“You see, ’Lisbeth, we—we can’t end like this. I— That’s not possible. But this is the only way—that I can see—to give our happiness a chance. And we must do that, Elizabeth. We must. I can’t believe that this is the end of our life together. I know it isn’t. It’s—an interlude. We’ll look back on it some day, and smile, and wonder what was the matter with us. I suppose most married people go through a period of—dissension, only with us it’s more acute, more dangerous. So whatever we do, Elizabeth, don’t let us plunge in the dark. You don’t know your own mind yet. A year from now it’ll be different. You’ll know—at least, I think so—one way or the other.”

She looked curiously up at him.

“You’re—willing to wait—all that time?”

“Yes, if eventually—we come together again. It won’t take so long as that. I—I hope it won’t. I don’t know— I may be talking nonsense, but I feel that we’ve got—just a chance.”

“You—you may change,” she reminded him nervously. “You may find that—that you don’t love me—after all.”

He smiled, crookedly.

“No, I shan’t do that. I do love you. That can’t change.”

“I’m—I’m not a companion to you. A thousand things that I do—or don’t do—irritate you.”

“But still I love you. It makes all the difference, ’Lisbeth. If you really love, those little irritations don’t matter—except momentarily. You get above them. They do matter to you—because—you don’t—love me. And because I know that you don’t—love anyone else—I feel there’s hope. There’s no other man. You just haven’t learned to love. That’s all.”

“I don’t think—I shall ever learn,” she said wistfully. “I—I wasn’t meant to be married.”

“You were, ’Lisbeth. Only you haven’t grown up yet. I’m beginning to see that. A year will make a difference in you. And, ’Lisbeth, promise me this!—If ever you need me, or want my help, you won’t let pride stand in the way? Send for me. I shan’t come if you don’t, you see.”

She hesitated.

“It’s not much to ask, ’Lisbeth,” he said, rather sadly.

“No, oh no! I—I will promise. Th-thank you. I— suppose I’ve—treated you—very badly. I’m—sorry. It —it hasn’t been all my fault, Stephen.”