Darrell's voice trembled with emotion as he replied, "We cannot trust to
that, for neither you nor I know what the light will reveal."
She remained silent, and Darrell, after a pause, continued: "Don't make
it harder for me, Kathie; there is but one course for us to follow in
honor to ourselves or to each other."
They sat in silence for a few moments; then both rose simultaneously to
return to the house, and as they did so Darrell was conscious of a new
bearing in Kate's manner,--an added dignity and womanliness. As they
faced one another Darrell took both her hands in his, saying,-"What is it to be, Kathie? Can we return to the old friendship?"
She stood for a moment with averted face, watching the stars brightening
one by one in the evening sky.
"No," she said, presently, "we can never return to that now; it would
seem too bare, too meagre. There will always be something deeper and
sweeter than mere friendship between us,--unless you fail me, and I know
you will not."
"And do you forgive me?" he asked.
She turned then, looking him full in the eyes, and her own seemed to
have caught the radiance of the stars themselves, as she answered,
simply,-"No, John Darrell, for there is nothing to forgive."