As Berley stole a glance at the young football star she read approval in his eyes, and was satisfied.
“Makes you think of those places you read about in English history.” His smile was good to see. “There should be a whole quarter of beef roasting over the fire, spears and armor hanging on the walls, the head of a wild boar above the mantel.
“But after all it’s great just as it is. I only wish we were here under more happy circumstances.” He dropped into the chair farthest from the blazing fire.
“We’re safe enough for the present, at least,” said Ed, lighting his pipe.
Berley Todd sent him a smile of gratitude. It was evident that for one short evening she wished to feel safe and quite at home.
Our minds are strange. One moment we may be in the dark, surrounded, we imagine, by hostile foes. Our minds are filled with all sorts of forebodings. The next we are before a blazing fire in our own home where we have known peace, and presto! all is changed; fear goes, peace comes, we know not how.
“I’m glad you like it.” Berley Todd spoke as one in a dream. “When I think of the good times we have had here, and of the trips we have planned before this fire! How good it all was!” Her voice trailed off to nothing.
Red saw from the look on her face that she was thinking: “Oh, bury me not on the lone prairee.” He wished she might forget entirely for one short hour.
“Tell me about it, those other days.” There was an unaccustomed gentleness in his tone.
“Those golden days?” Her face brightened. “How we would sit here planning by the fire! ‘To-morrow we will round the Point in the little boat and go far back into Tobin’s Harbor; back to Talman’s Island. There are wild raspberries growing round that cabin. And some great old speckled trout lie in the rocks nearby.’