“Doctor,” called a startled voice, “row out; I am right under the trees.”
They both started. Mrs. Levice was, without doubt, awake. They had drifted into a cove, and she was cowering from the over-hanging boughs.
“I do not care to be Absalomed; where were your eyes, Ruth?” she complained, as Kemp pushed out with a happy, apologetic laugh. “Did not you see where we were going?”
“No,” she answered a little breathlessly; “I believe I am growing far-sighted.”
“It must be time to sight home now,” said her mother; “I am quite chilly.”
In five minutes Kemp had grounded the boat and helped Mrs. Levice out. When he turned for Ruth, she had already sprung ashore and had started up the slope; for the first time the oars lay forgotten in the bottom of the boat.
“Wait for us, Ruth,” called Mrs. Levice, and the slight white figure stood still till they came up.
“You are so slow,” she said with a reckless little laugh; “I feel as if I could fly home.”
“Are you light-headed, Ruth?” asked her mother, but the girl had fallen behind them. She could not yet meet his eyes again.
“Come, Ruth, either stay with us or just ahead of us.” Mrs. Levice, awake, was an exemplary duenna.
“There is nothing abroad here but the stars,” she answered, flitting before them.
“And they are stanch, silent friends on such a night,” remarked Kemp, softly.
She kept before them till they reached the gate, and stood inside of it as they drew near.
“Then you will not be home till Monday,” he said, taking Mrs. Levice’s hand and raising his hat; “and I am off on the early morning train. Good-by.”
As she turned in at the gate, he held out his hand to Ruth. His fingers closed softly, tightly over hers; she heard him say almost inaudibly,--
She raised her shy eyes for one brief second to his glowing ones; and he passed, a tall, dark figure, down the shadowy road.
When Mr. Levice returned from his game of whist, he quietly opened the door of his daughter’s bedroom and looked in. All was well; the wolf had departed, and his lamb slept safe in the fold.
But in the dark his lamb’s eyes were mysteriously bright. Sleep! With this new crown upon her! Humble as the beautiful beggar-maid must have felt when the king raised her, she wondered why she had been thus chosen by one whom she had deemed so immeasurably above her. And this is another phase of woman’s love,--that it exalts the beloved beyond all reasoning.