"Only for the week-end," answered the other, with his little hard laugh. "See me back on Monday."
Ernie's heart fell.
He went upstairs, saw Ruth, and feigned surprise.
"What, still here, Ruth?"
"Yes," the girl answered in her quiet way. "I shan't move now till the Captain's gone."
She said it quite simply. She was too great, too spiritual, to be provocative: Ernie knew that.
He stopped full. There was a sea of fire lifting his chest and lighting his eye.
"Ruth," he said.
She saw his emotion, and stayed with the courtesy natural to her.
"Will you walk out with me?"