Then he paused. She came up to him and they walked level. Not another word had been spoken; but there are silences that speak more than can be written in ponderous tomes. These two--this man and this woman--_knew_. They had in their hearts in those glorious moments all the wisdom won by joy and suffering through all the countless ages since the Lord rested on that first Sabbath eve and felt that His finished work was good.
When, keeping even step, they had taken a few quiet paces, Athlyne spoke in a soft whisper that thrilled:
Without question or doubt of any kind she raised her shining eyes to his. And then, slowly and together as though in obedience to some divine command, their lips met in a long, loving kiss in which their very souls went out each to the other.
When their mouths parted, with a mutual sigh, each gave a quick glance up and down the road; neither had thought of it before.
The tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil did not die in Eden bower. It flourishes still in even the most unlikely places all the wide world over. And they who taste its fruit must look with newly-opened eyes on the world around them.
Together, still keeping step, not holding each other, not touching except by the chance of movement, they walked to where the bye-road joined the main one. As yet they had spoken between them less than threescore words. They wondered later in the day when they talked together how so much as they had thought and felt and conveyed had been packed into such compass. Now, as they paused at the joining of the roads, Athlyne said--and strange to say it was in an ordinary commonplace voice:
“Joy won’t you come with me for a ride. I have my motor here, and we can go alone. There is much I want to say to you--much to tell you, and the speed will help us. I want to rush along--to fly. Earth is too prosaic for me--now!” Joy looking softly up caught the lightning that flashed from his eyes, and her own fell. A tide of red swept her face; this passed in a moment, however, leaving a divine pink like summer sunset on snowy heights. Her voice was low and thrilling as she answered with eyes still cast down.
“I’ll go with you where you will--to the end of the world--or Heaven or Hell if you wish--now!”