"Hereditary slaves!" smiled Winnie. "It's really rather like marriage, as Cyril conceived it. You mustn't have another wife. The regiment's yours. It would be bigamy!" "Charming people can talk great nonsense," the Major made bold to observe. He was rather chilled again. "We're veering round in this discussion. Now you're making out that I'm ridiculous!" He made a gesture of protest. Winnie laughed. "Six days ago I didn't care particularly about you, but I should have married you if you'd asked me." "So you told me why I'd better not ask you? Yes?" "Now I like you very particularly, but nothing on earth would induce me to marry you," said Winnie. She shot a quick glance of raillery at him. "So, if you're struggling, you needn't struggle." "I am struggling rather, Winnie." "To-morrow ends it." "Yes, but what's going to happen to you?" "That's become rather more difficult to answer than it used to be." She rose from her chair. "But now I'm going in, to beg the General's pardon for having been so naughty." She stood there before him, slim, almost vague, in the soft darkness. Her black gown was a darker spot on the gloom; her face and shoulders gleamed white, her brows and the line of her red lips seemed black, and black, too, the eyes with which she regarded him, half-loving, still half-ridiculing, from across the gulf that parted them. He made a quick impulsive step towards her, putting out his arms. It seemed to him that hers came out to meet them; at least she did not retreat. With a sigh and a shiver she yielded herself to his embrace. "I'm half sorry it's so utterly impossible all round," she whispered. After his passionate kiss the man let her go and drew back. "Now I'm thoroughly ashamed of myself," he said. "Oh, my dear, you needn't be. Here we are, two small puzzled things, together on this beautiful night for just a little while, and then a long way from one another for ever! And we've done nothing very dreadful. Just what you like in me has kissed me, and just what I like in you has kissed you, and wished you God-speed, and been sorry for the trouble I've made, and told you how much I hope for you and your dear regiment. I'm glad you did it, and I'm glad I did it. Surely it makes us friends for always that our lips have met like that?" "I'll give it all up if you ask me, Winnie." "No, no. I've been learning to think how one will feel about things to-morrow. Forget you said that. You don't really mean it." He stood silent for a moment. "No, I didn't really mean it. I beg your pardon."