VOICE. I thought so. Why didn't you tell me that at first? CAPT. G. What? VOICE. That I am going to--die. CAPT. G. But you aren't! You sha'n't. AYAH to punkah-coolie. (Stepping into veranda after a glance at the bed. ). Punkah chor do! (Stop pulling the punkah.) VOICE. It's hard, Pip. So very, very hard after one year--just one year. (Wailing.) And I'm only twenty. Most girls aren't even married at twenty. Can't they do anything to help me? I don't want to die. CAPT. G. Hush, dear. You won't. VOICE. What's the use of talking? Help me! You've never failed me yet. Oh, Phil, help me to keep alive. (Feverishly.) I don't believe you wish me to live. You weren't a bit sorry when that horrid Baby thing died. I wish I'd killed it! CAPT. G. (Drawing his hand across his forehead.) It's more than a man's meant to bear--it's not right. (Aloud.) Minnie, love, I'd die for you if it would help. VOICE. No more death. There's enough already. Pip, don't you die too. CAPT. G. I wish I dared. VOICE. It says: “Till Death do us part.” Nothing after that--and so it would be no use. It stops at the dying. Why does it stop there? Only such a very short life, too. Pip, I'm sorry we married. CAPT. G. No! Anything but that, Mm! VOICE. Because you'll forget and I'll forget. Oh, Pip, don't forget! I always loved you, though I was cross sometimes. If I ever did anything that you didn't like, say you forgive me now. CAPT. G. You never did, darling. On my soul and honor you never did. I haven't a thing to forgive you. VOICE. I sulked for a whole week about those petunias. (With a laugh.) What a little wretch I was, and how grieved you were! Forgive me that, Pp. CAPT. G. There's nothing to forgive. It was my fault. They were too near the drive. For God's sake don't talk so, Minnie! There's such a lot to say and so little time to say it in. VOICE. Say that you'll always love me--until the end. CAPT. G. Until the end. (Carried away.) It's a lie. It must be, because we've loved each other. This isn't the end. VOICE. (Relapsing into semi-delirium.) My Church-service has an ivory-cross on the back, and it says so, so it must be true. “Till Death do us part.”--but that's a lie. (With a parody of G.'s manner.) A damned lie! (Recklessly.) Yes, I can swear as well as a Trooper, Pip. I can't make my head think, though. That's because they cut off my hair. How can one think with one's head all fuzzy? (Pleadingly.) Hold me, Pip! Keep me with you always and always. (Relapsing.) But if you marry the Thorniss girl when I'm dead, I'll come back and howl under our bedroom window all night. Oh, bother! You'll think I'm a jackall. Pip, what time is it? CAPT. G. A little before the dawn, dear. VOICE. I wonder where I shall be this time to-morrow? CAPT. G. Would you like to see the Padre?