"You love your sister, I know," he said.
"Of course I do," she replied quickly. "She took mother's place—as much as any one could—and, except on our vacations, we have never been separated."
"You soon will be though, won't you?"
She looked up at him in surprise, not understanding.
"How?" she demanded.
"Didn't you tell me that your sister was going to be married?"
Virginia laughed, a low, musical laugh, which charmed him.
"Yes," she said, "that's true. They are to be married next month." Sadly she added: "I shall miss her very much. Yet I shan't mind that kind of separation—if she's happy."
Stafford smiled. Quietly he said:
"That's the trouble with matrimony—that great, big little word—if."