But for some moments he could not force himself to speak of this desire, so great was his fear of a refusal.

"There"s one thing," he said, and all his being seemed aquiver.

He looked hard at the trampled bluebells about their feet. "Never once,"

he went on, "never once in all these years--have we two even--once--kissed.... It is such a little thing.... So much."

He stopped, breathless. He could say no more because of the beating of his heart. And he dared not look at her face....

There was a swift, soft rustling as she moved....

She crouched down upon him and, taking his shoulder in her hand, upset him neatly backwards, and, doing nothing by halves, had kissed the astonished Mr. Brumley full upon his mouth.

THE END