"Hang tennis and golf!" interrupted Trevanion. "I didn't come all the way from Plymouth for that. I came because--because--but you know why? I say," he went on hurriedly, "you know Gossett of the Engineers, don't you? He goes to-morrow, and--and he was married yesterday. Both he and--and his wife felt they couldn't wait any longer. I suppose her people tried to dissuade her from getting married at such a time as this; but she wouldn't listen to them. 'I'm going to get married because Jack is going to the front,' was her reply to the croakers. 'I want him to feel that he has a wife waiting at home for him.' 'But suppose he should be killed?' said an old dame. 'Then I'd rather be his widow than his fiancee,' was her reply. Plucky, wasn't it?" Nancy did not reply. "Hosts of chaps have done the same thing," went on Trevanion hurriedly. "They had meant to have waited for months, but when the war came on they determined to marry right away." "Are you thinking of getting married?" Nancy was angry with herself the moment she had spoken, but she was excited beyond measure, and the words escaped her almost unconsciously. "Would to God I could!" cried Trevanion excitedly. "I'd give--heavens, what wouldn't I give for the chance! I say, Nancy, you know why I've come down, don't you? You--you didn't give me a chance to speak the other day, but now I feel as though I can't be silent any longer. You know how I love you, Nancy--you must know, you must have seen it for months--and--and--perhaps in a way it's cowardly of me to come to you like this, when I'm possibly going to my death. But I couldn't help myself, Nancy. If--if--you could only give me a little hope!"