"What do you mean?"
She answered quite innocently:
"I only meant that I wish good things did not last such a little while. I've never been so happy as I am now."
"Never, Mrs. Lawless? Isn't that rather a big order?"
She sat up, leaning her chin in the palm of her hand.
170 "It's true," she said quietly. "I used to dream about a lot of silly things that could never really come true, but this"—she looked at the beauty of the peaceful scene surrounding them.
"I never thought I could be so—so peacefully happy as I am now."
Feathers had been opening a tin of tongue, and the knife slipped suddenly, cutting deeply into his hand.
He gave a little exclamation of annoyance, and Marie started up. "Oh, you have hurt yourself."
"Nothing, nothing at all." He dipped his hand into the water and hurriedly bound it round with a handkerchief. "Heavens, don't look so scared! It's nothing to what has happened when we've been camping out! The tent we were sleeping in collapsed on us one night, and we were nearly smothered. I should have been, but for Chris—he hauled me out."