"You—you—walked so softly," she said, with quivering lips.
"Did I? That's the first time I've ever been accused of that. It must have been your imagination."
"Perhaps," she answered, with a long sigh.
"If you have everything you want, we'll go back now."
Scarcely conscious of what she did, she stooped to pick up the things that had fallen to the floor. They seemed utterly useless for all time, but she felt the necessity of action. As they turned to leave the room, he took her cold hands in his and looked down into her wet eyes.
"Promise me," he said, "that you will never again disobey a military order."
She hesitated, and he repeated it.
"How do you know I'd keep a promise?" she asked, to gain time.
"Because you're a thoroughbred."
Something in his eyes subdued her. "I promise," she said, almost in a whisper.