"All day he looked sulky so that I was in hopes he would leave me alone tonight. I was half undressed, as you see me, when I thought of bolting the door. But the bolt had been taken off during the day and there was no lock there; so, without losing a moment I ran off and knocked at your door. Oh! how lucky I did so!" And the child threw her arms around my neck.

"So you're not frightened of me?"

"Oh, no!"

"And if I wished to kiss you, would you run away?"

"See now," said she, and she applied her humid and fresh mouth to my parched lips.

I could not help keeping my lips on hers for a few seconds while I caressed her teeth with the tip of my tongue. She closed her eyes and leaned her head backwards, saying: "Oh, how nice, is that kind of kiss!"

"You've never been kissed that way?" I inquired.

"No," she said, passing her tongue over her burning lips. "Is it the usual way?"

"Yes, when you love the person."

"Then, you do love me?"

"If I am not yet in love with you I am afraid I soon shall be."

"Just like me!"

"So much the better!"

"And what do people do who love one another?"

"They exchange kisses as we just have done."

"Is that all?"

"Yes."

"Well, that is funny. It seemed to me I wished for something else; as if this kiss, however sweet it may be, were only the beginning of love."

"What did you feel?"

"I cannot say; a kind of languid sensation in all my body. A pleasure such as I have experienced sometimes in dreams."

"And when you awoke after these dreams, how did you feel?"

"I was quite exhausted."

"Did you never have that sensation except in a dream?"

"Yes, indeed, just now, when you kissed me."