to be company for the caress, she drifted about Richard's neck.

"Now I should call poverty worth while!" said Richard, manfully kissing
Dorothy all over again, since she had come within his clutch. Then,
replacing her in her chair, the more readily because he reflected that
he might easily repossess himself of her, he continued: "And the
prospect of being a poor man's wife does not alarm you, darling?"

"Oh, Richard!" Then, looking him squarely in the eyes: "No, dear, it
does not alarm me."

Dorothy spoke truth. The prospect of being a poor man's wife alarms no
woman--before marriage.

Richard was in a whirl when he left the Marklin door. Bess fairly drove
him forth, or he might not have departed at all. The first shadows of
night were falling, but the whole world seemed bright as noonday. He was
stricken of vague surprise to observe a man running by him, torch in
hand, lighting the street lamps. Controlling his astonishment, Richard
greeted the man as though they were old friends. They were not old
friends, and the effect of Richard's greeting was to lead the man of
lamps to think him drunk.

"Got his load early!" quoth the one of lamps. He tippled himself, and
was versed in cup proprieties, which forbade drunkenness prior to ten
o'clock.

Richard continued down the street. It was as if he were translated, and
had quitted earth to walk the clouds. And to think that not two hours
before he had come swinging along this identical thoroughfare, never
dreaming of the heaven of those loving arms into which he was walking!
Blessed be Bess! He should never forget that sorceress, who to his
weakness added her strength, and to his ignorance her wisdom. It was
such an extraordinary thing, now that Richard had time to think of it,
that Dorothy should love him! And more amazing that she should press her
cheek to his and tell him of it! Oh, he could still feel that round,
warm, velvet cheek against his own! It was such joy to remember, too,
that it was merely the beginning of an eternity of those soft
endearments! it remade the world; and all things, even those most
week-a-day and commonplace, came upon him in colors so new and strange
and rich and sweet--touched as they were with this transforming light of
Dorothy's love! Richard plowed through the winter evening in a most
ridiculous frame of mind, midway between transports and imbecility.

"You will see me to-morrow?" pleaded Dorothy, as he came away.

Whereat Richard av