CHAPTER XXIII 

CHECK TO THE QUEEN 

How long they stood thus, heart to heart, they themselves could never have said. The sound of many voices in the near distance roused them from their dream. Ursula started in alarm. 

"Holy Virgin!" she exclaimed under her breath, "if it should be the Queen!" 

But Wessex held her tightly, and she struggled in vain. 

"Nay! then let the whole Court see that I hold my future wife in my arms," he said proudly. 

But with an agitated little cry she contrived to escape him. He seemed much amused at her nervousness; what had she to fear? was she not his own, to protect even from the semblance of ill? But Ursula, now fully awakened to ordinary, everyday surroundings, was fearful lest her own innocent little deception should be too crudely, too suddenly unmasked. 

She had so earnestly looked forward to the moment when she would say to him that she in sooth was none other than Lady Ursula Glynde, the woman whom every conventionality had decreed that he should marry, and whom--because of these conventionalities--he had secretly but certainly disliked. 

Her woman's heart had already given her a clear insight into the character and the foibles of the man she loved. His passion for her now, sincere and great though it was, was partly dependent on that atmosphere of romance which his poetical temperament craved for, and which had surrounded the half-mysterious personality of exquisite, irresistible "Fanny." 

Instinctively she dreaded the rough hand of commonplace, that ugly, coarse destroyer of poetic idylls. A few hastily uttered words might shatter in an hour the mystic shrine wherein Wessex had enthroned her. She had meant to tell him soon, to-morrow perhaps, perhaps only after a few days, but she wished to find her own time for this, when he knew her inner soul better, and the delicate cobwebs of this great love-at-first-sight had fallen away from his eyes. 
Who is embracing?
Is Ursula ready to stop?
is Wessex?
Why does she want free?
Who is she worried might be coming?
Does Wessex care?
Does she get free?
What's making her nervous?
How does Wessex feel about her fears?
Are they planing to get married?
How does that make Wessex feel?
Would their marriage be the traditional thing to do/
Is she thinking that maybe he doesn't like her?
What has she gotten a good picture of?
What kind of love is he feeling?
What does she think might get shattered?
When does she want to talk to him about it?
What are the possible days she might talk to him?
What does she want him to learn about
Where are they standing?
Ursula and Wessex
Ursula started in alarm. 

"Holy Virgin!" she exclaimed under her breath, "if it should be the Queen!" 

But Wessex held her tightly, and she struggled in vain. 
yes
But Wessex held her tightly, and she struggled in vain. 
no
But Wessex held her tightly, and she struggled in vain.
she hears people
The sound of many voices in the near distance roused them from their dream. Ursula started in alarm. 
the Queen
"Holy Virgin!" she exclaimed under her breath, "if it should be the Queen!" 
no
Nay! then let the whole Court see that I hold my future wife in my arms," he said proudly. 
yes
But with an agitated little cry she contrived to escape him
her deception might be unmasked.
fearful lest her own innocent little deception should be too crudely, too suddenly unmasked. 
amused
He seemed much amused at her nervousness
yes
 I hold my future wife in my arms," he said proudly. 
proud
 I hold my future wife in my arms," he said proudly. 
yes
the woman whom every conventionality had decreed that he should marry
yes
he had secretly but certainly disliked. 
his character
had already given her a clear insight into the character and the foibles of the man she loved.
ove-at-first-sight
this great love-at-first-sight had fallen away from his eyes.
the mystic shrine
might shatter in an hour the mystic shrine 
in her own time for
She had meant to tell him soon, to-morrow perhaps, perhaps only after a few days, but she wished to find her own time for this
tomorrow or a few days
She had meant to tell him soon, to-morrow perhaps, perhaps only after a few days
her inner soul better
he knew her inner soul better
unknown
unknown