[Xmms-embedded-users] D. I suppose we would call her sixteen or seventeen years old. But they ripen quickly,

[Holdbrook <pri...@ra...>]

 fearful that Joel is a bit--timid in such affairs." She flamed at him:
"Afraid?" He nodded. "I don't believe it." His eyes shone. "What a loyal
little bride? But--I taxed him with it. And--that was the word he
used...." She was so angry that she beat upon Mark's great breast with
her tiny fists. "It's not true! It's not true!" she cried. "You
know...." Abruptly, Mark took fire. She was swept in his arms, clipped
there, half-lifted from the deck to meet his lips that dipped to hers.
She was like nothing in his grasp; she could not stir.... And from his
lips, and circling arms, and great body the hot fire of the man flung
through her.... She fought him.... But even in that terrific moment she
knew that Joel had never swept or whelmed her so.... She twisted her
face away.... And thus, from the shadow where they stood, she saw Joel.
He was at the top of the cabin companion, looking toward them, his face
illumined by the light from below. And she watched for an instant,
frozen with terror, expecting him to leap toward them and plunge at Mark
and buffet him.... Joel stood for an instant, unstirring. Then he
turned, very quietly, and went down stairs again into the cabin.... She
thought, sickly, that he had shirked; he had seen, and held his hand....
What was it Mark had said? Afraid.... Mark had not seen Joel. He kissed
her again. Then she twisted away from him, and fled below. Joel was at
his desk. He did not look up at her coming; and she stood for an
instant, behind him, watching his bent head.... Then she slipped into
her own cabin, and snapped the latch, and plunged her face in her pillow