"You precious child," she said, tenderly folding her wings round him and kissing the top of his head. "Always remember that I really love you; no matter what happens, remember that, and I'll save you."
"And we shall escape together?" he asked, submitting for once to the caresses with a good grace.
"We shall escape from the Empty House together," she replied evasively. "How far we can go after that depends—on you."
"On me?"
"If you love me enough—as I love you, Jimbo—we can never separate again, because love ties us together for ever. Only," she added, "it must be mutual."
"I love you very much," he said, puzzled a little. "Of course I do."
"If you've really forgiven me for being the cause of your coming here," she said, "we can always be together, but——"
"I don't remember, but I've forgiven you—that other you—long ago," he said simply. "If you hadn't brought me here, I should never have met you."
"That's not real forgiveness—quite," she sighed, half to herself.
But Jimbo could not follow this sort of conversation for long; he was too anxious to try his wings for one thing.