I know what friendship is, now."

She clasped her hands tightly and said something else, sweetly
incoherent; and, in the starlight, Marche saw the tears sparkling on her
lashes.

With that he sprang nervously to the shore and began to tramp up and
down the shingle, his mind in a whirl, every sense, common or the
contrary, clamoring for finality--urging him to tell her the truth--tell
her that he loved her, that he wanted her--her alone, out of all the
world of women--that it was for love and for her, and for love of her,
that he offered anything, did anything, thought anything now under the
high stars or under the circling sun.

And now, as he tramped savagely to and fro, he realized that he had
begun wrong; that he should have told her he loved her first of all, and
then acted, not promised.

Would she look on his offer scornfully, now? Would she see, in what he
asked of her, a bribe desired for the offer he had made in her brother's
behalf? She did not love him. How could she, in a week? Never had there
been even a hint of sentiment between them. What would she think--this
young girl, so tranquilly confident in her friendship for him--what
would she think of him and his love? He knew there was nothing
mercenary or material in her character; he knew she was young, sweet
tempered, reticent concerning herself, clean hearted, and proud. How
could he come blundering through the boundaries of her friendship with
such an avowal, at a moment's notice?

He returned slowly to the boat and stood looking up at her; and he saw
that she was smiling down at him in the starlight.

"Why did you start off so abruptly and tramp up and down?" she asked.

He looked up at her. "Shall we walk back, now?" he said.

She extended her hands to him, and he swung her to the beach. For a
moment he retained her hands; she looked at him, smiling, thrilling with
all that he had said, meeting his eyes frankly and tenderly.

"You are like some glorious magic prince to me," she said, "appearing
among us here to win our hearts with a word."

"Have I won yours with what I have said?"

"Mine? Oh, don't you know it? Do you think--even if it doesn't come
true--that I can ever forget what you have wished to do for Jim?"

Still holding her hands, he lifted them, joined her fingers, and laid
his lips to them. She bent her head and caught her breath in surprise.

"I am going North to-morrow," he said.

For a moment she did not comprehend his word