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Books at bedtime by Calming Anxiety.

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Kate Chopin, the kiss.

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It was still quite light out of the doors, but inside with the curtains drawn and the

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small ring fire sending out a dim, uncertain glow, the room was full of deep shadows.

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Brantin sat in one of these shadows. It had overtaken him and he did not mind. The obscurity

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lent him courage to keep his eyes fastened as ardently as he liked upon the girl who sat

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in the firelight.

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She was very handsome, with a certain fine, rich colouring that belongs to the healthy

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brunet hype. She was quite composed as she idly stroked the satiny cat of the cat that

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lay curled in her lap, and she occasionally sent a slow glance into the shadow where her

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companion sat.

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They were talking low of indifferent things which plainly were not the things that occupied

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their thoughts.

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She knew that he loved her, a frank blustering fellow without guile enough to conceal his

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feelings, and no desire to do so.

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The two weeks passed he had sought her society eagerly and persistently.

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She was confidently waiting for him to declare himself and she meant to accept him.

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The rather insignificant and unattractive Brantin was enormously rich, and she liked and required

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the entourage which wealth could give her.

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During one of the pauses between their talk of the last tea and the next reception, the

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door open and the young man entered, whom Brantin knew quite well. The girl turned her face

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toward him.

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A stride or two brought him to her side and bending over her chair before she could suspect

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his intention, for she did not realise that he had not seen her visitor.

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He pressed an ardent, lingering kiss upon her lips.

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Brantin slowly arose, so did the girl arise, but quickly and the new comest stood between

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them, a little amusement and some defiant struggling with the confusion in his face.

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I believe, Stamad Brantin, I see that I have stayed too long.

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I had no idea that is, I must wish you goodbye.

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He was clutching his hat with both hands and probably did not perceive that she was extending

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her hand to him.

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Her presence of mine had not completely deserted her, but she could not have trusted herself

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to speak.

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Hang me if I saw him sitting there, Natty.

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I know it's juiced awkward for you, but I hope you'll forgive me this once.

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This very first break.

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Why?

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What's the matter?

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Don't touch me.

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Don't come near me, she returned angrily.

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Do you mean by entering the house without ringing?

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I came in with your brother, as I often do, he answered coldly, in self-justification.

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We came in the sideway.

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He went upstairs and I came in here hoping to find you.

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The explanation is simple enough and ought to satisfy you that the misadventure was unavoidable,

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but do say that you forgive me, Natalie.

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She entered.

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Softly.

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Forgive you.

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You don't know what you're talking about.

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Let me pass.

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It depends upon a good deal whether I ever forgive you.

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At that next reception, which she and Brountain had been talking about, she approached the young

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man with a delicious frankness of manner when she saw him there.

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Will you let me speak to you a moment or two, Mr. Brountain?

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She asked with an engaging but perturbed smile.

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He seemed extremely unhappy, but when she took his arm and walked away with him, seeking

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a retired corner, a ray of hope mingled with the almost comical misery of his expression.

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She was, apparently, very outspoken.

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Perhaps I should not have sought this interview, Mr. Brountain, but, but I have been very

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uncomfortable, almost miserable since that little encounter the other afternoon.

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When I thought how you might have misinterpreted it and believed things, hope, was plainly gaining

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the ascendry over misery in Brountain's round, gireless face.

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Of course, I know it is nothing to you, but for my own sake, I do not understand that Mr.

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Harvey is an intimate friend of long-standing.

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Why?

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We have always been like cousins, like brother and sister I may say.

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He is my brother's most intimate associate, and often fancies that he is entitled to the

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same privileges as the family.

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Oh, I know it is absurd.

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Uncalled for to tell you this, undignified even.

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She was almost weeping.

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And it makes so much difference to me of what you think of me, a voice that grown very low

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and agitated.

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The misery had all disappeared from Brountain's face.

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Then you do really care what I think, Miss Natalie?

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May I call you Miss Natalie?

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They turned into a long dim corridor that was lined on either side with torn, graceful

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plants.

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They walked slowly to the very end of it.

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When they turned to retrace their steps, Brountain's face was radiant and hers was triumphant.

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Harvey was among the guests at the wedding, and he sought her out in a rare moment when she

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stood alone.

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"Your husband," he said smiling, "has sent me over to kiss you."

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A quick blush, suffused her face and round polished throat.

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I suppose it is natural for a man to feel and act generously on an occasion of this kind.

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He tells me he doesn't want his marriage to interrupt wholly that pleasant intimacy which

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has existed between you and me.

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I don't know what you've been telling him with an incident smile, but he is sent me here

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to kiss you.

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She felt like a chess player who, by the clever handling of his pieces, sees the game taking

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the course intended.

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Her eyes were bright and tender, with a smile as they glanced up into his face and her lips

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looked hungry for the kiss which they invited.

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"But, you know, you went on quietly.

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I didn't tell him so.

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It would have seemed ungrateful, but I can tell you.

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I've stopped kissing women.

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It's dangerous."

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Well, she had Brantin and his million left, a person can't have everything in this world,

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and it was a little unreasonable of her to expect it.

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