I from being equal to such barbarity, that I recoiled suddenly to the opposite extreme, and, yielding to an unreflecting impulse, turned—nay, rather, flew back to her side. Folding her in my arms, I rained a hundred fond kisses on her lips, and besought her to forgive my angry words, confessing that I was a brutal wretch and utterly unworthy of the happiness of being loved by such an adorable woman as herself. Then, leading her to a chair, I in my turn fell upon my knees, and implored her to listen to me as I knelt before her. In that posture I expressed my contrition in a few reverent and tender words, such as only a devoted and impassioned lover can find; and begged her to be merciful and pronounce my pardon.

Throwing her arms about my neck, she said that it was she, rather, who must appeal to my generosity and for-