All the reserve of womanhood fell away from her in the inrush of emotions . For the moment she was a child again , telling out her thoughts with all a child 's frankness . `` I 've been in a dream this past year -- a lovely dream -- a fair dream , but only a dream , after all . And now I 've wakened . And you are part of the wakening -- the best part ! Oh , to think I never knew before ! '' `` Knew what , my girl ? '' He had her close against his heart now ; the breath of her lips mingled with his , but he would not kiss her yet . `` That I loved you , '' she whispered back . `` Oh , Rob , you are all the world to me . I belong to you and the sea . But I never knew it until I crossed the harbour tonight . Then I knew -- it came to me all at once , like a flood of understanding . I knew I could never go away again -- that I must stay here forever where I could hear that call of wind and waves . The new life was good -- good -- but it could not go deep enough . And when you did not come I knew what was in my heart for you as well . '' * * * * * That night Nora lay beside her sisters in the tiny room that looked out on the harbour . The younger girls slept soundly , but Nora kept awake to listen to the laughter of the wind outside , and con over what she and Rob had said to each other . There was no blot on her happiness save a sorry wonder what the Camerons would say when they knew . `` They will think me ungrateful and fickle , '' she sighed .
`` They do n't know XXXXX I ca n't help it even if I would .
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