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He cleared his throat

"'Oh let the solid ground Not fail beneath my feet Before my life has found What some have found so sweet; Then let coo mad, I shall have had my day

Let the sweet heavens endure, Not close and darken above me Before I am quite quite sure That there is one to loveoff a spring-board He could see the girl sitting with a soft s out over the sunlit sea He laid down the book and took her hand

"There is so to say ever since wewhich I think you must have read in my eyes"

Her head was bent She did not withdraw her hand

"Until this voyage began," he went on, "I did not knohat life ate of heaven opening You're the dearest girl I ever et" He stopped "I'etically "Billie, don't think me sillyI meanif you had the merest notion, dearestI don't knohat's the irl in the world! I have been looking for you for years and years and I have found you at last, my soul-mate Surely this does not come as a surprise to you? That is, I mean, you must have seen that I've been keenThere's that daain!" His eyes fell on the voluhten the it too What I' towards him Her face was very sweet and tender, her eyes misty He slid an arm about her waist She raised her lips to his

Suddenly she drew herself away, a cloud on her face

"Darling," she said, "I've a confession to et rid of a horrible thought I ondering if this will last"

"Our love? Don't be afraid that it will fadeI meanwhy, it's so vast, it's bound to lastthat is to say, of course, it will"