The Trespasser

'Why me?' He smiled at her ironically, then closed his eyes. She slid into his

arms with a little moan. He took her on his knee, where she curled up

like a heavy white cat. She let him caress her with his mouth, and did

not move, but lay there curled up and quiet and luxuriously warm.

He kissed her hair, which was beautifully fragrant of itself, and time

after time drew between his lips one long, keen thread, as if he would

ravel out with his mouth her vigorous confusion of hair. His tenderness

of love was like a soft flame lapping her voluptuously.

After a while they heard the old lady go upstairs. Helena went very

still, and seemed to contract. Siegmund himself hesitated in his

love-making. All was very quiet. They could hear the faint breathing of

the sea. Presently the cat, which had been sleeping in a chair, rose and

went to the door.

'Shall I let her out?' said Siegmund.

'Do!' said Helena, slipping from his knee. 'She goes out when the nights

are fine.' Siegmund rose to set free the tabby. Hearing the front door open, Mrs

Curtiss called from upstairs: 'Is that you, dear?' 'I have just let Kitty out,' said Siegmund.

'Ah, thank you. Good night!' They heard the old lady lock her bedroom

door.

Helena was kneeling on the hearth. Siegmund softly closed the door, then

waited a moment. His heart was beating fast.

'Shall we sit by firelight?' he asked tentatively.

'Yes--If you wish,' she replied, very slowly, as if against her will. He

carefully turned down the lamp, then blew out the light. His whole body

was burning and surging with desire.

The room was black and red with firelight. Helena shone ruddily as she

knelt, a bright, bowed figure, full in the glow. Now and then red

stripes of firelight leapt across the walls. Siegmund, his face ruddy,

advanced out of the shadows.

He sat in the chair beside her, leaning forward, his hands hanging like

two scarlet flowers listless in the fire glow, near to her, as she knelt

on the hearth, with head bowed down. One of the flowers awoke and spread

towards her. It asked for her mutely. She was fascinated, scarcely

able to move.

'Come,' he pleaded softly.

She turned, lifted her hands to him. The lace fell back, and her arms,

bare to the shoulder, shone rosily. He saw her breasts raised towards

him. Her face was bent between her arms as she looked up at him afraid.

Lit by the firelight, in her white, clinging dress, cowering between her

uplifted arms, she seemed to be offering him herself to sacrifice.