"Rita, my darling, say, if things had been different, if I were free to ask you to be my wife now, would you marry me?"
"Yes."
"Would you be my dear, dear love, as I yours, for ever and ever and ever?"
She clung to him in floods of tears. He had his answer. Each tear was an answer.
The guard of the train, looking the other way, opened the door with his key and coughed.
"Less than a minute more, sir," said the guard.
. . . "Once more, say it once more! You would be my wife if I were free?"
"I'd be your wife, Gilbert, and I'd love you—oh, what shall I do without you? How dull and dreadful everything is going to be now!"
"But I shall be back soon. And I shall write to you every day!"
"You will, won't you, dear? Write, write—" The train was almost moving.