"My dearest!" I whispered.
A little fluttering sigh of delight escaped her as her head was again pillowed on my shoulder; and in that realm of love's entrancing bliss we remained oblivious of all save our own rapture, and heedless each of everything except that together we had come into our own kingdom of happiness and perfect understanding.
We were roused by the sound of footsteps approaching the room. Althea drew away from me in tremulous confusion, her eyes shining radiantly, her colour mantling her cheeks.
It was my sister. "I was just coming for you, Bess," I said hurriedly, meeting her as she entered.
"I couldn't think where you were. You were awfully quiet"; and she looked from one to the other doubtfully, and then went toward Althea.
Althea turned quickly on her approach, and kissed her very lovingly, and put her arms round her waist. And seeing her eyes, Bessie understood.
"Oh!"
Her glance at me was an eloquent substitute for anything more. And then in her turn she put her arms round Althea and hugged her.
"I'm going to my room, Bess; come to me presently," I exclaimed, and left them together.
At first the sense of the rapturous happiness which had come to me filled my thoughts to the exclusion of all else, and it was only Bessie's arrival that called me down from the clouds.