protect her virginity.
She retreated slowly, wondering all the while why she was so silly as to spoil her last chance. On the whole what arm could he do? He could kiss her, and whip her blood as he had just done. After all may be it wasn't so very wrong. She knew what possession was; at least she thought she did, she believed she might always fight him away if it came to that.
Now she was at bay, there was a sofa behind her, he was surely going to push her on it. She thought of her aunt, of her cousins, and concluded she shouldn't, couldn't and wouldn't resist.
«Well, little thing, will you go to Paris or will you not..?»
He stood in front of her, towering above her. She rose fearful fawn eyes and faltered:
«I will…»
Kozincko's mind was swept with a wind of madness. How desirable she was, that little consenting victim, ready for his use.
He bent over her, chucked her under the chin. Tears glistened in her green eyes. He clutched her shoulders and tumbled her on the sofa. A last protest: «Oh sir!»
He had already crawled over her and fastened greedily on her body. He kissed ardently the soft lips that yielded under his, while his impatient hands roved over her flesh bared her breasts, caressed the smooth thrilling skin.
Myriam was almost fainting with fear and delight under this manly embrace. She had never been kissed before. She had never thought it could be like that. And this skilful hands who knew so well how to touch, to madden her! Taut as a bow under the caress, she was still on the alert, her whole being refusing what she felt must come. She had closed her eyes to forget it was Ghislaine's father who was there. She fancied it was a stranger. She strove to be patient. Soon he would leave her, when he would have what he wanted, and then she could think of her marvelous dream, still so vague.
When she felt Kozincko's mouth on her breasts, she began to mistrust her strengths. What was this languid sweetness that overwhelmed her? What fire stirred under her whole skin, burning her womb leaving it full of unknown cravings? She held her legs closed tight in a last attempt at resistance, but when she felt his hand wedging tender and imperious between her thighs, she yielded and her protest was lost in an ardent kiss. Now, Kozincko knew he wouldn't take her. He had too strong a sense of love and was too refined, not to understand what a gross error it would be to possess her «in a hurry» so to speak.
He sensed in Myriam the rich warmth of a passionate body, of a young ardent blood. He wanted her, but in a gush of passionate frenzy. Now her submissiveness didn't excite his desire so much. If she had struggled, maybe he would have been spurred on by the male instinct that every fighting female rouses.
Now he was engaged in waking up in her the consciousness of love's existence. So he kept caressing her knowing alone what he was driving at…
When he felt her squirming in his arms, then relaxing abruptly with a stifled cry, he had an inward smile and gave her a long kiss before releasing her.
«Well Myriam? Have I been so cruel?»
Myriam was stretched on the sofa, concealing nothing of her crumpled laces. She was completely at a loss. Had Kozincko possessed her? She was conscious something had happened and couldn't explain what. Was it love or just an episode on the way..?
As Ghislaine's father repeated his question, she sighed:
«No you've been very kind… but…
«But? What is worrying you?»
She had the courage to ask:
«Did you possess me?..»
Nicolas Kozincko was at pains to suppress his mirth:
«No Myriam don't worry? I didn't possess you! you're still a virgin, a very little girl.»
He added privately: «Not for long though.»
Myriam kept silent for a long while, then sighed with a strangely remote voice: «I prefer it that way!»
CHAPTER IV
Kozincko took her by the arm.
«Come along! we're going to tell Ghislaine.»
Myriam followed him. She was still deeply disturbed and imagined everybody would see what had happened. Though Kozincko's answer had taken a weight off her mind, she was well aware she had done something wrong.
Had not Ghislaine's father said:
«Don't tell my daughter. This is between us.»
Of course she wouldn't breath a word of it. She'd never consent to speak of such a thing even to her best friend. Now she wanted to forget everything about it; she could only think of her triumphant return home to her aunt. She was still anxious Mrs. Cornavin might refuse, yet he had said «she wouldn't refuse him». Moreover she would probably be happy to get rid of her niece.
Yet if Myriam could have guessed what was in store for her, she would have showed less joy… but, with youth's characteristic lightheartedness, she was very far from thinking what she did dangerous.
She could hardly hide her happiness when she saw Ghislaine.
«My dear, said Kozincko, may I introduce this young lady who will be a lady's maid and a companion to you…»
And he pushed Myriam forward.
Ghislaine was dumbfound at first, then she hugged Myriam and laughed with sheer delight.
«Is it true Daddy? Are you taking Myriam with us to Paris?
«If you want her!
«I do want her, it's wonderful! I never had a friend before!»
She kissed Myriam:
«You're happy aren't you? You see I was right. You were talking of fairies… Daddy is our wizard.»
She hung on her father's neck. She was exceedingly fond and tender, she was so often alone. Then she thought of Myriam's aunt and asked:
«If your aunt refused her consent?
«She won't do that, said her father. I'll drive there with Myriam and get that lady's consent. Myriam will stay with us to-night. You'll look after her, lend her a few dresses, we'll see about the rest in Paris.
«Oh yes Daddy, I'd willingly give her everything I have.
«Good, I'll have a look at the car, Myriam you'll join me later. As soon as they were alone together, they began to dance a mad jig «Both of us in Paris! What glorious piece of luck!» cried Ghislaine.
As Myriam had grown pale all of a sudden, she stopped:
«You don't look pleased! By the way, was that why Daddy asked you to come to his study?
«Yes said Myriam, and I thought he would scold me!
«Why? Because you where in light apparel when he came here?
«Yes; because of something else too…
«What was it? please do tell me?»
Myriam told her how she had bathed in the lake.
Ghislaine looked miserable.
«Oh why didn't come for me us, I would have loved to bathe too!»
Then coming back to her favourite topic, she added:
«You see Daddy is a darling. He didn't scold you and he takes you with us. Isn't he extraordinary?
«Oh Yes! said Myriam.
«Well go and join him now. While you'll be away I'll look at my wardrobe, and then you'll choose what you like best.»
