With a faint cry she advanced slowly toward him. “Oh, it is you!” she said. “Oh, Paul, you have come back!” With hands reaching toward him she ran the remaining steps.
“Yes, Peg, I said I would come for you,” he said, his voice tense and low, taking her hands in his.
“I always said you would come,” she said, her blue eyes shining, her face pale, her lips trembling.
The sight of her shining eyes, her pale face and quivering lips was to Paul’s heart like a breath of wind upon a smouldering fire. Swiftly he released her hands, threw his arms about her, drew her close to him and kissed her upon the lips. As suddenly he released her and stood back as if expecting he knew not what.
“Peggy!” cried the Colonel.
“My dear!” cried his wife.
“Paul!” shouted the Reverend Donald Fraser, one of the group.
The only silent member of the party was a young man, tall, broad-shouldered, with a strong if somewhat heavy face and good blue eyes, now shining with amazement and anger.
“Why not?” cried Peg, standing up straight and tall, her face crimson, her eyes flashing. “It is Paul.”
“Why not?” said Paul, his voice ringing out with a glad challenge in it. “I said I would come for her.”