the canoe. He followed after her, and stood with the lanterns dangling against his white-flannelled thighs, emphasising the shadow around.

‘Kiss me before we go,’ came his voice softly from out of the shadow above.

She stopped her work in real, momentary astonishment.

‘But why?’ she exclaimed, in pure surprise.

‘Why?’ he echoed, ironically.

And she looked at him fixedly for some moments. Then she leaned forward and kissed him, with a slow, luxurious kiss, lingering on the mouth. And then she took the lanterns from him, while he stood swooning with the perfect fire that burned in all his joints.

They lifted the canoe