Page:The Story of the Gadsbys - Kipling (1888).djvu/84

 don't forget! I always loved you, though I was cross sometimes. If I ever did anything that you didn't like say you forgive me now.

—You never did, darling. On my soul and honour you never did. I haven't a thing to forgive you.

—I sulked for a whole week about bedding out those petunias. (With a laugh.) What a little wretch I was, and how grieved you were! Forgive me that, Pip.

—There's nothing to forgive. It was my fault. They were too near the drive. For God's sake don't talk so, Minnie! There's such a lot to say and so little time to say it in.

—Say that you'll always love me—until the end.

—Until the end. (Carried away.) It's a lie. It must be, because we've loved each other. This isn't the end.

(relapsing into semi-delirium).—My Church-service has an ivory cross on the back, and it says so, so it must be true. "Till death do us part." But that's a lie. (With a parody of G.'s manner.) A damned lie! (Recklessly.) Yes, I can swear as well as Trooper Pip. I can't make my head think, though. That's because they cut off my hair. How can one think with one's head all fuzzy? (Pleadingly.) Hold me, Pip! Keep me with you always and always. (Relapsing) But if you marry the Thorniss girl when I'm dead, I'll come back and howl under our bedroom window all night. Oh bother! You'll think I'm jackals. Pip, what time is it?

—A little before the dawn, dear.

—I wonder where I shall be this time to-morrow?

—Would you like to see the Padre?

—Why should I? He'd tell me that I am going to Heaven; and that wouldn't be true, because you are here. Do you recollect when he upset the cream-ice all over his trousers at the Gassers' tennis?

—Yes, dear.

—I often wondered whether he got another pair