When they got to the Carters’ they found Mayme and Lavinia together in the yard, strolling about in apparent aimlessness, yet with an expectancy in their manner that belied its quality of mere idleness. In the look Lavinia gave him all of Marley’s perplexities vanished. Lawrence stood by with a grin on his red face, and Mayme Carter’s eyes danced. She and Lawrence assumed almost immediately an elder, paternal manner, and looked on at the lovers’ meeting as from far heights that were to be reached only after all such youthful experiences had long since become possible in retrospect alone. Still smiling, they edged away, and left the lovers alone.
“Is it really true?” Marley asked.
Lavinia colored a little as she smiled up at him.
“And you are happy?” he asked.
“So happy!” she said.
And then all at once a cloud came over her eyes. She closed them an instant.
“What is it?” he asked in alarm.
“Nothing.”
“Tell me.”
“It’s nothing.” She was smiling again, as if to show that her happiness was complete. “See?” Her eyes were blinking rapidly.