His answer was to stretch his great arms and draw her into them. His laugh rang in the cavern.
"Oh, my dearest!" he cried. The eyes lighted in his bronzed face. "I ask for everything—everything—bold that I am! And what I want worst—this minute—"
"Yes?"
"—Is just—a kiss."
She gave it to him with all the tenderness of her soft lips. The snow sifted down outside. Again the pines spoke to one another, but the sadness seemed mostly gone from their soft voices.