"I could not endure to be less than the whole world," she quickly answered.
"I could die with you now. Life can never again be so wonderful."
Then, suddenly, words were foolish, and he abruptly ceased.
The last light of a day, which to-night had lain very late upon the water, had gone quite out. Hardly could they see each other; and missing the lost message of their eyes they pressed closely together. The beckoning window shone more brightly in the dark. Soon it put out land and sky. It could not be avoided. Together they read and answered the steady call. It put between them a growing distress.
"Kiss me, my husband, and let me go."
Her heart, as Peter took her in his arms, was beating like a creature caught and held.
She almost disappeared into the dark as she went down; but he followed her with his eyes, alert for every step of her passage. At last she had reached the house, and soon Peter could see the light of her room waver with her moving to and fro.
Only Miranda's window was shining now.
Then, with a swiftness that struck mortally at his heart, Miranda's window also was dark, or so it seemed, for the light went down.
Peter spread his arms and stood full breathing for a moment, fighting desperately with an unknown power. He had a swift vision of her waiting. Then he went down the hill, and felt the earth like a carpet spread for his marriage. He turned once only at the door to take, as he felt, a last look at the stars. They seemed like a handful of dust he had flung at the sky.