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Rh so sorry for you. Do you think that, when you do get home, you will find her married?"

"I have every reason for believing so," he said.

"That will be a terrible blow for you, of course?"

"A blow?" said Peter, forgetting himself. "Good gracious me, no! Why should it be? I—I mean, I shall be prepared for it, don't you know!"

"Then it's not so bad after all?" she said . "It's not at all bad!" said Peter, with a vague intention of loyalty to Sophia. "I like it!"

"I think I understand," she said slowly: "you will not be sorry to find she has married; but she may tell you that she never had the least intention of letting you go so easily?"

"Yes," said Peter, "she may tell me that, certainly"—("if she finds out where I've been," he added, mentally).

"And," she continued, "what would you do then?"

"I suppose," he said—"I suppose I should have to do whatever she wished."

"Yes!" she agreed warmly, "you will do