"Was all that a dream?"
"You know it was.... It began with a fable—which sent me off to sleep."
"It ended in truth—and an awakening—for one of us."
"Jim, you're not pretending to be serious, are you? Goodness!" she added impatiently; "can't I pretend with you, and not be misunderstood?"
He sat up, sprang to his feet, and began to pace the moss.
She, resting against the silver birch, watched him, already a little frightened, her heart beginning to beat high and fast.
Suddenly he came back and, resting on one knee, bent over beside her.
"Did you mean nothing of that? Nothing?"
"Nothing; why should you be silly enough to suppose——"
"I did suppose for a moment."