Page:Glimpses of the Moon (Wharton 1922).djvu/13

Rh one is perfectly happy; and that then it's—as good as any other."

She sighed out a blissful assent. "And I must say that Streffy has done things to a turn. Even the cigars—who do you suppose gave him those cigars?" She added thoughtfully: "You'll miss them when we have to go."

"Oh, I say, don't let's talk to-night about going. Aren't we outside of time and space ? Smell that guinea-a-bottle stuff over there:  what is it? Stephanotis?"

"Y-yes. I suppose so. Or gardenias.   Oh, the fire-flies! Look  there, against that splash of moonlight on the water. Apples of silver in a net-work of gold. "  They leaned together, one flesh from shoulder to finger-tips, their eyes held by the snared glitter of the ripples.

"I could bear," Lansing remarked, "even a nightingale at this moment. "

A faint gurgle shook the magnolias behind them, and a long liquid whisper answered it from the thicket of laurel above their heads.

"It's a little late in the year for them: they're ending just as we begin."

Susy laughed. "I hope when our turn comes we shall say good-bye to each other as sweetly."

It was in her husband's mind to answer: "They're not saying good-bye, but only settling down to family cares." But as this did not happen to be in his plan, or in Susy's, he merely echoed her laugh and pressed her closer.