As she entered she cried out, "Oh! you don't know what you
missed. I had a most delightful--" She stopped short, the truth flashed
upon her that there were other delightful ways of passing the time than
in a sailboat. She was in a dilemma.
Quincy solved the problem. He simply said, "Good-by, Alice, for one
short week."
He turned, expecting to see Miss Very, but she had vanished. He clasped
Alice in his arms, and kissed her, for the first time, then he led her
to her easy-chair and left her there.
As he quitted the room and closed the door he met Miss Rosa Very in the
entry.
"I did not know," said she, "but I am so glad to know it. She is the
sweetest, purest, loveliest woman I have ever known, and your love is
what she needed to complete her happiness. She will be a saint now. I
will take good care of her, Mr. Sawyer, until you come again, for I love
her, too."
Quincy pressed her hand warmly, and the next moment was in the little
street. He was a rich man, as the world judges riches, but to him his
greatest treasure was Alice's first kiss, still warm upon his lips.
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