was strong and possessed of endurance beyond any other girl he knew; and she would of herself undertake risks and adventures; she liked to submit herself to hazard; yet she was a most manageable person, too.
Imagining himself married to her, he felt his way would always be pleasant; his way would be hers.
He felt the flattery of others' attention. Every one had to look at her; she was glorious to see and far more satisfactory to have in one's arms. He thought how he had pretended that she was a Goddess when he was following her in the little ice valleys of the shore at sunrise; now she was too close, she was too warm, too much within his arms for him to consider her like that.
The exultation of "A Woman Waits for Me!" ran in his veins. He felt Fidelia "contains all, nothing is lacking . . . warm blooded and sufficient for me."
Sufficient for him! He had never suspected what sufficiency might be until he had found Fidelia. Here she was, warm and lovely and strong and docile.
No; he had never felt sufficiency like this; not with Alice. But he did not let himself think definitely of Alice . . . not until the music had ceased.
He sat with Fidelia, with others about them, during the interval before the next dance; when the music began again, he sought Alice who had been left by her last partner at a further corner of the floor. He felt relaxed and he tried to freshen himself for Alice; but he realized, "She knows"; and even as he crossed the floor, his mind was on his next dance with Fidelia. For he would have two.
