“Hello, Val, are you very busy?” he called.
The question seemed absurd to her. It seemed so long since she had done anything that was worth a pin. But she was glad to hear him call like that, and not disposed to question the reason for it.
“Not if you want me, Dane,” she answered cheerfully enough.
As he came to the verandah she scrambled through the window. She was surprised at his air and saw that he had not been drinking, and that his eyes looked clear.
“Why, you are burned,” she said.
“I’ve been running about in the launch a good deal, dear. I’ve been very unsociable lately, Valerie, but I feel better to-day. Let’s go off now in the launch and find a cool spot.”
Her face lit up as she felt he had come back to her. She had spent a lonely, wretched, sleepless night, and she was much afraid her eyes showed it. They did, but he made no remark upon them. He was lost in admiration of the manner in which she had greeted him. He deliberately shelved the past and the future, and determined, as he had many times in his life, to live for that day alone. And he knew he could make her live with him.
They went off with their lunch. At first he thought he would go to the rimu pool, and then he thought he could not face it. He chose another place, beautiful enough, a willow-girdled backwater, where they ate their lunch, and dozed happily in each other’s arms.
Then they landed, made a fire and had tea, and went back as the sun dropped behind the range. They were both now in a real party mood. Valerie wondered what had happened to him. In moods like this he was irresistible. They dressed up for dinner and had it by one of the open doors of the den. Dane wore his black dinner
