V + 

That night Stephen took the girl roughly in her arms. + 

“I love you⁠—I love you so much⁠ ⁠…” she stammered; and she kissed Mary many times on the mouth, but cruelly so that her kisses were pain⁠—the pain in her heart leapt out through her lips: “God! It’s too terrible to love like this⁠—it’s hell⁠—there are times when I can’t endure it!” + 

She was in the grip of strong nervous excitation; nothing seemed able any more to appease her. She seemed to be striving to obliterate, not only herself, but the whole hostile world through some strange and agonized merging with Mary. It was terrible indeed, very like unto death, and it left them both completely exhausted. + 

The world had achieved its first real victory. + 