It was during their stay in London that Lady Mary and the Squire got the greatest surprise of their whole lives.
Miles, looking bigger than ever in uniform, rushed in and demanded an interview with Meg
alone in their private room. He showed her a special licence, and ordered, rather than requested, that she should marry him at once.
"I can't," she said, "it's no use asking me ... I can't."
"Listen; have you any objection to me?"
Meg pulled a little away from him and pretended to look him up and down. "No ... in fact ... I love every bit of you—especially your boots."
"Have you thought how likely it is that I may not come back ... if there's war?"
"Don't!" said Meg. "Don't put it into words."
"Then why won't you marry me, and let me feel that, whether I'm killed or not, I've had the thing I wanted most in this world?"
"Dear, I can't help it, but I feel if I married you now ... you would never come back ... but if I wait ... if I don't try to grasp this wonderful thing too greedily ... it will come to us both. I daren't marry you, Miles."