“What is the matter?”
“I do not want to part,” he said. “Only—” He broke off abruptly to ask, “You will not part from me?”
She met his eyes with a steadfast look. “What has happened?” she pressed.
“Not for a time?”
“What time?”
“Years perhaps.”
“Part! No!”
“You have thought?” he insisted.
“I will not part.” She took his hand. “If this meant death, now, I would not let you go.”
“If it meant death,” he said, and she felt his grip upon her fingers.