"My little Christine," he murmured. "I have been so afraid," she was saying, still searching his soul through his eyes. "I am still afraid, David. It has been a long time. So many things may have happened. We were such young, foolish things. Oh, David, you don't know how I have worked and planned and striven to make myself what you would like, if you were ever to come to see me again. I--" "You are perfect--you are divine!" he cried, all the passion of his soul ringing in the tender words. "I can't believe it! You really care, Christine? You have not changed? It has always been the same with you?" "Changed, David," she whispered, her lip trembling, a sudden mist swimming in her sweet young eyes. "Changed?" "You _do_ love me? I am not dreaming? It is really _you?_" She suddenly lowered her eyes, the warm flush spreading to her throat, her neck, her ears. She caught her breath in a half-sob. [Illustration: Her lips parted in amazement, tremulously struggling into a smile of wonder and unbelief] Both had forgotten the tall woman who stood over there by the window, her hands clasped, her heart in the eyes that looked upon them. They did not see the beatific smile that came to her colorless lips. Nor were they aware of the fact that she turned away, to gently draw aside the curtain that she might look out, unseeing, upon the gloom of the night beyond. He quickly lifted the girl's hands to his feverish lips. There he held them for many minutes while he steadied his rioting senses, regaining control of his nerves. He looked down upon the dark, soft hair and worshiped. A red rose rested there. He bent over and kissed her hair--and the rose. Then she looked up. "I do love you, David," she said softly, "are you--are you sure that you--Oh, David, are you sure?" For answer, his eager arm stole over her shoulder and she was drawn close to his breast. She raised her lips to greet the kiss. Her little hand clutched his with a sudden convulsive ecstasy. He felt the warm, quick breathing--and then their lips met. "I am very sure," he murmured, his voice husky with emotion. "There never has been a minute in which I was not sure, Christine, my darling." "You have forgotten--you can overlook those old days when I was Little Starbright?" she whispered wonderingly. "They will make no difference--now?" "I loved you then. You and I and my love have grown older and stronger and dearer with the years that have--" She broke away from him, putting her hands to her cheeks in pretty confusion. Her eyes were shining brightly as she looked beyond him. "Oh, mother! I--I forgot that you were there. I forgot everything." She ran to her mother and buried her face on her shoulder. "I told you it would come true, mother. I knew it would. Oh, I am so happy! Have I been ridiculous? Have I been silly, mother?" It was the ecstatic David who reassured her on that point. In his unbounded joy he rushed over and enveloped the two of them in his long, eager arms.