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then he took down her hands gently, and kissed her.
"'You do not know how I have tried to resist you, but I could not. I am on fire. My blood is no longer blood, but some burning love-philtre. I cannot help myself,' said she, lifting up her head defiantly as if she were facing the whole world, 'here I am, do with me what you like, only tell me that you love me, that you love no other woman but me, swear it.'
"'I swear,' said he, languidly, 'that I love no other woman.'
"She did not understand the meaning of his words.
"'But tell it to me again, say it often, it is so sweet to hear it repeated from the lips of those we doat on,' said she, with passionate eagerness.
"'I assure you that I have never cared for any woman so much as I do for you.'
"'Cared?' said she, disappointed.
"'Loved, I mean.'
"'And you can swear it?'
"'On the cross if you like,' added he, smiling.
