“Joyce, I’m going to tell you something. You may think perhaps I oughtn’t to tell you, that I have no right to speak of such things--that I am unworthy. But somehow I think you ought to know. After I’ve told you I’m not going to presume upon it. I know as well as you do that I’m unworthy. But I’ve loved you all my life, and it’s kept me from a great deal that I might have done if I hadn’t. I never dreamed of you as mine, not in any material sense of the word. I always knew I wasn’t big enough and good enough for you, but I’ve kept you like a shrine in a temple, a place to worship at. You can’t know what it’s meant to me. I’m telling you this because it’s the only way I can thank you for what you did for me. You saved my life, and I want you to know that all that a man has to give a woman, that I have given to you. There will never be any other girl for me!” Joyce’s head was turned away. She was trying to keep the blinding joy of her heart from leaping to her eyes. “And you refuse to let me give anything back to you?” she asked in a little faltering voice. “What do you mean, Joyce?” He lifted his eyes and looked at her anxiously. “I mean, does it mean nothing to you that I have loved you too, ever since the day we were here last?” He caught her hand. “Joyce! Do you mean that? You loved me all that time? But of course you did not know me, did not know that I was--” “I loved _you_,” said Joyce firmly. “And I love you now. I didn’t know it was that when I came home to save you, but I guess it was there all the time only I hadn’t told myself about it--yet--” “Oh, Joyce, my darling!” He gathered her close to his heart and closed his eyes in an ecstasy of joy. “It makes me feel so humble!” he said at last looking into her eyes. “To think that I, a sinner, a law-breaker--” She laid her fingers on his lips. “‘For ye are not under the law,’” she quoted softly, “‘but under grace.’ Have you forgotten that He puts His righteousness upon us?” * * * * * They came back from their walk in the twilight with the stars looking down upon them and a new moon shining in a clear sky, but they did not see it. They were walking hand in hand and talking of many precious things. The Petersons had been waiting dinner for them almost an hour, but they were serenely unconscious of the fact. They went to church the next day and sat in the old Peterson pew, side by side, with the Judge and Mrs. Peterson and Dan, for the delectation of all eyes, but they didn’t know that either. They were as happy as any two people could be in this world.