XXXII
"Lee, dear," said Renier, "you don't feel that that fellow buncoed youinto this, do you? Please say you don't."
"Of course, I wasn't buncoed," she said, and with infinite confidence."Why, I've seen the thing coming for months! Haven't you?"
"I've seen a certain girl begin by being very dear and grow dearer anddearer--I wish we could _walk_ back. I'm afraid of motor-boats, freshwater, and sudden storms on mountain lakes. And I hereby highly resolvethat after this perilous trip I shall never again do anything dangerous,such as watching people going up in aeroplanes, such as sitting aroundwith wet feet, such as eating green fruit, such as-- Oh, my own darlinglittle kiddie," he whispered with sudden trembling emotion, "but thislife is precious."
"George and Charley are looking at us," said Lee, "with funny looks. Iwonder if they are _on_? I wonder if everybody will be _on_--just bylooking at us. _Do_ I look foolish?"
"You do not, but I think you are foolish to take a feller like me, andthat's why I'm going to dance down this gang-plank and snap my fingersand shock George and Charley out of their senses."
During this first part of the _Streak_'s swift rush from Carrytown toThe Camp a tranquil silence came over them. Lee, I think, was searchingher heart with questions. But she had no doubt of her love for Renier;she doubted only her capacity to be to him exactly the wife he needed.And I know that Renier just sat, brazening the critical glances ofGeorge and Charley, and adored her with his eyes.
And what were his thoughts? Would you give a penny for them? He leanedcloser to her, and in a whisper that thrilled them both to the bone, hequoted from Poe:
"And neither the angels in heaven above, Nor the demons down under the sea, Can ever dissever my soul from the soul Of the beautiful Annabel Lee."
And a little later he said:
"I never knew till to-day what poetry is for. I thought people who wroteit were just a little simple and that people who read and quoted it wereperfect jackasses."
"And what is poetry for?" asked Lee, smiling.
"Poetry," he said, "is for _you_."
As they neared the camp the sentiment in their hearts yielded a littleto excitement.
"When we tell 'em," said Lee, "it's going to be just like a bomb goingoff. And everybody will be terribly envious."
"Nobody even loves us," laughed Renier, and he quoted:
"Among ten million, one was she, And surely all men hated me."
And like a flash Lee answered:
"Among ten million he was one, So all the ladies fought like fun."
"One thing is sure," sand Renier, "we've more than executed BrotherArthur's delicate and confidential commission. What we don't know aboutgetting married in the State of New York simply doesn't exist."
Arthur, eager and impatient, was like a more famous person, watching andwaiting.
"Well," he said, "thank you a thousand times. And what did you findout?"
"We've brought you a license blank," said Lee; "you simply fill it outwith your names and ages and things--like this--" And she placed asecond paper in her brother's hands.
And conspicuous on the paper he saw Lee's name and Renier's. His handsshook a little, and his face became very grave and tender.
"Say you're surprised!" exclaimed Lee; "say you were never so surprisedin all your born days!"
"But I'm not surprised," said Arthur. "Come here to me!" He opened hisarms to her and she flung herself into them. Over her shoulder andhiding head Arthur spoke to Renier.
"No man," he said, "knows his own heart, and no woman knows hers. Nobodycan promise with honesty to love forever. For sometimes love dies justas simply and inexplicably as it is born. But a man can promise to begood to his wife always, and tender with her and faithful to her, and ifhe is a gentleman he will make those promises good."
"I make those promises," said Renier simply; "will you give her to me?"
"It is for no man to give or to withhold," said Arthur. "The gods give.The duty of brothers is just to try to help things along and to lovetheir sisters and to be friends with their brothers-in-law."
The Seven Darlings Page 32