proud. How could he come blundering through the boundaries of her friendship with such an avowal, at a moment's notice?
He returned slowly to the boat and stood looking up at her; and he saw that she was smiling down at him in the starlight.
"Why did you start off so abruptly and tramp up and down?" she asked.
He looked up at her. "Shall we walk back, now?" he said.
She extended her hands to him, and he swung her to the beach. For a moment he retained her hands; she looked at him, smiling, thrilling with all that he had said, meeting his eyes frankly and tenderly.
"You are like some glorious magic
prince to me," she said, "appearing among us here to win our hearts with a word."
"Have I won yours with what I have said?"
"Mine? Oh, don't you know it? Do you think—even if it doesn't come true—that I can ever forget what you have wished to do for Jim?"
Still holding her hands, he lifted them, joined her fingers, and laid his lips to them. She bent her head and caught her breath in surprise.