“Then it is all over, I suppose?” he said. “You don’t care for me at all?”
Her lips opened to form the No which she knew must be said, which she had determined to say. But when her eyes met his the resolution faltered—broke.
“Don’t ask me, Bob, please!” she begged, in desperation. “I—I— Oh, even if I did, what difference would it make? It is perfectly impossible—you and I— You know it is!”
He was at her side again and this time he would not be denied. He held her close and kissed her. Then he stepped back and laughed aloud.
“That is all I wanted to know,” he cried, in triumph. “You do care. That is enough. That is all that matters. Now let’s see them keep us apart! You are mine—and you are going to be mine, always, forever and ever, amen. Ha! Now let them try to stop it!”
She regarded him in wonder.
“You can laugh!” she exclaimed, reproachfully.
“You bet I can laugh! I was beginning to think I never should laugh again, but now— Ha! They may send you to Paris or to Jericho, it doesn’t make any difference now, Esther—”
But she held out her hands imploringly.
“Please go now, Bob,” she urged. “I must think this all over, before—before we talk any more. I must. It is—oh, it is all as crazy as can be and I must think it over by myself.... You will go now, won’t you, for my sake?”