Page:Emily Climbs.pdf/38

 “Dean took my hand and looked right into my eyes as if he were trying to.

“‘Are you sure of that, Emily? Don’t you often wish that I wasn’t lame—and crooked?’

“‘For your sake I do,’ I answered, “‘ [sic]but as far as I am concerned it doesn’t make a bit of difference—and never will.’

“‘And never will!’ Dean repeated the words emphatically. ‘If I were sure of that, Emily—if I were only sure of that.’

“‘You be sure of it,’ I declared quite warmly. I was vexed because he seemed to doubt it—and yet something in his expression made me feel a little uncomfortable. It suddenly made me think of the time he rescued me from the cliff on Malvern Bay and told me my life belonged to him since he had saved it. I don’t like the thought of my life belonging to any one but myself—not, even Dean, much as I like him. And I like Dean better than any one in the world.

“When it got darker the stars came out and we studied them through Dean’s splendid new field-glasses. It was very fascinating. Dean knows all about the stars—it seems to me he knows all about everything. But when I said so, he said,

“‘There is one secret I not know—I would give everything else I do know for it—one secret—perhaps I shall never know it. The way to win—the way to win’

“‘What?’ I asked curiously.

“‘My heart’s desire,’ said Dean dreamily, looking at a shimmering star that seemed to be hung on the very tip of one of the Three Princesses. ‘It seems now as desirable and unobtainable as that gem-like star, Emily. But— who knows?’

“I wonder what it is Dean wants so much.

“May 4, 19—

“Dean brought me a lovely portfolio from Paris, and