Slowly at first, and then with quick, passionate tenderness she threw herself into his arms:
"I can't help it, dearest. It's too sweet and wonderful—God help me if I'm doing wrong!"
"Wrong!" he exclaimed indignantly. "How can it be wrong, this solemn pledge of life and love, of body and soul?"
She lifted her face to his in wonder:
"And you will dare to tell your father?"
"In good time, yes. But it's our secret now. Keep it until I say the time has come for him to know. I'll manage him—promise!"
"Yes! How sweet it is to hear you tell me what to do! I shall never be lonely or afraid again."
The father's footstep on the porch warned of his approach.
"Go quickly!" the boy whispered. "I don't want him to see us together yet—it means too much now—it means life itself!"
Helen moved toward the door, looked back, laughed, flew again into his arms and quickly ran into the hall as Norton entered from the porch.