"No improvement needed, my own love, my darling," Max said, coming up behind her and passing an arm about her waist.
At that she turned and hid her face upon his breast.
"Oh, Max, my husband, my dear, dear husband," she sobbed, "how can I live away from you? You are now more than all the world to me."
"As you are to me, dear love. It is hard to part, but we will hope to meet again soon; and in the meantime let us write to each other every day. And as there is no war now you need not feel that your husband is in any special danger."
"Yes, thank God for that," she said, "and that we may know that we are both in his kind care and keeping wherever we are."
"And surely you will be less lonely than you were before our marriage—father claims you as his daughter, Chester and little Ned are your brothers, Lu and Grace your sisters."
"Yes, oh yes; I have a great deal to be thankful for, but you are to me a greater blessing than all the world."
"As you are to me, dearest," was his response, as he held her close to his heart, pressing warm kisses on cheek and brow and lip.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the hall, Chester and Lucilla were chatting about the Captain's plan for a winter trip.
"I think it will be just delightful, Chester," she said, "since I am to have you along. I am so glad you are going, sorry as I am that ill-health makes it necessary."