He had put his case badly; he should never have given her the opportunity to think that marriage would be an interruption of his career.
"We will say good-bye here," she said, "in the open.

We shall be none the less good friends because three thousand miles hinder us from shaking hands." They shook hands as she spoke.
"I shall be in England again in a year's time," said Durrance.

"May I come back ?" Ethne's eyes and her smile consented.
"I should be sorry to lose you altogether," she said, "although even if I did not see you, I should know that I had not lost your friendship." She added, "I should also be glad to hear news of you and what you are doing, if ever you have the time to spare." "I may write ?" he exclaimed eagerly.
"Yes," she answered, and his eagerness made her linger a little doubtfully upon the word.

"That is, if you think it fair.

I mean, it might be best for you, perhaps, to get rid of me entirely from your thoughts;" and Durrance laughed and without any bitterness, so that in a moment Ethne found herself laughing too, though at what she laughed she would have discovered it difficult to explain.