They walked off together in the shadow of the big elm avenue that led down to the village. The huge boskage of the trees allowed no inter-penetrating ray of sun to reach them, and in the silence and sleep of the hot summer afternoon they seemed to Charlie to be very specially alone. This feeling was emphasized, no doubt, to his mind by the refusal of the others to accompany them. 'Really, Gallio always succeeds in making himself comfortable,' said she. 'What more can anyone want than a charming house like this? It is so absurd to desire more than you can use. It is a mistake the whole world makes, except, perhaps, Judy.' 'I don't think Ginger does,' said Charlie. 'Oh yes; he desires, at least, to say more than he means. Consequently people attach no importance to what he says.' Charlie laughed. 'Which, being interpreted, means that Ginger has been saying something which you are afraid is correct.' Sybil Massington stopped. 'Charlie, for a man you have a good deal of intuition. That is partly what makes me never think of you as a man. You are so like a woman in many ways.' 'I am wanting to have a last word.' 'Last word! What last word?' 'A last word with you, Sybil,' he said; 'I shall never bother you again.' 'Dear Charlie, it is no use. Please don't!' she said. 'I am sorry to disobey you,' said he; 'but I mean to. It is quite short--just this: if ever you change your mind, you will find me waiting for you. That is all.' Sybil frowned. 'I can't accept that,' she said. 'You have no business to put the responsibility on me like that.' 'There is no responsibility.' 'Yes, there is; you practically threaten me. It is like writing a letter to say you will commit suicide unless I do something. You threaten, anyhow, to commit celibacy unless I marry you.' 'No, I don't threaten,' said he; 'so far from threatening, I only leave the door open in case of Hope wanting to come in. That is badly expressed; a woman would have said it better.' Sybil was suddenly touched by his gentleness. 'No one could have said it better,' she said. 'Charlie, believe me, I am sorry, but--here is the truth of it: I don't believe I can love anybody. This also: if I did not like you so much, I think I would marry you.' 'Ah, spare me that,' he said. 'I do spare it you. I will not willingly make you very unhappy. Do you believe that?' He stopped, and came close to her. 'Sybil, if you pointed to the sky and said it was night, I should believe you,' he said.