beneath his arms, drew him up, softly and slowly, and pressed him
closer to her.

A sudden warmth filled him, and he threw his arms round her
gratefully, as a child might do.

"Crush me, then, crush me to death, and I have all I asked for!"

But she did not speak, only held him closer. And so they lay in each
other's arms, like children, worn out with weeping.

"Olof," said Kyllikki at last, freeing herself, "when you wrote, you
said you did not ask me to share joy and happiness, but to work and
suffer with you."

"Ay, then," said Olof bitterly. "And even then I still hoped for
happiness."

"But, don't you see.... To-night, it is just that. Our first suffering
together."

"It has ruined all!"

"Not all--only what we had hoped for to-night. All the rest is as it
was."

"No, no, do not try to deceive yourself and me. And for myself--what
do I care now? I have deserved it all--but you, you...."

"Say no more, Olof. Let this be ended now and never speak of it again.
See, I have forgotten it already."

"All ... you...."

"Yes, all--for your sake. Oh, let us be content! No one in all the
world can ever have all they hoped and wished for. And if we cannot
have our wedding night as lovers--let us at least be friends and
comrades now."

"Comrades? ... yes, in misery," sighed Olof. And they drew together
in a close embrace; two suffering creatures, with no refuge but each
other.

* * * * *

"Olof," whispered Kyllikki after a while, "we must go to rest now--you
are worn out."

Both glanced at the white bridal bed--and each turned in dismay to the
other, reading each other's thought.

"Can't we--can't we sleep here on the sofa?--it's nearly morning,"
said Kyllikki timidly.

Olof grasped her hand and pressed it to his lips without a word.

Kyllikki went to fetch some coverings. As she did so, she caught sight
of something lying on the table, and keeping her back turned to Olof,
she picked up the thing and put it back in the drawer. Olof's eyes
followed her with a grateful glance.

But as she touched the pillows and the white linen she had worked with
such hopes and kisses and loving thoughts for this very night, she
broke down, and stood with quivering shoulders, fumbling with the
bedclothes to hide her emotion.

Olof felt his eyelids quivering, warm drops fell on his cheek. He rose
and stepped softly to her side.

"Kyllikki," he whispered entreatingly, "have you forgiv