And Jim answered. "Father, I didn't know. I didn't know my own mind. But I can't call back now."
Sam and Alice slipt back again, and continued their walk. Let us hear what conversation they had been holding together before this little interruption.
"Alice, my darling, my love, you are more beautiful than ever!"
"Thanks to your absence, my dear Sam. You see how well I thrive without you."
"Then when we are——"
"Well?" said Alice. For this was eight o'clock in the evening, you know, and the moon being four days past the full, it was pitch dark. "Well?" says she.
"When we are married," says Sam, audaciously, "I suppose you will pine away to nothing."
"Good gracious me!" she answered. "Married? Why surely we are well enough as we are."
"Most excellently well, my darling," said Sam. "I wish it could last for ever."
"Oh, indeed!" said Alice, almost inaudibly though.