after the funeral?"

"Yes," she breathed.

"And then--then--will you--marry me?" His whisper was even lower than
hers. The man's whole being pulsed in the words.

Her arms went round his neck. "I will, dearest."

His breath came quickly. "And if--if--later--you come upon some things
that hurt you--things you don't understand--will you remember how I've
been handicapped--and--forgive me?"

Her eyes looked straight up to his. They held a shadowy smile. "Dick,--I
was just going--to say that--to you!"

He pressed her to his heart. "Ah, my Juliet!" he said. "Could anything
matter to us--anything on earth--except our love?"

In the deep silence her lips answered his. There was no further need
for words.




PART IV