"What I want or don't want is beside the mark," he said. "I naturally wish to see you happy; and as that evidently can't be managed here, I am willing to let you go and be happy elsewhere."
Her eyes fell and her answer came almost in a whisper.
"But I couldn't be happy anywhere else—without you."
"Is that the truth?"
"Yes."
"You'd prefer to stay here—with me?"
"Yes."
He laid his hand for an instant on her bent head.
"Stay then, Ladybird, by all means. Only, for pity's sake, spare me any more of the sort of things you said just now."
"And you won't stop me from going to Lahore, Theo?—Promise."