"Eric, I want to give you everything, but I've sworn to God! Until I've seen Jack.…"
"You've broken your oath in everything but form. From the first night we met you've belonged to me in all but name."
"But won't you wait? Oh, why will you drive me?"
"I'm not driving you, Babs. I've not asked for anything."
She stood up and drew her cloak round her, glancing once at him and turning quickly away as she saw his hunched body and haggard face. One after the other she slowly drew on her gloves, looking with misty eyes for her bag. As she moved to the door, Eric rose and opened it, gathering up his overcoat with the other hand. They had parted like this so often that he no longer seemed to care.… A four-wheeler was ambling along Ryder Street, and he hailed it. Neither spoke until it drew up opposite her house and she saw him fumbling with the handle. Then she laid her fingers on his wrist and chokingly bade him stop.
"I'll marry you, Eric," she said.
"Thank you, Barbara."
She hurried out before he could kiss her and stood with face upturned and eyes tightly shut. God, who had heard the oath taken and broken, was free to strike her now; if He held His hand, it was because He had more subtle punishment in store.…
Barbara pulled her cloak over her chest and ran despairingly into the house.