That night she whispered passionately, "You are loving me more than ever you did."
"Yes," he said, holding her close; "the old Val has come back to me."
"There's another reason," she said in her heart.
Val had at last agreed to go to California.
"Are we sure to be ready to leave the Fort on Thursday?" she asked.
"Why Thursday?"
"Because of the ball."
"I should think we would be quite ready; but does it matter?"
"Very much."