A melancholy sweetness pervaded her resignation.

The boy who had left her had returned a man, nobler, stronger, one in whom she divined something unbending as steel.

There might come a moment later when she would wonder why she had not fought against his will, but just now she yielded to it.

She liked him as well--nay, more, she thought, only her emotions were deadened by the long, menacing wait for the bursting storm.
Once before she had held out her hand to him--when she gave it; now she stretched it tremblingly forth in acceptance of the decree circumstance had laid upon them.

Venters bowed over it kissed it, pressed it hard, and half stifled a sound very like a sob.