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"Charuessed

right?" I heard a rustle close beside loom,

came a hand to meet and clasp ers, drawing her into the fireglow; and

her eyes were hidden by their lashes, and the glow of the fire

seeht, Peter," she whispered

"Yes"

"And so--when I heard you co on the bench outside, Peter"

"And, when you heard ht, Peter"

"And shut the door?"

"I only--just--closed it, Peter" She was still wrapped in her

cloak, as she had been when I first saw her, wherefore I put back

the hood from her face And behold! as I did so, her hair fell

down, rippling overus both in its splendor,

as it had done once before

"Indeed--you have glorious hair!" said I "It seems wonderful to

think that you are my wife I can scarcely believe it--even yet!"

"Why, I had meant you should marry me from the first, Peter"

"Had you?"

"Do you think I should ever have come back to this dear solitude

otherwise?"