She poked the small green logs with the antiquated tongs and watched the sparks that flew upwards with every touch while she waited for him to speak.

But he looked at her in silence, forgetting everything for a while except that he was really alone with her, almost for the first time in his life.

He changed his position and bent forward with his elbows on his knees and his hands together, so that he was nearer to her.

Without turning her face from the fire she saw him in a side-glance, but made no answering motion.
'Tell me what it is,' she said softly.

'Only one thing could hurt me now.' 'It is hard to tell,' he answered in rather a dull voice.
She misunderstood, and turned to him slowly with wondering and frightened eyes.