They stood there for a moment , Ken on the lower step . The step was half sunk into the earth and mint grew thickly about and over its edge . Often crushed by so many passing feet it gave out its essence freely , and the spicy odour hung round them like a soundless , invisible benediction . Ken looked up at Rilla , whose hair was shining in the moonlight and whose eyes were pools of allurement . All at once he felt sure there was nothing in that gossip about Fred Arnold . `` Rilla , '' he said in a sudden , intense whisper , `` you are the sweetest thing . '' Rilla flushed and looked at Susan . Ken looked , too , and saw that Susan 's back was turned . He put his arm about Rilla and kissed her . It was the first time Rilla had ever been kissed . She thought perhaps she ought to resent it but she did n't . Instead , she glanced timidly into Kenneth 's seeking eyes and her glance was a kiss . `` Rilla-my-Rilla , '' said Ken , `` will you promise that you wo n't let anyone else kiss you until I come back ? '' `` Yes , '' said Rilla , trembling and thrilling . Susan was turning round . Ken loosened his hold and stepped to the walk . `` Good-bye , '' he said casually . Rilla heard herself saying it just as casually . She stood and watched him down the walk , out of the gate , and down the road . When the fir wood hid him from her sight she suddenly said `` Oh , '' in a choked way and ran down to the gate , sweet blossomy things catching at her skirts as she ran .
Leaning XXXXX the gate she saw Kenneth walking briskly down the road , over the bars of tree shadows and moonlight , his tall , erect figure grey in the white radiance .
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