"In my belief that we are friends again."
He bent his head, softly kissed her fingers and said, "Hereby I set my seal of eternal devotion."
"To our friendship," added Gwen tremulously. She must not let him say more, and he understood, though he kissed her fingers again, this time with a swift eagerness which denied mere friendship, and then they parted.
"Tired, little girl?" said her aunt as she came in. "I have kept your supper hot. It has been a long day for you, I'm afraid."
"Not so very long," returned Gwen, "and you know I love the coming home part. It was glorious on the water this evening."
"I must say you don't look particularly dejected," said Miss Elliott, pouring out a cup of chocolate for her.
Gwen laughed, a low happy laugh. "Who could feel dejected on such an evening?" she said.
"I didn't remark that it was anything very unusual."
"It was on the boat," replied the girl. She was restless for the next hour and made the excuse of her early start that morning to account for her eagerness to go to her room. "For to-morrow, to-morrow," she whispered to herself, as she went up stairs. "And after that other to-morrows. How glad I am to be alive." Before she drew her curtains she looked out, and against the starlit sky, she saw a well-known figure standing a little distance off, upon the rocks. When she had blown out her candle she looked once more, and saw the man walk slowly away. "The darling!" she murmured, "he has been watching my light. It will be a long time to wait, but we are young, and oh dear God, I am so thankful he has come back to me."