They landed in the orchard behind the house, and Pauline was getting ready to help Guy push the canoe across to the mill-stream, when he vowed she must come and kiss him good night indoors.
"Of course I will; though I mustn't stay more than a minute, because I promised Mother to be back by seven."
"I don't deserve you," said Guy, standing still and looking down at her. "I've done nothing but grumble all the afternoon, and you've been an angel. Ah, but it's only because I long to kiss you."
"I long to kiss you," she murmured.
"Do you? Do you?" he whispered. "Oh, with those ghouls in the churchyard I can't even take your hand."
They crossed the bridge from the orchard and came round to the front of the house into full sunlight, and thence out of the dazzle into Guy's hall that was filled with water melodies and the green light of their own pastoral world. Close they kissed, close and closer in the coolness and stillness.
"Pauline! I shall go mad for love of you."
"I love you. I love you," she sighed, nestling to his arms' inclosure.
"Pauline!"
"Guy!"