"His penance had become severe." Persuasion, Ch.23
Thank you for your company, you lovely readers and the characters of this story. There might be one or two epilogues.
The evening light danced on the walls of the Nonnatus Clinic great hall. It was the only element of nature that dared to invade the privacy of the happy couple.
They lay on two examination tables pulled together by the wall. Their limbs were mingled with each other. Shelagh felt his right leg over her left thigh. She fondled his head in her bosom, kissing the dark hair at random, if continuous pace. His eyes were shut and he had a dreamy look, Shelagh thought. His hands were intermittently but lazily exploring her midriff and shoulders, giving her the sweetest thrills. The sensation was of purest delight. There is nothing in the world more beautiful and satisfying than this, and there is no need to deny that, she thought.
Occasionally they changed a word or two. Sometimes even long sentences. So much had happened between them when they were strangers and couldn't speak. Their curiosity about each other's thoughts and actions needed to be satisfied. Every occasion of their renewed acquaintance was given a detailed attention and analysis. There would be a peace with no words, a silent trance of lovers later, but there was too much of interest to address before that blessed state.
Finally, when every incident had been given a treatment of necessary interjections and expressions of regret, enchantment, delight, tension or surprise, there was a moment's silence.
Shelagh broke it first.
"What are you thinking of? Where did you go? In your mind, I mean."
"Can you feel that I traveled somewhere? The lady reads my mind. We are like married already."
"Oh, Patrick."
"I was just wondering...If I had tried to find you, to meet you...in the year 1945, after the war ended. When Peggy died. Before I went to America. Would you have been persuaded to meet me? To...date me?"
A helpless look on Shelagh's radiant face told him the answer to that.
"Would I have been persuaded to meet you? Oh, Patrick."
"Oh, you would! I am sorry, sweetheart. I have made us miss four delightful years."
"Just make it up to me."
"How?"
"You know there is such a thing as penance in religious life. They can be severe."
"I suspect that I might rather like this aspect of religious life..."
"It means you are subjected to discipline and you are not to protest in any manner."
"Oh, I will be good, I will be good," he shrieked in a spirit of happy mockery.
Shelagh drew his head to her level and said: "Do nothing and receive you punishment. You are not allowed to resist or react in any way." She kissed him, it started with a lingering tenderness but grew to demanding intensity. He squirmed and groaned and whimpered under this delicate, but precise handling.
"No protest? No resistance? How is a man to endure this harsh life of penance!"
They collapsed into uncontrollable laughter.
He recovered first. He drew her into his arms. "Oh my wife. My dear, harsh, lady wife. How I love you."