"I am glad we waited until now," Peter said in a note so low that it hardly reached her. "Why were you so wise to send me away? Each day has added to you. I cannot believe I shall ever hold you. It seems like wanting the whole world." He waved his hand at the sea. "I could not endure to be less than the whole world," she quickly answered. "I could die with you now. Life can never again be so wonderful." Then, suddenly, words were foolish, and he abruptly ceased. The last light of a day, which to-night had lain very late upon the water, had gone quite out. Hardly could they see each other; and missing the lost message of their eyes they pressed closely together. The beckoning window shone more brightly in the dark. Soon it put out land and sky. It could not be avoided. Together they read and answered the steady call. It put between them a growing distress. "Kiss me, my husband, and let me go." Her heart, as Peter took her in his arms, was beating like a creature caught and held. She almost disappeared into the dark as she went down; but he followed her with his eyes, alert for every step of her passage. At last she had reached the house, and soon Peter could see the light of her room waver with her moving to and fro. Only Miranda's window was shining now. Then, with a swiftness that struck mortally at his heart, Miranda's window also was dark, or so it seemed, for the light went down. Peter spread his arms and stood full breathing for a moment, fighting desperately with an unknown power. He had a swift vision of her waiting. Then he went down the hill, and felt the earth like a carpet spread for his marriage. He turned once only at the door to take, as he felt, a last look at the stars. They seemed like a handful of dust he had flung at the sky. XLV Peter did not know that happiness could be so tranquil till in the morning he floated with Miranda upon the quiet sea. It seemed that only now did he have peace and time to realise that the miracle of their love was complete. It flooded him slowly in the silence of the dawn, as, waking to the chatter of birds, he lay without stirring, fearing to shake the comfort of a perfect memory. Miranda, waking soon, had answered his thought with only a pressure of the hand. The slow opening of her eyes, deep with fulfilment, sealed their marriage in the sun, assuring him it was not a passing ecstasy of moonlight and dark hours. Then they had planned for the day to sail before a light wind, rounding the western rocks of the island. This would meet their need to be happily alone. Peter had hired a tiny lugger in the bay, and they were passing now under the cliffs, making to weather the Needles and enjoy the painted glory of Alum.