"I love you!" If the words meant much to him--to him the man of the world before whom many a beautiful woman had been ready to bow with complaisant homage--if they meant much to him, how much more did they mean to her? All her young maiden faith spoke in those three words. With them she surrendered her young, pure life, her unstained, unsullied heart to him. With a passion as intense as his own, she repaid him tenfold. For a moment he was silent, his eyes fixed on the stars, his whole being thrilling under the music--the joy of this simple avowal. Then he pressed her to him, and poured a shower of kisses upon her hair and upon her arm which lay across his breast. "My darling, my darling!" he murmured. "Is it really true? Can I--dare I believe it: you love me? Oh, my darling, the whole world seems changed to me. You love me! See, Stella, it seems so wonderful that I cannot realize it. Let me see your eyes, I shall find the truth there." She pressed still closer to him, but he raised her head gently--in his very touch was a caress, and it was as if his hands kissed her--and looked long into the rapt, upturned eyes. Then he bent his head slowly, and kissed her once--hungrily, clingingly. Stella's eyes closed and her face paled under that passionate caress, then slowly and with a little sigh she raised her head and kissed him back again, kiss for kiss. No word was spoken; side by side, with her head upon his breast, they stood in silence. For them Time had vanished, the whole world seemed to stand still. Half amazed, with a dim wonder at this new delight which had entered her life, Stella watched the stars and listened to the music of the river. Something had happened to change her whole existence, it was as if the old Stella whom she knew so well had gone, and a new being, wonderfully blessed, wonderfully happy, had taken her place. And as for him, for the man of the world, he too stood amazed, overwhelmed by the new-born joy. If any one had told him that life held such a moment for him, he would not have believed it; he who had, as he thought, drained the cup of earthly pleasure to the dregs. His blood ran wildly through his veins, his heart beat madly. "At last," he murmured; "this is love." But suddenly the awakening came. With a start she looked up at him and strove to free herself, vainly, from his embrace. "What have I done?" she whispered, with awe-subdued voice. "Done!" he murmured, with a rapt smile. "Made one man happier than he ever dreamed it possible for mortal to be. That is all." "Ah, no!" she said; "I have done wrong! I am afraid!--afraid!" "Afraid of what? There is nothing to make you afraid. Can you speak of fear while you are in my arms--with your head on my breast? Lean back, my darling; now speak of fear." "Yes, even now," she whispered. "Now--and I am so happy!" she broke off to herself, but he heard her. "So happy! Is it all a dream? Tell me." He bent and kissed her.