He did the only thing a man could do, and that was to take her face between his two hands and kiss her.
“Little wife, no secrets from me. Let us begin life so; we shall never regret it.”
She closed her eyes, and, putting her hands upon his shoulders, hung her head a little.
“It was foolish of me, dear. I have been so happy, and sometimes when one has been very happy—”
“The tears come, little wife.”
“I have never been very happy till now, John. And just now it came into my heart so suddenly—”
She faltered, and he stood looking down at her as he held her in his arms.
“Barbara—wife, you felt lonely.”
She darted up a look at him as though surprised that he should know.
“How do I know, child? Because I had something of the same feeling myself. What a pair of fond fools, eh! No, it is something deeper and more sacred than that.”