Oh , Rob , this evening at Dalveigh , when I looked across to Racicot , it was you I thought of before all -- even before Mother . '' She drew back and looked at him with her soul in her eyes . `` What a splendid fellow you are -- how handsome you are , Rob ! '' she cried . 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 XXXXX .
Dalveigh Mother Racicot Rob flood harbour heart inrush lips tonight