gone into the library, and were reading some old book which hadn't
been opened for years, I just--cried."

"Oh, Nancy, I never dreamt of such a thing! I--I never thought you
wanted me. I was just aching for you all the time, but I thought--why,
you've always laughed at my dancing. But there, now I know, I can do
anything, be anything. And there's nothing I won't do for you?"

"You are not vexed with me, are you?"

"I couldn't be vexed with you, Nancy. I'd let myself be cut in bits
for you. And you love me, don't you? Oh, it's too good to be true!
but say you do, tell me that in spite of everything you love me?"

"Haven't I been telling you so all the time? And--and yet you haven't
asked me to--to----"

"What, Nancy?"

"Oh, I do hate a coward!"

"But what haven't I asked you?"

"Bob, isn't there something you want very much?"

"Yes, there is," replied Bob. "Something--that---- Nancy, you won't
be vexed with me if I ask you?"

"Risk my being vexed," laughed the girl.

"Then I want to take you in my arms, and kiss you--kiss you a hundred
times."

"Then, why don't you?"

Bob looked around him, like one afraid. They were beneath the shadow
of a great rock. At their feet was headland grass, wind-swept and
grey, but peeping through the grass were thousands upon thousands of
wild thyme, giving the little plateau a purple hue. They were hidden
from the gaze of any who might be on the great rock. His heart beat so
that his breath came with difficulty; he was trembling with a new-found
joy--a joy so great that it almost gave him pain.

"Oh, my love!--my love!" he cried, as he took her in his arms, and his
kisses were as pure as those with which a young mother lasses her
firstborn.

"What haven't I asked you?" he said, a few minutes later.

They were sitting beneath the shadow of the rock now, and Nancy was
rearranging her hat. She did not reply, but her eyes were full of
gladsome mischief as she looked at him.

"I mean just now, when--when you said you had been telling me that you
loved me, but I hadn't asked for something. What was it?"

"You've made up for it since," and there was a laugh in her voice.

"Do you mean that you wanted me to kiss you? Oh, you are right, Nancy,
I am an awful coward, but I'll make up for lost time now."

The sea continued to roll on the great rugged rock, which threw its
mighty head far out into its depths. Overhead the sea-birds hovered,
sailing with gra