"Listen attentively, darling pupil, and sweet love," he said. He was leaning with one arm on the back of the bench supporting his head on his hand, turned quite toward her, who sat with clasped nervous fingers clutching her fan. His other hand lay idly on his knee, his whole attitude was very still. The soft lights were just enough for him to see distinctly her small face and shining hair; his own face was in shadow, but she could feel the magnetism of his eyes penetrating through her very being. "You were coerced by those in charge of you," he went on in a level voice of argument, which yet broke into notes of tenderness, "you were influenced into becoming engaged to this man who is ridiculously unsuited to you. You, so full of life and boundless joy! You, who will learn all of love's meaning presently, and what it makes of existence, and what God meant by giving it to us mortals. You are intended by nature to be a complete woman if you did but know it--but such a life, tied to that half fish man, would atrophy all that is finest in your character. You would grow really into what they are trying to make you appear--after years of hopelessness and suffering. Do you not feel all this, little star, tell me?" "Yes," Stella answered, "it is true--I have seemed to feel the cords and the shackles pulling at me often, but never that they were unbearable until I--spoke with you--and you put new thoughts into my head." "I did well, then. And because of a silly convention you would ruin all your life by going on with these ways--it is unthinkable!" and his deep voice vibrated with feeling. "It is a mistake, that is all, and can be rectified,--if you were already married to this man I would not plead so, because then you would have crossed the Rubicon, and assumed responsibilities which you would have to accept or suffer the consequences. But this preliminary bond can be broken without hurt to either side. A man of the good clergyman's type will not suffer in his emotions at the loss of you--he suffices unto himself for those; his vanity will be wounded--that is all. And surely it is better that should gall for a little than that you should spoil your life. Sweet flower, realize yourself these things--that sunny hair and that beautiful skin and those velvet eyes were made for the joy and glory of a man--not for temptations to a strict priest, who would resent their power as a sin every time he felt himself influenced by their charm. Gods above! he would not know what to do with you, heart of me!"