"Mr. Merefleet, you mean? I don't know. I guess he's making some more
money."
At this point old Quiller, who had been toddling about in the November
sunshine outside, pushed open the door in a state of breathless
excitement.
"Here's Master Bernard coming, missie," he announced.
Mab started to her feet, her face in a sudden, marvellous glow.
"There now!" said Mrs. Quiller, relieving her of her precious burden.
"Who'd have thought it? You'd better go and talk to him."
And Mab stepped out into the soft sunshine. It fell around her in a flood
and dazzled her. She stood quite still and waited, till out of the
brilliance someone came to her and took her hand. The waves were dashing
loudly on the shore. The south wind raced by with a warm rushing. The
whole world seemed to laugh. She closed her eyes and laughed with it.
"Is it you, Big Bear?" she said.
And Merefleet's voice answered her.
"Yes," it said. "I have come for you in earnest this time. You won't send
me away again?"
Mab lifted her face with a glad smile.
"I guess there's no need," she said. "My dear, I'll come now."
And they went away together in the sunlight.
* * * * *
"And now I guess I'll tell you the story of the first Mrs. Ralph
Warrender," said Mab, some time later. "I won't say anything about him,
because he's dead, and if you can't speak well of the dead,--well it's
better not to speak at all.
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