"Thank you," said Renier--"if you will, Mr.----"
"Heartbeat!" flashed the stout young man, and left them. And he wasn't lying or making fun that time. For that was his really truly name. And in northern New York people are beginning to think that he is by way of being up to it.
Suddenly Lee quoted from a joke that she and Renier had in common. She said, as if surprised:
And Renier, his voice suddenly breaking and melting, answered:
"'Why, so there is--and here's a chair!'"
And Mr. Heartbeat, making a supreme effort to live up to his name, did not return with the license blank for nearly eight minutes. During those minutes, Renier resolved that in every room in his home there should be at least one revolving chair. And they came out of Mr. Heartbeat's office no longer boyish companions but lovers, a little startled, engaged, and licensed to be married.
"Lee, dear," said Renier, "you don't feel that that fellow buncoed you into this, do you? Please say you don't."
"Of course, I wasn't buncoed," she said, and with infinite confidence. "Why, I've seen the thing coming for months! Haven't you?"
"I've seen a certain girl begin by being very dear and grow dearer and dearer--I wish we could _walk_ back. I'm afraid of motor-boats, fresh water, and sudden storms on mountain lakes. And I hereby highly resolve that after this perilous trip I shall never again do anything dangerous, such as watching people going up in aeroplanes, such as sitting around with wet feet, such as eating green fruit, such as-- Oh, my own darling little kiddie," he whispered with sudden trembling emotion, "but this life is precious."
"George and Charley are looking at us," said Lee, "with funny looks. I wonder if they are _on_? I wonder if everybody will be _on_--just by looking at us. _Do_ I look foolish?"
"You do not, but I think you are foolish to take a feller like me, and that's why I'm going to dance down this gang-plank and snap my fingers and shock George and Charley out of their senses."
During this first part of the _Streak_'s swift rush from Carrytown to The Camp a tranquil silence came over them. Lee, I think, was searching her heart with questions. But she had no doubt of her love for Renier; she doubted only her capacity to be to him exactly the wife he needed. And I know that Renier just sat, brazening the critical glances of George and Charley, and adored her with his eyes.