“Always, ultimately. You realise that, don’t you, Eris?”
“Y-es.... Ultimately it’s the goal. But——”
“You love me enough to marry me, don’t you?”
“Now?”
“No, not now. Ultimately.”
She said, pitifully: “I love you enough to marry you this moment.... But even if I were free you wouldn’t ask it, would you, Barry?”
“I don’t know.” He looked intently at her. “It wouldn’t be any use, anyway,” he concluded. “Your work is more to you than I am. Isn’t it?”
The girl laid her face against his shoulder in silence.
“It’s your ruling passion, Eris, isn’t it?”
“I—suppose so.... But there never can be any other man than you.”