the warm scent of the fir woods was about them, and a darkness that made their very thoughts seem secret and secure. they were the lovers of some ancient tale wandering in an old forest of enchantments, seeing each other’s faces pale and yearning in the dim light under the trees.

eve rested against canterton’s outspread arm, her head upon his shoulder, as they wandered to and fro between the tall trunks of the firs. they were like ghosts gliding side by side, for the carpet of pine needles deadened the sound of their footsteps, and they spoke but little, in voices that were but murmurs.

for a brief hour they were forgetting life and its problems, letting self sink into self, surrendering everything to an intimate exultation in their nearness to each other. sometimes they would pause, swayed by some common impulse, and stand close together, looking into each other’s eyes.

they spoke to each other as a man and woman speak but once or twice in the course of a lifetime.

“dear heart, is it possible that this is you?”

“am i not flesh and blood?”

“that you should care!”

“put your hand here. can you not feel my heart beating?”

he would slip his hand under her head, draw her face to his, and kiss her forehead, mouth and eyes. and she would sigh with each kiss, closing her eyes in a kind of ecstasy.

“did you ever dream of me?”

“often.”

“it sounds like a child’s question. strange—i wonder if our dreams crossed. did you ever dream while i was at latimer?”

“nearly every night.”

“and i of you. and all through the day you were with me. i felt you standing beside me. that’s why i painted latimer as i did.”

canterton had moments of incredulity and of awe. he would stand motionless, holding eve’s hands, and looking down into her face.

“it is very wonderful—very wonderful!”

his man’s awe made her smile.

“what a boy you are!”

“am i?”

“i love you like that. and yet, really, you are so strong and masterful. and i could trust you utterly, only——”

“only?”

“you, and not myself. oh, if we could never wake again!”

a plaintive note came into her voice. she was beginning to think and to remember.

“eve!”

“ah, that name!”

“is it so impossible now?”

she reached up and gripped his wrist.

“don’t spoil this! oh, don’t spoil it! it will have to last us both for a lifetime. take me back, dear; it is time.”

he felt a relaxing of her muscles as though she had suddenly grown faint and hesitating.

“not yet.”

“yes, now. i ask it of you, jim.”

they began to wander back towards the road, and sometimes a shaft of moonlight struck across their faces. their exultation weakened, the wings of their flight together were fluttering back towards the ground.

“eve, to-morrow——”

she turned her face to his and spoke with a whispering vehemence.

“there can be no to-morrow.”

“but, dear heart!”

“i could not bear it. have pity on me, jim. and remember——”

they saw the white road glimmering beyond the black fir trunks. eve paused. they stood for some moments in silence.

“say good-bye to me here.”

“i will say good night.”

“oh, my dearest—my dear!”

he held her very close, and she felt the strength of his great arms. the breath seemed to go out of her body, her eyes were closed.

“now, let me go.”

he released her, and she stepped back just a little unsteadily, but trying to smile.

“good-bye! go back now.”

she turned, went out of the wood, and crossed the moonlit road. it lay between them like some dim river of the underworld. and canterton was left standing in the gloom of the fir woods.