”No；butIexpecthewillbesoon。””Then！”criedVal，anddivingforward，heseizedherhand。Shetriedtowithdrawit，failed，gaveuptheattempt，andlookedathimwistfully。”Firstofall，”hesaid，”Iwanttotellyousomethingaboutmyfamily。MyDad，youknow，isn’taltogether——Imean，he’sleftmymotherandthey’retryingtodivorcehim；sothey’veorderedhimtocomeback，yousee。You’llseethatinthepaperto-morrow。”Hereyesdeepenedincolourandfearfulinterest；herhandsqueezedhis。ButthegamblerinValwasrousednow，andhehurriedon：
’Ofcoursethere’snothingverymuchatpresent，buttherewillbe，Iexpect，beforeit’sover；divorcesuitsarebeastly，youknow。I
wantedtotellyou，because——because——yououghttoknow——if——”andhebegantostammer，gazingathertroubledeyes，”if——ifyou’regoingtobeadarlingandloveme，Holly。Iloveyou——everso；andIwanttobeengaged。”Hehaddoneitinamannersoinadequatethathecouldhavepunchedhisownhead；anddroppingonhisknees，hetriedtogetnearertothatsoft，troubledface。”Youdoloveme——don’tyou?Ifyoudon’tI……”Therewasamomentofsilenceandsuspense，soawfulthathecouldhearthesoundofamowing-
machinefaroutonthelawnpretendingtherewasgrasstocut。
Thensheswayedforward；herfreehandtouchedhishair，andhegasped：”Oh，Holly！”