He rested his arms on the oars, and leaned over toward her.
“I’ve loved you ever since that first night—do you remember? I know—I know I’m not good enough, but can’t you—can’t I—love you?”
He saw her eyelids fall, and as she turned and looked over the side of the boat, she put forth her hand, and he took it.
They were awakened from the dream by a call, and after what seemed to Marley a long time, he finally remembered the voice as Lawrence’s.
“We must go back,” he said reluctantly. “How long have we been gone?”
“I don’t know,” said Lavinia. He heard her sigh.
Marley pulled the boat in the direction whence came the hallooing voice; he had quite lost all notion of their whereabouts. But presently they saw the lights of the pavilion, and then the dark figures of the men, and the white figures of the girls on shore.
As they pulled up and Marley sprang out of the boat to the landing stage, Lawrence said:
“Well, where have you babes been?”
Marley helped Lavinia out of the boat.