When do you expect her back ?" "About the end of the month, I think, or the beginning of February." "Then you'll marry me in April." He made the statement with a certain grim arrogance that forbade all contradiction.

He was in a curiously uncertain mood, and Nan, anxious not to provoke another storm, assented reluctantly.
"You mean that?
You won't fail me ?" His keen eyes searched her face as though he doubted her and sought to wring the truth from her lips.
"Yes," she said very low.

"I mean it." He left her then, and a few minutes later, when she had recovered her poise, she rejoined Lady Gertrude and Isobel in the drawing-room.
"You and Roger have been having a very long confab," remarked Isobel, looking up from the jumper she was knitting.

"What does it portend ?" Her sallow, nimble fingers never paused in their work.

The soft, even click of the needles went on unbrokenly.
"Nothing immediate," answered Nan.