“And give up all our cruise?”
Audrey bent forward, as she had seen Tommy do. She smiled enchantingly. “I quite understand,” she said, with a sort of tenderness. “You don’t want to do it. And it was a shame of me even to suggest it.”
“But I do want to do it,” he protested with splendid despairful resolve. “I was only thinking of you—and the cruise. I do want to do it. I’m absolutely at your disposal. When you ask me to do a thing, I’m only too proud. To do it is the greatest happiness I could have.”
Audrey replied softly:
“You deserve the Victoria Cross.”
“Whatever do you mean?” he demanded nervously.
“I don’t know exactly what I mean,” she said. “But you’re the nicest man I ever knew.”
He blushed.
“You mustn’t say that to me,” he deprecated.
“I shall, and I shall.”