"What would Pauline say?"
"Would she care?"
"Ask her."
"Bertha, you raise my hopes—why do you speak like that? You know something—does she care for me?"
"Why not ask her?"
"If I did and was repulsed——"
"But if you were not!"
"I will ask her. I will be bold. I will go on my knees and say: 'Pauline, I love you, will you be my wife?' and then if she repulses me, I shall—shall go to the war and not care what becomes of me."
"But if she says yes?"
Vernon was startled, for the question was asked by Pauline, who had entered unobserved.