They laughed with the joy that was filling their hearts.
"Don't be longer than you can help, Philip," Claire admonished, and Lawrence added: "Every minute that divides us from our life ahead seems an eternity."
Claire smiled at the dear thoughts his words provoked.
"Good," said Philip in the doorway. "I'll hurry." And he was gone.
Claire and Lawrence stood in the doorway while Philip went singing down the lake shore. Her eyes filled with a warm light, and she slipped her hand into Lawrence's.
"At this moment, dear," she said, "I feel only pity for him. He is going to be hurt."
"Who wouldn't be, dearest, at losing you?"
"Always flattering," she teased. They stood arm in arm, leaning against the door-casing.
"Claire," he said, "let's take a last walk around our estate. The place where I first found the real, you will always be beautiful to me. I'm less blind this morning than I've been in my life."
"Of course you are," she said gaily. "You've acquired two good eyes."