She did not seem to hear at first, nor to comprehend when she went back over his words. Then she stared at him in sudden amazement. He saw his blunder and looked foolish. "I see--thank you for saying what you did last night--and you didn't mind--you came to me anyway, in spite of _that_." She arose, and would have gone around the table to him, but he met her with open arms. "Oh, you boy! you do love me,--you do!" "I must buy you one of those nice, shiny black ear-trumpets at the first stop. You can't have been hearing at all well.... See, sweetheart,--out across the river. That's where our big West is, over that way--isn't it fresh and green and beautiful?--and how fast you're going to it--you and your husband. I believe it's going to be a good game... for us both... my love..." THE END.