Everybody is calling me--a coward. You
know that. You heard Witherspoon just now pitying me, not in words,
but his manner."

"Oh, Ralph," how easily she disposed of him. "Ralph crows, like
a--rooster."

They looked at each other and tried to laugh. But they were not
laughing in their hearts.

He lifted her hand and kissed it--then he stood well away from her,
anchoring himself again to the silken tassel. "Now that you know a
part," he said, from that safe distance, "I'd like to tell you all of
it, if I may."

As he talked her fingers were busy with her knitting, but there came
moments when she laid it down and looked up at him with eyes that
mirrored his own earnestness.

"It--it hasn't been easy," he said in conclusion, "but--but if you will
be my friend, nothing will be hard."

She tried to speak--was shaken as if by a strong wind, and her knitting
went up as a shield.

"My dear, you are crying," he said, and was on his knees beside her.

And now they were caught in the tide of that mighty wave which was
sweeping the world!

When at last she steadied herself, he was again anchored to the
rose-colored tassel.

"You--you must forgive me--but--it has been so good to talk it out--to
some one--who cared. I had never dreamed until that night in the Toy
Shop of anybody--like you. Of anybody so--adorable. When your note
came this morning, I couldn't believe it. But now I know it is true.
And that night of Cinderella you were so--heavenly."

It was a good thing that Miss Emily came in at that moment--for his
eloquence was a burning flood, and Jean was swept up and on with it.

The entrance of Emily, strictly tailored and practical, gave them pause.

"You remember Mr. Drake, don't you, Emily?"

Emily did, of course. But she had not expected to see him here. She
held out her hand. "I remember that he was coming back for more of
your Lovely Dreams."

"I want all of her dreams," said Derry, and something in the way that
he said it took Miss Emily's breath away. "Please don't sell them to
anyone else. You have a wholesale order from me."

Miss Emily looked from one to the other. She was conscious of
something which touched the stars--something which all her life she had
missed, something which belongs to youth and ecstasy.

"Wholesale orders are not in my line," she said. "You can settle that
with Jean."

She surveyed the tea-wagon. "I'm starved. And if I eat I shall spoil
my dinner."