mused, somebody came and sat down beside him. At first he did not raise his head. It was only when she spoke that he sprang up.
“You! At this hour?”
“I was restless, I could not sleep.” Then in a low happy voice—“and you! at this hour?”
“I—I slept, but the sun awoke me.”
“I could not sleep,” she said, and her eyes seemed, for a moment, touched with an indefinable shadow. Then, smiling, “I am so glad—I seemed to know you were coming. Don’t laugh, I believe in dreams.”
“Did you really dream of,—of my being here?”
“I think I was awake when I dreamed it,” she admitted. Then for a time they were mute, acknowledging by silence the happiness of being together. And after all their silence was eloquent, for faint smiles, and glances born of their thoughts, crossed and recrossed, until lips moved and words were formed, which seemed almost superfluous. What they said was not very profound. Perhaps the most valuable jewel that fell from Hastings’ lips bore direct reference to breakfast.
“I have not yet had my chocolate,” she confessed, “but what a material man you are.”
“Valentine,” he said impulsively, “I wish,—I do wish that you would,—just for this once,—give me the whole day,—just for this once.”
“Oh dear,” she smiled, “not only material but selfish.”
“Not selfish, hungry,” he said, looking at at her.
“A cannibal too, oh dear!”
“Will you, Valentine?”
“But my chocolate———”
