"No, Kingsley, no." "Are you sure?" "Yes, dear." "I am glad to hear you say so, Nansie. I am the same as ever, eh?" "Yes, Kingsley, the same as ever; but we will not part again." "No, indeed! I don't intend that we shall--because, although we have been separated but a short time, my head has got full of fancies about this and that--foreign countries--outlandish places--strange people--rapid journeys--accidents even, but dreams, all of them, Nansie. They must be dreams, or I could fix them with greater certainty. Now, you know my old way, my dear; when anything was troubling me I used to say, 'What is the use? It won't make things better.' There is only one wise way to look upon life--make light of things. You remember a favorite saying of mine--it was from a song, I think, was it not? 'Never trouble trouble, till trouble troubles you.' And that is the way we will go through life together, eh, my love?" "Yes, Kingsley," said Nansie, and would have said more, but for a sudden trembling that came over him, which caused him to cling to her for support. "What is the matter, Kingsley?" "To tell you the truth, my dear," he replied, with a wan, whimsical smile, "you would hardly believe it, but I think I am hungry!" "Hungry! Oh, Kingsley!" "Well, yes; such a careless, neglectful fellow as you have got for a husband, Nansie, never thinking of things at the right moment, never taking into account that it is necessary to eat even, until it is forced upon him that he must eat to live. And talking of eating to live--is there anything in the larder, Nansie?" He had rallied a little, and spoke with greater firmness. "Yes, Kingsley, plenty; come--come. Ah, my dear, my dear, with all my heart I thank God that you are with me again!" "Dear wife," he murmured, and allowed himself to be led by her into the house, and up the dark stairs to the rooms she occupied. But outside the door, on the landing, she whispered to him, "Kingsley!" "Yes, love." "There is a great happiness within. Be prepared for it." "There is a great happiness here"--with his arms around her. "I am really and truly thankful." "But a greater within, Kingsley, my husband. Listen--our darling child sleeps there." "Our darling child, our little one! Surely I have seen her in my dreams, in which I have seen so many strange things. Ah, how I have dreamed of you, Nansie, even during this short absence! But let us go in, or I shall be reproached for forgetfulness." They entered the room together, they leaned over the cradle, they knelt by its side, and Kingsley, lowering his face to the pretty babe sleeping there, kissed her softly and tenderly. "She is very sweet, Nansie, like you. I am sure her eyes are the color of yours." "No, darling, she has your eyes." "And your heart, Nansie. Happy little one, happy little one! We will make her happy, will we not, dear?" "Yes, Kingsley."