I lived twenty years without it," said Valerie, demurely, yet in her smile Rita divined the hidden tragedy.

And she leaned forward and kissed her impulsively.
"Let's swear celibacy," she said, "and live out our lives together in single blessedness! Will you?
We can have a perfectly good time until the undertaker knocks." "I hope he won't knock for a long while," said Valerie, with a slight shiver.

"There's so much I want to see first." "You shall.

We'll see everything together.

We'll work hard, live frugally if you say so, cut out all frills and nonsense, and save and save until we have enough to retire on respectably.