" I love thee ,Maria. "
" No . It is not true ,"she said .Then as a last thing pitifully
and hopefully .
" But I have never kissed any man. "
"Then kiss me now. "
" I wanted to , " she said. " But I know not how .Where
things were to me fought until Icould not see. I fought
until - until - until one sat upon my head - and I bit him -
and then they tied my mouth and held my arms behind my
head - and others did things to me. "
" I love thee , Maria, " he said . " And no one has done
anything to thee. Thee , they cannot touch .No one has touched
thee , little rabbit . "
"You Believe that?"
"I know it."
"And you can love me?" Warm again against him now.
"I can love thee more."
"I will try to kiss thee very well."
"Kiss me a little."
"I do not know how."
"Just kiss me."
She kissed him on the cheek.
"No."
"Where do the noses go? I always wondered where the noses would go."
"Look, turn thy head." and then their mouths were tight together and she lay close pressed against him and her mouth opened a little gradually and then, suddenly, holding her against him, he was happier than he had ever been,...