Margaret sat silent for a moment, then she raised her eyes; they seemed heavy with love's mysterious shyness, and she breathed the word that gave her to him.
His arms closed round her, and he held her to him with one passionate kiss until, half frightened, she drew away from him.
There was silence between them then, and they sat hand in hand in that communion of spirit which is only permitted to us poor mortals once in a life. To him she was the embodiment of all that was beautiful and good! To her he was the epitome of all that was handsome and brave; and he was to be good also now, for had he not said that her love should be his salvation?
After a time they began to talk, as newly-made lovers do talk. Short little sentences, full of delicious meaning; small nothings, which represented the sum of all things to them.
Then Blair said, suddenly:
"Dearest, you said you had told no one: Mrs. Hale, or any one, about our meeting?"
"No," she assented.
"That was right, Margaret," he said. "I don't want you to tell any one."
She looked at him trustingly, but with a vague surprise.