Then, almost in the same instant, they were veiled.

She caught her breath, saying no word, only dumbly waiting.
"I could only take you as my wife," he said, still in that half-bantering, half-embarrassed fashion of his.

"Will you come ?" She threw back her head and stared at him.

"Marry you! What, really?
Really ?" she questioned, breathlessly.
"Merely for appearances' sake," said Merryon, with grim irony.

"The regimental morals are somewhat easily offended, and an outsider like myself can't be too careful." The girl was still staring at him, as though at some novel specimen of humanity that had never before crossed her path.