"Peter," she said gaily, "do you know that this is my Day of
Jubilee? I am a woman today by law, Peter. Hereafter I am to
experience at least a moderate degree of financial freedom, and
that I shall enjoy. But the greatest thing in life is friends."
Peter took both the hands extended to him and looked smilingly
into her eyes.
"You take my breath," he said. "I knew, the first glimpse I ever
had of you scrambling from the canyon floor, that this
transformation COULD take place. My good fortune is beyond words
that I have been first to see it. Permit me, fair lady."
Peter bent and kissed both her hands. He hesitated a second,
then he turned the right hand and left one more kiss in its palm.
"To have and to hold!" he said whimsically.
"Thank you," said Linda, closing her fist over it and holding it
up for inspection. "I'll see that it doesn't escape. And this
minute I thank you for the candy, which I know is delicious, and
for my very first sheaf of roses from any man. See what I have
done with one of them?"
She turned fully around that he might catch the effect of the
rose, and in getting that he also got the full effect of the
costume, and the possibilities of the girl before him. And then
she gave him a shock.
"Isn't it a lovely frock?" she said. "Another birthday gift from
the Strong rock of ages. I have been making a collection of
rocks for my fern bed, and I have got another collection that is
not visible to anyone save myself.
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