He was doing his best, she knew, but his halting words fell vaguely on her empty heart. She had been right when she said that he could not make himself love her.
But the wings of the past were wrapping them around, and with sudden regret fulness for all she had dreamed and lost, she put her arms round his neck and kissed him.
"Well, we'll try, shall we?" she whispered. He returned the kiss eagerly. She would see what a model he could be, he promised. He had not been so happy for a long time. He held her at arm's length, his fingers lost in her soft hair.
"You're such a child to be anybody's wife!" he said laughingly.
She shook her head.
"I think I've grown up very quickly." she answered with a sigh.
"Very well, then, I shall have to teach you how to be a child again," he declared. "How's the head? Do you think you could get dressed and come out? I'm going to buy you a present—lots of presents, frocks and all manner of things."
"I'll go out after lunch, but I don't want lots of presents, really, Chris."
"Well, we'll see." He stood up, still holding her hand. He felt as if a load of care had fallen from his shoulders. He wished he had tried this way of managing her before. He supposed he ought to have known that women liked to be kissed and made a fuss of. He really 225 thought that she was as happy and contented as he was. He drew her to her feet and kissed her gain.
"I'm glad I married you, and nobody else, Marie Celeste," he said.