How long we talked I do not know, but before we had finished we had to shut the window, for the storm came nearer, and burst round us in sheets of heavy rain and violet fires of lightning. Then it passed, and still we sat there, till at the end the moon came out, and rode high in a clean-washed heaven, with the stars clustering round her like swarming bees, while to the east the sky grew dove-coloured with the first hint of dawn. At last I rose.
‘It remains, then, just to toss,’ said I, and spun a coin.
‘Heads!’ said he.
‘It is. You speak to Margery first, then,’ I said.
He got up too, irresolute, and we looked at each other gravely, rivals in that which makes life sweet, but friends. And that makes life sweet, too.
‘And whatever happens, Jack,’ he said rather huskily, ‘we will do our very utmost not to let this stand between us, and to keep all knowledge of it from her.’
‘Yes, whatever happens,’ said I. ‘Time to go to bed, Dick. Good-night.’
I went into my room, closing the door of communication; but before I was half undressed it opened, and Dick came in.
‘One thing more,’ he said: ‘we didn’t settle when.’
‘That must be left to you,’ said I; ‘but oh, Dick, for God’s sake let it be soon! Surely it had better be soon.’