He came to Grannie Amber’s old rosewood piano and stood touching it reverently.  “There’s a little thing I heard,” he exclaimed suddenly, “that I’d like to sing to you.  It’s called ‘Please,’ and it’s just what I’m saying to you all the time.”

He sat down to vamp an odd accompaniment indifferently, but Marie was not listening for the accompaniment.  It was his voice which she wanted, and gave her ears to hear; and he sang: 

  “Oh, Heart-of-all-the-World to me,
    I love you more than best;
  Then lie so gently in my arms
    And droop your head and rest. 
  My kisses on your dark, dark hair
    Nor Time nor tears shall grey;
  But the little wandering, laughing loves
    They flower beside the way.

  “Slender and straight you came to me,
    And straight the path you trod;
  Your faithfulness was more than faith,
    Like the faithfulness of God. 
  I cannot pay you all I owe,
    Though what I owe I pay: 
  But the little wandering, laughing loves
    They flower beside the way.

  “So take my life, who gave me all,
    Between your so small hands,
  With the blind, untaught, unfaltering touch
    A woman understands;
  And save me, since I would be saved,
    And do not let me stray
  With the little wandering, laughing loves
    That flower beside the way.”

“That is the husband’s ‘Please,’” said Osborn, humbly.

She stood up erect, and cried out:  “No one shall take what is mine!”

The door opened, and the maid stood there, saying quietly:  “Dinner is served, ma’am.”

They went in hand in hand, regardless of her.  They sat down and looked at each other under pink candle-shades.  The golden-brown curtains were drawn evenly down the whole length of the much-windowed wall, and splashed rich colour against the prevailing cream.  The wedding-present silver glittered upon the white cloth.  What a dear room it was!  How happily appointed and magically ordered!

He adored, across the space, the most darling woman that heaven ever spared to make joy for a mortal man.  And she, returning his look with the same verdant wonder at the beauty of all things, saw before her husband and lover; he whom she had chosen to mate with; he who had taught her the beginning of joy; the finest man in the world.