Unexpected as was the whole turn of
events, she was utterly unprepared for this astounding suggestion.
"But--but--" she faltered.
And then for the first time she saw Tots's eyes, opened wide and looking
at her with an expression there was no mistaking. He took her face
between his hands.
"Yes, I know all that," he said, speaking below his breath. "But it
doesn't count, dear--believe me, it doesn't. The only thing that is
really indispensable, we have. So why not--make that do?"
"Oh, I don't know," she gasped. "I don't know."
She was quivering as a harp quivers under the fingers of one who knows,
and her whole soul was thrilling to the wild, tumultuous music that he
had called into being there. It was almost more than she could
bear--this miracle that had been wrought upon her. Tots's eyes still
held her own, and it was as if thereby he showed her all that was best
in life.
"Why not?" he said again very softly.
And suddenly she realised overwhelmingly how close his lips were to her
own. In that moment she also knew that greater thing which is immortal.
And so she answered him at last in his own words, with a rush of
passionate willingness that swept away all fear:
"Why not?"
As their lips met, it seemed to her that her eyes were opened for the
first time in her life; and everywhere--above, around, within her--were
living sparks, dazzling, wonderful, unquenchable, of the Eternal Flame.
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