"Never mind. It's all over. We'll never play it again. And he'll be well in another week. … Look here, Barbara, can't you leave off thinking about him for a minute? You know I love you, most awfully, don't you?"
"Yes. I know now all right."
"And I know."
"How do you know?"
"Because, old thing, you've never ceased to hang on to my collar since
I grabbed you. You can't go back on that."
"I don't want to go back on it…. I say, we always said he brought us together, and he has, this time."
When later that night Ralph told Fanny of their engagement the first thing she said was, "You mustn't tell him. Not till he's well again. In fact, I'd rather you didn't tell him till just before you're married."
"Why ever not?"
"It might upset him. You see," she said, "he's very fond of Barbara."
The next day Mr. Waddington's temperature went down to normal; and the next, when Ralph called, Barbara fairly rushed at him with the news.