"Oh, Tris—if it were only true——!"
He smiled gravely down at her.
"You'd pay any price for it to be true, Anne?"
"Any price!" she answered joyfully.
He put his arm round her.
"We'll do our level best, dear."
They remained silent for many minutes. She half crouched, half lay with her head against his shoulder. Her antipathy had died down. He was again the strong and perfect hero of her fancies. She loved him. The arm curved about her shoulder was again a thrilling force. She looked down tenderly at the slender, powerful wrist. Then she laughed.
"Tris, why do you wear that silly, common bracelet? It's cheap, and so unmanly."
She felt his body grow suddenly tense. He answered without effort, almost lightly.
"It was a great gift—a gift of friendship."