"Oh no, Harry. Well, then, yes." She laughed lightly, pressing his arm again. "But never that it could be like this."
"Is this—nice?" he asked in banter.
"Is it—real?" she whispered.
"Yes, it's real and it's nice—real nice, in fact," laughed Harry.
"Don't talk just for a little while," she begged, and he humoured her, watching her delicate face during the silence she entreated. "You must tell them," she said suddenly, with a return of her alarm.
"Oh yes, I'll do all the hard work," he promised her, smiling.
She fell into silence again, the wonderful words re-echoing in her ears—"More than everything in the world besides!" "More than all my life!"
"I promised Miss Vintry we'd be back to tea. Do you think you can face her?" asked Harry.
"Yes, with you. But you've got to tell. You promised."
"You'll have somebody to help you over all the stiles—now and hereafter."