Part 45 (2/2)

”No--not really--or you wouldn't have said you couldn't see me any more.”

”That wasn't the reason.” The voice was very low.

”Mary,” he said, even more tremulously than before, ”I can't--you COULDN'T mean it was because--you can't mean it was because you--care?”

There was no answer.

”Mary?” he called, huskily. ”If you mean THAT--you'd let me see you--wouldn't you?”

And now the voice was so low he could not be sure it spoke at all, but if it did, the words were, ”Yes, Bibbs--dear.”

But the voice was not in the instrument--it was so gentle and so light, so almost nothing, it seemed to be made of air--and it came from the air.

Slowly and incredulously he turned--and glory fell upon his s.h.i.+ning eyes. The door of his father's room had opened.

Mary stood upon the threshold.

THE END

<script>