Hazel accompanied him to the door.
Emboldened by the dimness of the fading light, she crept close up to
him, bending her head that he should not study her face.
"You--you knew what I thought?" she asked, trembling a little.
"Yes, poor child," he answered tenderly, stroking the soft hair.
She guessed by his half-soothing, half-bantering tone, that he divined
her thoughts. Creeping yet closer, she placed her two hands upon his
breast. His own closed over them.
"You--you heard?" she whispered, her eyes downcast.
Then he had pity upon her.
"Hazel," he said earnestly, "I heard you say you loved me, and I heard
you call my name. But it was not till you fainted that I was able to
rouse myself."
He might have added he could yet feel the two timid kisses that had
fallen upon his cheek, but he was merciful.
A silence fell between them. Hazel was wrestling with her shyness. She
must know.
In desperation she raised her head and looked quickly into his face.
Her lips parted, but it was a quick blush that asked the question.
"And that too, little love," he murmured.
FINIS