She understood him better
now; his love was like her own, and she knew that to be imperishable. She
no longer struggled, but clung to him with trembling fingers.
'I did not think you loved me like that, dear,' she said softly.
'I worship you! And you, my wife, my sweet wife?'
She slid her arms about his neck and drew his face to hers.
They stood in the centre of an open plain above which the yellow sun hung
gleaming like a ball of gold; there was silence everywhere: Harry's horse
stood still with his nose to the ground, at a distance Summers' buggy
dipped slowly down into the bend of an old watercourse, and far off in
the dim simmering background there was a hazy suggestion of trees. The
solitude was complete.
'Then you won't go, Chris?' he said.
'Yes,' she answered, smiling into his face, 'but not for ever.'
He drew her closer at the suggestion.
'But why must you go? Why should we part?'
'Please, please, dear, for a time. I--I want to be away for a little
while, till I can bear it better--you know what I mean. Ah!' she cried
with sudden warmth, 'I thought was going to be strong and brave and bear
it all alone; but I was only a girl, not a heroine--my heart was crying
out against it by day and night.'
'We'll be very happy, Chris, in spite of those silly terrors. 'Twas Mrs.
Haddon sent me after you.'
'I'm glad.
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