CAPT. G. What's the trouble, darling? I can't promise any more
than I have; but I'll promise that again and again if you like.
MRs. G. (Her head on his shoulder.) Say it, then-say it! N-no-
don't! The-the-eagles would laugh. (Recovering.) My husband,
you've married a little goose.
CAPT. G. (Very tenderly.) Have I? I am content whatever she is,
so long as she is mine.
MRS. G. (Quickly.) Because she is yours or because she is me
mineself?
CAPT. G. Because she is both. (Piteously.) I'm not clever, dear,
and I don't think I can make myself understood properly.
MRS. G. I understand. Pip, will you tell me something?
CAPT. G. Anything you like. (Aside.) I wonder what's coming
now.
MRS. G. (Haltingly, her eyes 'owered.) You told me once in the
old days-centunes and centuries ago-that you had been engaged
before. I didn't say anything-then.
CAPT. G. (Innocently.) Why not?
MRS. G. (Raising her eyes to his.) Because-because I was afraid
of losing you, my heart. But now-tell about it-please.
CAPT. G. There's nothing to tell. I was awf'ly old then-nearly two
and twenty-and she was quite that.
MRS. G. That means she was older than you. I shouldn't like her to
have been younger.
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