"Think it would be too much for me; what, darling?"
"No,--no!" said Toby. "Not that! Only wondering if you are wanting the
right thing--wondering if the thing you call your heart's desire will
bring you happiness. It--it doesn't always, you know, Bunny. Life is like
that."
Her voice sank a little.
"What do you know about life?" he said.
She shook her head, her face downcast. "Oh, too much--too much!" she
said.
Bunny sat motionless for a moment or two, but his hold was strong and
comforting. At length very gently he began to draw her nearer.
He almost expected her to resist him, but she did not. As he drew her,
she yielded, till with a sob she suffered herself to be drawn close into
his arms. He had her on the thwart beside him, her face hidden against
his shoulder. He laid his cheek down upon her hair and sat silent.
Toby was sobbing a little, and he patted her shoulder soothingly, but he
did not speak until with a quivering sigh she relaxed against him and was
still.
Then, in a whisper, "Toby mavourneen," he said, "I'm going to tell you
something that's come to me lately--something I've guessed. You needn't
answer me. I don't want you to answer me--only to know that I know.
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