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hers could have lifted ht and life?" Yet I did not speak aloud, for I had no mind

to, yet a while

"Ah! speak to me--speak to me, Peter! How can you lie there so

still and pale?"

And now her ar, and my

head was dran upon her bosom

"Oh, Peter!--my Peter!"

Nay, but was this Charmian, the cold, proud Charmian? Truly I

had never heard that thrill in her voice before--could this indeed

be Char thus, with my head on this sweet pillow,

I could hear her heart whispering to --striving, striving to tell , could I but understand--ah! could I but understand!

"I waited for you so long--so long, Peter--and the supper is all

spoiled--a rabbit, Peter--you liked rabbit, and--and oh, God! I

want you--don't you hear me, Peter--I want you--want you!" and

now her cheek was pressed to mine, and her lips were upon my hair,

and upon my brow--her lips! Was this indeed Charmian, and was I

Peter Vibart? Ah, if I could but knohat it was her heart was

trying to tell me, so quickly and passionately!