d marks of
erudition." Then, as she did not smile, but still gazed up at him,
wistfully, his look softened to still deeper tenderness: "Dear eyes,"
he murmured, "oh dear, dear eyes," and gently laid his lips on each in
turn.

"Don't," she said, with a half sob. "Ah, Boy, don't! You know you
must not kiss me."

"Kiss you!" he said, still bending over her. "Do you call that
kissing?" Then he laughed; and the joyous love in his laughter wrung
her heart. "Christobel, on the seventh day, when the gates fly open,
and the walls fall down; when the citadel surrenders; when you admit
you are my own--_then_ I shall kiss you; _then_ you will know what
kissing really means."

He bent above her. His lips were very near to hers. She closed her
eyes and waited. Her own lips trembled. She knew how fearfully it
tempted the Boy that her lips should tremble because his were near; yet
she let them tremble. She forgot to remember the past; she forgot to
consider the future. She was conscious of only one thing: that she
wanted her Little Boy Blue to teach her what kissing really meant. So
she closed her eyes and waited.

She did not hear him go; but presently she knew he was no longer there.

She opened her eyes.

The Boy had walked across the lawn, and stood looking into the golden
heart of an opening yellow rose. His back appeared very
uncompromising; very determined; very erect.

She rose and walked over to him. As she moved forward, with the
graceful dignity of motion which was always hers, her mental balance
returned.

She slipped her hand beneath his arm. "Come, Boy," she said; "let us
walk up and down, and talk. It is enervating to sit too long in the
sunshine."

He turned at once, suiting his step to hers, and they paced the lawn in
silence.

When they reached the postern gate the Boy stood still. Something in
his look suddenly recalled her Little Boy Blue, when the sand on his
small nose could not detract from the dignity of his little face, nor
weaken its stern decision.

He took both her hands in his, and looked into her eyes.

"Christobel," he said, "I must go. I must go, because I dare not stay.
You are so wonderful this afternoon; so dear beyond expression. I know
you trust me absolutely; but this is only the third day; and I cannot
trust myself, dear. So I'm off!"

He lifted both her hands to his lips.

"May I go, my Queen?" he said.

"Yes, Boy," she answered. "Go."

And he went.