Over the lobster she flashed her pretty teeth at him in a mood of
increasing jollity. Lili’s hair was somewhat wind-blown, and she had a
high glow—touches which added a deeper poignancy to the perennial charm
of her beaming. And as they sipped their white wine and nibbled their
lobster in cosy intimacy, Jerome felt himself more and more falling under
the spell.
It was the old spell of Lili herself, but it was also the spell of
the hour and the place. Their being out together like this had a fine
adventurous tang. He reached across the table and gave her hand a quick,
fervent squeeze. He was so excited he could hardly eat.
Lili was certainly in a wonderful mood. He had never before seen her
so utterly enjoying herself. And the more of the friendly wine they
drank, the more completely did their respective moods take possession of
them—also the less did they think about the growing lateness. When at
last it occurred to them there was a boat to catch in Hilo, they found,
by consulting their watches and the proprietor of the tavern, it would be
quite impossible for them to reach Hilo in time. At first the inn-keeper
thought there was a special later boat on Sunday, but it developed, when
he consulted a much-thumbed time-table, that it was out of season. And
then they were in a good deal of a panic, until the man told them of
a boat that left quite early in the morning; a stage made connections
somewhere—it was a little vague, but the inn-keeper agreed to get them up
in plenty of time.
There remained a remote and much less gripping panic over the thought
of possibly not reaching Honolulu in time to get aboard the _Skipping
Goone_, but Lili pointed out: “I know Mr. Curry wouldn’t have the heart
to go without us!” And anyway, there was no use trying to cross more than
one bridge at a time. She giggled a little. There was nothing they could
do but remain and make the best of it. After reaching this decision their
spirits rose again very rapidly.
They wandered out of the tavern arm in arm for a little stroll. There
was a gorgeous moon, spreading all about them a realm of intoxicating
tropical splendour. Lili drew closer to him and sighed: “It’s grand,
isn’t it Jerry?” Her tone was a little reverent, as it generally was when
she felt herself overcome by the beauty of the night.
They wandered together a little way down the still, white road. Jerome
felt the girl gently relaxing against him. There was a thrilling
softness and deliciousness in the contact. He slipped an arm about her.
Impulsively they paused and kissed. It was a wonderful, lingering kiss,
and Jerome found his hands tremblingly in her hair.
The night was lustrous and so unutterably sweet. They turned at last and
slowly walked back to the tavern. And the spell endured.... He held her
hand hotly. In the shadow of some feathery trees he pressed his cheek
against hers, and they kissed again.
“Oh, Jerry!” she whispered.
“I love you!” he said.
Their hearts beat rapidly and their voices trembled when they spoke to
each other. They felt themselves irresistibly drawn together.
The urge was strong and sweet. They gave themselves up to it, and the
night was theirs. Yes, theirs. All the lustrous beauty and mystery of it,
long and golden, with cares put aside until the morrow, and only in their
hearts the strange, rich, poignant thrill which held them so breathless
and made their kisses seem immortal....