Sophy, trembling herself, said:
"Never again, my darling. Never, never, as long as we both live."
Afterwards, when they were alone, Loring said to her:
"Don't you think you were mistaken to make the boy such a promise as that?"
He did not look at her as he said this, but at his tie which he was fastening before the glass.
"What promise?" said Sophy, not remembering for a moment.
"That you'd never leave him again. Things might happen to make it necessary."
"Nothing could happen to make it necessary. I promised truly. I wouldn't leave him again for anything on earth—not for anything...."
"Not even for me?" asked Loring. He was still looking at his tie, which refused to slip into the right knot.
"That couldn't happen, dear. We shall always be together I hope."