"We have been good friends,
Captain Forster, and I like you very much. We may never meet again;
it is most likely we never shall do so. I am grateful to you for
the many pleasant hours you have given me. Let us part thus."
"Can you not give some hope that in the distance, when these troubles
are over, should we both be spared, you may--"
"No, Captain Forster, I am sure it could never be so; if we ever
meet again, we will meet as we part now--as friends. And now
I can stay no longer; they will be missing me," and, turning, she
entered the house before he could speak again.
It was some minutes before he followed her. He had not really
thought that she would go with him; perhaps he had hardly wished
it, for on such an expedition a woman would necessarily add to the
difficulty and danger; but he had thought that she would have told
him that his love was returned, and for perhaps the first time in
his life he was serious in his protestation of it.
"What does it matter?" he said at last, as he turned; "'tis ten
thousand to one against our meeting again; if we do, I can take
it up where it breaks off now. She has acknowledged that she would
have liked me if she had been sure that I was in earnest. Next
time I shall be so. She was right. I was but amusing myself with
her at first, and had no more thought of marrying her than I had
of flying. But there, it is no use talking about the future; the
thing now is to get out of this trap.
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