A faint bit of light almost whispered a word of almost cheer over the eastern foothills. One minute passed, and then another, and the almost became real and the word was seen, was heard in the eyes that held it, till the listener rose and stood and spread her arms out, smiling an echo with her whole body, and the dawn spoke on her forehead, and he, lying on his back down in the dark, opened his eyes and heard the beginning of joy, saw the innocent triumph of the day to come, the gentle, silent song of the end of night.

He rose straight up into the word to stand beside her, and they turned face to face, and as their lips almost spoke together the rim of the sun almost edged over the hills. And then they did.