Once more Richard’s voice faltered, and again it rang clear, this time in Dot’s tones: 

“But when she knew that Edward was alive, John, and had come back—­and when she—­that’s me, John—­told him all—­and how his sweetheart had believed him to be dead, and how she had been over-persuaded by her mother into a marriage—­and when she—­that’s me again, John—­told him they were not married, though close upon it—­and when he went nearly mad for joy to hear it—­then she—­that’s me again—­said she would go and sound his sweetheart—­and she did—­and they were married an hour ago!—­John, an hour ago!  And here’s the bride!  And Gruff and Tackleton may die a bachelor!  And I’m a happy little woman, May, God bless you!”

Little woman, how she sobbed!  John Perrybingle would have caught her in his arms.  But no; she wouldn’t let him.

“Don’t love me yet, please, John!  Not for a long time yet!  No—­keep there, please, John!  When I laugh at you, as I sometimes do, John, and call you clumsy, and a dear old goose, and names of that sort, it’s because I love you, John, so well.  And when I speak of people being middle-aged and steady, John, and pretend that we are a humdrum couple, going on in a jog-trot sort of way, it’s only because I’m such a silly little thing, John, that I like, sometimes, to act a kind of play with Baby, and all that, and make believe.”

She saw that he was coming, and stopped him again.  But she was very nearly too late.

“No, don’t love me for another minute or two, if you please, John!  When I first came home here I was half afraid I mighn’t learn to love you every bit as well as I hoped and prayed I might—­being so very young, John.  But, dear John, every day and hour I love you more and more.  And if I could have loved you better than I do, the noble words I heard you say this morning would have made me.  But I can’t.  All the affection that I had (it was a great deal, John) I gave you, as you well deserve, long, long ago, and I have no more left to give.  Now, my dear husband, take me to your heart again!  That’s my home, John; and never, never think of sending me to any other.”

Richard Stopped and picking up a glass from the table moistened his lips.  The silence continued.  Down more than one face the tears were trickling, as they have trickled down millions of faces since.  Kate had crept imperceptibly nearer until her hands could have touched Richard’s knees.  When Willits bent over her with a whispered comment a slight shiver ran through her, but she neither answered nor turned her head.  It was only when Richard’s voice finally ceased with the loud chirp of the cricket at the close of the beloved story, and St. George had helped her to her feet, that she seemed to awake to a sense of where she was.  Even then she looked about her in a dazed way, as if she feared some one had been probing her heart—­hanging back till the others had showered their congratulations on the reader.  Then leaning forward she placed her hands in Richard’s as if to steady herself, and with a sigh that seemed to come from the depths of her nature bent her head and kissed him softly on the cheek.