G. What's the trouble, darling? I can't promise any more than
I have; but I'll promise that again and again if you like.
MRS. G. (_Her head on his shoulder._) _Say_ it, then--say it!
N-no--don't! The--the--eagles would laugh. (_Recovering._) My husband,
you've married a little goose.
CAPT. G. (_Very tenderly._) Have I? I am content whatever she is, so
long as she is mine.
MRS. G. (_Quickly._) Because she is yours or because she is me mineself?
CAPT. G. Because she is both. (_Piteously._) I'm not clever, dear, and
I don't think I can make myself understood properly.
MRS. G. _I_ understand. Pip, will you tell me something?
CAPT. G. Anything you like. (_Aside._) I wonder what's coming now.
MRS. G. (_Haltingly, her eyes lowered._) You told me once in the old
days--centuries and centuries ago--that you had been engaged before.
I didn't say anything--_then._
CAPT. G. (_Innocently._) Why not?
MRS. G. (_Raising her eyes to his._) Because--because I was afraid of
losing you, my heart. But now--tell about it--_please._
CAPT. G. There's nothing to tell. I was awf'ly old then--nearly two
and twenty--and she was _quite_ that.
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