Molly laughed softly.

"How far is that?" she said.

He drew the little hand to his breast and put his free arm round her.

"Further than we can see, Molly," he said, and his quiet voice suddenly
thrilled. "Side by side through eternity."

Thus, with no word of love, did Fisher the Silent take to himself the
priceless gift of love. And the girl he wooed loved him the better for
that which he left unuttered.

They returned home late for lunch, entering sheepishly, and sitting down
as far apart as the length of the table would allow.

Charlie fell upon Fisher with merciless promptitude.

"You base defaulter!" he cried. "I'll see you march in front next time.
I was never more scandalised in my life than when I realised that you
and Molly had done a slope."

Fisher shrugged the shoulder nearest to him and offered no explanation
of his and Molly's defection.

Charlie kept up a running fire of chaff for some time, to which Fisher,
as was his wont, showed himself to be perfectly indifferent. Lunch over,
Molly disappeared. Charlie saw her go and turned instantly to Fisher.