pure light.

Cynthia had been well brought up, but she came of rich, impatient stock,
and never until the present moment had she thought very seriously about
God. Now, however, when she saw the tenderness there was in G. G.'s eyes
and the smile of serene joyousness that was upon his lips, she
remembered the saying that God has made man--and boys--in His image--and
understood what it meant.

She said: "I know why you think you've come."

"Think?" he said. "Think!"

And then the middle ends of his eyebrows rose--all tender and quizzical;
and with one mitten he clutched at his breast--just over his heart. And
he said:

"If only I could get it out I would give it to you!"

Cynthia, too, began to look melting tender and wondrous quizzical; and
she bent her right arm forward and plucked at its sleeve as if she were
looking for something. Then, in a voice of dismay:

"Only three days ago it was still there," she said; "and now it's
gone--I've lost it."

"Oh!" said G. G. "You don't suspect me of having purloined--" His voice
broke.

"We're only kids," said Cynthia.

"Yes," said he; "but you're the dearest kid!"

"Since you've taken my heart," said she, "you'll not want to give it
back, will you? I think that would break it."

"I oughtn't to have taken it!" said G. G.

And then on his face she saw the first shadow that ever he had let her
see of doubt and of misgiving.

"Listen!" he said. "My darling! I think that I shall get well.... I
think that, once I am well, I shall be able to work very hard. I have
nothing. I love you so that I think even angels don't want to do right
more than I do. Is that anything to offer? Not very much."

"Nobody in all the world," said she, "will ever have the chance to offer
me anything else--just because I'm a kid doesn't mean that I don't know
the look of forever when I see it."

"Is it really forever?" he said. "For you too?"

"For me--surely!"

"Ah," said he, "what shall I think of to promise you?"

His face was a flash of ecstasy.

"You don't even have to promise that you will get well," she said. "I
know you will try your hardest. No matter what happens--we're final--and
I shall stick to you always, and nothing shall take you from me, and
nobody.... When I am of age I shall tell my papa about us and then we
shall be married to each other! And meanwhile you shall write to me
every day and I shall write to you three times every day!" Her breath
came like white smoke b