"I'm so glad you came back," she said frankly. "I have been most uneasy about you."
"I've been very anxious, too," he said. Then, drawing an unfeigned sigh of relief: "It does seem good to get back again!" He had been away nearly half an hour.
She examined the wire and the battery gingerly, asking him innumerable questions about it.
"Do you suppose," she ended, "that it will be[311] safe for you to set off the charge from this camp?"
"Oh, perfectly," he nodded.
"Of course," she said, half to herself, "we'll both be blown up if it isn't safe. And that is something!"
And she came up very close when he said he was ready to fire, and laid her hand on his arm. The hand was steady enough. But when he glanced at her he saw how white she had become.
"Why, Jean!" he said gently. "Are you frightened?"
"No.... I won't mind it if I may stand rather near you." And she closed her eyes and placed both hands over her ears.
"Do you think I'd fire this charge," he demanded warmly, "if there was the slightest possible danger to you? Take down your hands and listen."