he said.

‘What — that he’s dead?’ she said.

His eyes just met hers. He did not answer.

‘You’ve got me,’ she said.

He smiled and kissed her.

‘If I die,’ he said, ‘you’ll know I haven’t left you.’

‘And me?’ she cried.

‘And you won’t have left me,’ he said. ‘We shan’t have any need to despair, in death.’

She took hold of his hand.

‘But need you despair over Gerald?’ she said.

‘Yes,’