"Dash it all, don't rub things in," Severance begged. "I didn't know how bad it would be——"
"I half thought you might spring up!" the girl confessed.
"If I had, what would you have done?"
"I—don't know."
"It would have made matters worse for the future—more difficult all round," Tony said. "That thought held me back. But, Marise, it was cruel to spring this surprise on me."
"It doesn't seem to have been a surprise," she reminded him. "How did you know about it—the church, and everything?"
"A little bird told me. Why did you want to hurt me so?"
Marise shrugged her shoulders. "You had hurt me—almost to death. I had to strike back! But let's not talk of it any more. The thing's done—and can't be undone."
"It can, and will be, before long, please Heaven!"
The girl laughed. "Please Heaven?" And she was glad when Pobbles broke in, Mums at his side.