"Kiss me, Dexie."
A blushing face was lifted to his, and an arm was raised till it encircled his neck, as Dexie gave her first kiss of love to the man who had won her heart.
"How could you be so cool and short with me when you loved me all the time?" he asked, as he held her in his arms.
"I was not quite sure you cared for me," was the low reply. "But I am forgetting papa. I must go and see if he is all right, Guy."
It was the first time she had used his name, and he smiled fondly into the dark eyes raised so shyly to meet his own.
"I do not want to let you go from my arms for a minute, darling. I have been longing for this hour for so long that I am afraid I shall find it all a dream if I once let you go. Will you come back to me if all is right—back to my arms, I mean?"
"Perhaps—yes, then," and she stepped softly into her father's room.
But it needed only a few minutes to assure her that he was sleeping soundly and peacefully, so she returned to her waiting lover.
"Not beside me, but here, where you promised!" and he held out his arms as she endeavored to take a seat on the sofa beside him. "I wonder how long it will be before you will make my heart glad by coming to my arms of your own accord. It is hard to believe that this is the same little girl that used to send me home with such an aching heart that I walked the floor for hours, instead of going to bed."
"Oh, Guy! I am so sorry. I never thought you cared for me like that," she whispered, as she laid her head on his shoulder.