“A little; not much, but so much that we could not travel fast without danger.”
“Was Moffat injured?”
“Not in the least; and had it not been for him, it is doubtful whether you would ever have seen me again.”
“Oh, George, you do not know how many times I did think so! Mother and father and your folks all thought you must have been killed. Captain Parks said you were not, and Mr. Edwards believed you would yet return to us. I prayed that you might, and yet it did not seem that you,—I am so glad!” and she gave one of those soulful glances that it made Kingman blush at his own happiness.
“I thought perhaps you might think rather strange of my absence”——
“Rather strange,” she interrupted, with a reproving look.
Kingman drew her head over upon his shoulder, and pressed her ardently to him. She sprang to her feet.
“I must look upon you again,” she laughed, “for it seems hardly possible that you are really here now. Yes; I believe it is George Kingman, after all.”
“And as I have some doubt of the truth of my eyes, permit not only to look upon you, but to taste you,” added Kingman, rising and imprinting a kiss upon her burning cheek.
“There, that will do! Now tell me where you have been all this time. But does any one else know you have returned?”