“In sickness and in health, in prosperity and in adversity, in life and in death we are for each other now,” she said. “How lovingly you would cherish me were I suddenly to become old and ugly and unattractive. Brian, last night at the three-mile house when you looked up at me at the table——”
“Yes, darling.”
“I had been thinking about your patient; then the thought suddenly came to me, ‘Suppose this man too, should become ill—should die?’ My heart seemed to stand still. I thought I should suffocate. Oh, Brian, take good care of yourself. I fear that I could not say, ‘the Lord’s will be done,’ if anything should happen to you,” and burying her face in his shoulder she began sobbing violently.
“Come now, this is idolatry,” he said, looking down at her with a radiant face; “rank idolatry, and you will be punished for it according to your own pleasant theory. I wanted you to be demonstrative, sweetheart; but not along this line. When will you marry me?”
“Whenever you think best, Brian. I have given up worrying about this place. The Lord will provide some other person to take care of the people. We are none of us indispensable to him.”
“No,” he said gravely. “When will you marry me?”
“In three months, Brian.”
“In six weeks, beauty; and when shall I see you again?”
“To-morrow afternoon.”
“This evening, my charmer.”