find that the wild
joy of their meetings had been something accidental and temporary, and
that only a stimulating and pleasant friendship was left. But as soon
as she saw that he really regarded their differences seriously, all
her own prudence and doubt melted away. She knew she was ready to make
any sacrifices for him, and in view of that all talk of obstacles was
folly.

She stopped the car on the point of the island, with the open sea on
one hand, the harbor on the other. In front of them the lightship
was moving with a slow, majestic roll, and to the right was the long
festoon of Narragansett lights, and as they stopped the lighted bulk
of the New York boat appeared, making its way toward Point Judith.

His prolonged silence began to frighten her.

"Ben," she said, "do you seriously mean that you believe friendship
between us is impossible?"

"Friendship, nothing," answered Moreton. "I love you."

He said it as if it had always been understood between them, as
of course it had, but the instant he said it, he gave her a quick,
appealing look to see how she would take so startling an assertion.

If Crystal had poured out just what was in her mind at that second she
would have answered: "Of course you do. I've known that longer than
you have. And can't you see that if I had had any doubt about its
being true, I'd have taken steps to make it true? But, as I really did
not doubt it, I've been able to be quite passive and leave it mostly
to you, which I so much prefer."

But rigorous candor is rarely attained, and Crystal did not say
this. In fact, for a few seconds she did not say anything, but merely
allowed her eyes to shine upon him, with the inevitable result that
at the end of precisely six seconds of their benevolent invitation he
took her in his arms and kissed her. It was a very unprotected point,
and several cars were standing not too far away, but Crystal, who had
an excellent sense of proportion, made no objection whatever. She was
being proved right in two important particulars--first, that she was
a human being, and second, that there was no barrier between them.
She was very generous about it. She did not say, "Where's your barrier
now?" or anything like that; she simply said nothing, and the barrier
passed out of the conversation and was no more seen.

Very soon, alleging that she must get home at the time at which she
usually did get home from dinners, she took him back; but she soothed
him wi