“Don’t go, Tom. Oh, Tom, don’t go. There’s danger. You may be hurt. Charles, tell him.”
“It’s all right, old girl. They all swore there’s not the slightest danger. We shall be back by four o’clock if the wind holds.”
“There’s danger,” Margaret said.
“Tom, you wouldn’t leave me at a moment like this.”
“I must, Livy.” A thought seemed to strike him. “Look here, Livy. It must be our first step to—to our new life together. To a new life out here.”
“Tom, my darling, are you sure there’s no danger?”
“There is no danger. None. How many more times?”
“Charles,” she said, “come here. I’ve been. Been. Not myself. I spoke cruelly. I want you to forgive me, Charles. Take my hand. And yours, Tom. This is going to be the beginning of a new life together. Will you let it be that, Charles? You will, Tom?”
“Yes,” said Tom.
“It shall be that,” Margaret said. They shook hands in the alleyway, making their bonds of peace.