"Neither.

It means that I am tired of being scolded." "I have wondered now and then," said John, deliberately, "why you put up with it ?" "I suppose--because I can't help it," she said, startled.
"You are a free agent." "You mean that I could go away ?" she said, in a low voice.

"But there is only one place I should care to go to now." "To South Africa ?" "You always understand," she said gratefully.
"Supposing this--this ghastly war should not be over as soon as we all hope," he said, rather huskily, "I could escort you myself, in a few weeks' time, to the Cape.

Or--or arrange for your going earlier if you desired, and if I could not get away.

Probably you would get no further than Cape Town; but it might be easier for you waiting there--than here." "I shall thank you, and bless you always, for thinking of it," she interrupted, softly; "but there is something--that I never told anybody." He waited.
"After Peter had the news of his father's death," said Lady Mary, with a sob in her throat, "you did not know that he--he telegraphed to me, from Madeira.