"
"Are you quite sure that your country does not want you--need you?"
"I should not like my assurance to be made more sure."
"How can you know? Who has told you? Whom have you asked?"
"There are some questions which it is not wise to put; questions whose
answers may seem ungracious to give, and are sad to hear."
"But the answer might not seem so. And how can it be given until you
ask it?"
Drayton turned and looked at her. His face was losing its resolute
composure, and there was a glow in his eyes and in his cheeks that
called up an answering warmth in her own.
"Do you know where my country is?" he demanded, almost sternly.
"It is where you are loved and wanted most, is it not?" she said,
breathlessly.
"Do not deceive yourself--nor me!" exclaimed Drayton, putting out his
hand toward her, and half rising from the rock. "There is only one
thing more to say."
A sea-gull flew close by them, and swept on, and in a moment was far
away, and lost to sight. So in our lives does happiness come so near us
as almost to brush our cheeks with its wings, and then pass on, and
become as unattainable as the stars.
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