The carriage entered the station-yard and they got out and walked towards the platform. There were very few people travelling by that early train, and Henry was glad because, if he could dispose of Ninian for a few moments, he thought he could settle his affairs with Mary. "Ninian," he said, trying to speak very casually, "you and Widger can look after the luggage and tickets, can't you!" Ninian, who had already induced one of the porters to describe a thrilling fox-hunt in which the fox took to the river and was killed, after a hard struggle, in the water, nodded his head and said "Righto!" "Let's walk up and down," Henry said to Mary, and they walked towards the end of the platform. "It's been awf'lly nice here!" he added. "Yes, hasn't it?" she replied. "You'll come again, won't you?" _"Ra_-ther!" he exclaimed. "How long will it be before you can come again?" "I don't know. You see, my father'll expect me to go home in the summer...." "Oh!" "But I might come for part of the hols. I'd like to!" "Yes," she said, sliding one of her feet in front of her and regarding the tip of her shoe intently. They did not speak for a few moments until he remembered that time was fleeting. "It's an awf'lly nice day," he said, and licked his lips. "Yes, isn't it?..." "Awf'lly nice," he continued and broke off lamely. They could see the train coming into Coly station, and a sense of despair seized Henry when he thought that it would soon come into Whitcombe station and then go back again to the junction, carrying Ninian and him with it. He could feel his nervousness mounting up his legs until it began to gallop through his body.... He felt frightfully dry, and when he tried to speak, he could not do anything but cough. The train had started now from Coly station. He could see the white smoke rising from the engine's funnel almost in a straight line, so little wind was there in the valley.... "Oh, Lord!" he said to himself.... "What age are you?" he suddenly demanded of her. "Fourteen," she replied. "I'm sixteen ... nearly!" he continued. "Ninian's over sixteen," Mary said, and added, "I wish I were sixteen!" "Why!" "Oh, I don't know. I just wish I were. When I'm sixteen, you'll be eighteen ... nearly!" "So I shall. I say, Mary!..." "Yes, Quinny?" He could hear the rattle of the train on the railway lines, and, turning towards the other end of the platform, he saw that Ninian, having settled about the luggage and finished listening to the story of the fox hunt, was approaching them. "Come on," he said, catching hold of Mary's arm and drawing her to the other end of the platform. "But that's the wrong end," she protested. "I say, Mary!..." "Yes, Quinny?" "Oh, I say, Mary!..." "Yes?..." "I'd like to marry you awf'lly, if you don't mind!" It was out ... oh, Lord, it was out!... "Oh, I should love it, Quinny," said Mary, looking up at him and smiling. "Would you really!" "Yes. Of course, I would. Let's tell Ninian and Widger!..."