would you go — alone with him?” She drew closer to him, her head on his shoulder and her hand in his, but he could not see her face.

“You mean without you, dearest?”

“Yes.”

“That may be as you say. Would you prefer to go with us?”

She drew a long breath, slowly, like an indrawn sigh, and something trembled to pass her heart, but suddenly the old habit of reserve sealed her lips and she remained silent.

“What do you say?” he urged.

“Tell me first — do you want me to go?”

He was silent, and they sat waiting for each other. Then he said, “I do want you to go —