Iris looked at him with drowned, forget-me-not eyes.
"I am going to forget what you have told me, as far as it is humanly possible to do so, and you must do the same. Promise me that you won't mention what we have been discussing to anybody else, ever."
"Oh, but Douglas! Oughtn't I to tell Douglas?"
"No, certainly not."
"It seems so awful to begin one's married life with a secret."
Sir Julian had perhaps never before felt so much tempted to resort to physical violence.
"I assure you that it would be exceedingly dishonourable, and that you couldn't do Mark a worse service, than to hint at such a thing to anybody on earth."
"Then," said Iris heroically, "I promise."
Sir Julian relaxed his clenched hand, and opened the door for her.
"I never, never thought," said Miss Easter, "that you and I would ever share a secret, Sir Julian! I used to be so dreadfully afraid of you—but I never shall be again!"