Bending over her, with his strong hands holding her cheeks tenderly, as she looked up into his eyes, he kissed her forehead.
"Little woman," said he, "I love ye.

I never knowed what love was afore, an' if this is the kind o' thing they have in heaven, I want to go there when you do.

Speak a good word for me when ye git a chance." Jim walked on air all the way back to his lodgings--walked by his lodgings--stood still, and looked up at the stars--went out to the waterfall, and watched the writhing, tumbling, roaring river--wrapped in transcendent happiness.

Transformed and transfused by love, the world around him seemed quite divine.

He had stumbled upon the secret of his existence.