[Nurumaiel]

She was speaking to him! Blanco felt the color rising to his cheeks and his mind went blank. He could think of nothing to say. He didn't want to do anything the following afternoon; he merely wished to sit with Lily and gaze in unrestrained admiration. He did gaze at her now, but realized with a flush that she was still waiting for him to answer. He bowed his head and said humbly, "Miss Lily, I do not know what the others in this company would enjoy, so I would beg one of them to answer instead, or perhaps an answer from your own sweet lips."

There was a slight pause, and in this pause Marcho, along with Bingo, approached the table. Marcho had found that in the absence of Marin he had nothing to do, and saw that it was beginning to grow dark. The dread aunt would be fierce enough at their late homecoming without prolonging it any longer. He let his two hands fall on Posco's shoulders and, assuming an air of authority, glanced about the table and said, "I apologize, sirs and misses, that we must leave you, but the aunt of these two lads will be looking for them."

Lily's face fell but she smiled gracefully as she stood. Marcho, feeling in a considerable good mood after Marin's company and Twylight's smile, told her in a comforting tone, "Don't fret yourself, Miss Lily. We'll be back tomorrow."

"Tomorrow morning," Posco murmured shyly. "We can ride then."

Marcho eyebrows raised slightly but he stepped forward with the practiced ease of a gentlehobbit and took Lily's hand, sweeping a gallant bow and bidding her goodnight. The same he did to Mira. With Iadarion he was more reserved but still civil. After all, one could not be too friendly with the Big Folk. Yet when Iadarion spoke in his cheery manner Marcho could not keep back a smile. "Posco, Blanco, before you say goodbye here I would have you go bid a good night to Toby," he said. Posco and Blanco complied, the former speaking shyly and the latter boldly laughing and clapping Toby on the shoulder as a farewell.

Posco and Blanco said goodbye to Mira as gallantly as Marcho and Blanco more gallantly for he kissed her hand, though Posco was too shy to do anything of the sort. Blanco found he was too short to clap Iadarion's shoulder, so he contented himself with shaking his hand vigorously. Posco had turned to Lily.

"It will be tomorrow morning, then," she said.

"Yes," he replied. "As soon as breakfast is over I will be out by the stable with my pony." He paused, and then put out his hand, saying, "Good night, Lily."

She hesitated one moment, took his hand, but also leaned forward and brushed her lips against his cheek. He blushed furiously. "Sweet dreams to you, Posco," she said. She turned to Blanco and kissed his cheek as well, and he also blushed.

After these farewells Marcho bid Bingo start out on the road with the twins, and he remained behind with Lily. He stood before her a long while, and then took her hand and put a scrap of parchment in it. "Read this," he said. She began to unfold it, but he stopped her. "Read it after we're gone." She stared at him in puzzlement but nodded. He bowed once again to all in the room, and then departed.