"You're right," I replied. "Though George wouldn't be pleased at your way of putting it."

She made a pretty little gesture with her hands.

"Well," she said, "it can't be helped." Then she looked up smiling. "We must just forget all about it," she added.

I shook my head.

"I don't think we can do that," I answered. "You see, I want to go to Kerrin Island for part of our honeymoon."

She made a slight movement, but I went on without giving her time to speak.

"My dear heart," I said, "do you imagine that I'm going to let you go again unless you absolutely send me away from you?"

Coming up to her, I took her two hands, and, lifting them up to my lips, kissed them alternately.

She looked down on me with something very like tears in her eyes.

"You're a dear, Stephen," she said softly, "you're a dear; but—but it can't be."