lyaffection,habit,esteem?Shewastheonlygirlheknew,andtheyhadgrownuptogether.Whenhecamefromschoolforhisholidays,orlaterfromSandhurst,onleave,Marywashisconstantfriend,withoutwhomhewouldhavebeenmiserablydull.Shewasmasculineenoughtoenterintohisboyishgames,andeventheirthoughtswerecommon.ThereweresofewpeopleinLittlePrimptonthatthosewholivedtheresawoneanothercontinuallyandthoughTunbridgeWellswasonlyfourmilesaway,thedistanceeffectuallypreventedverycloseintimacywithitsinhabitants.Itwasnatural,then,thatJamesshouldonlylookforwardtoanexistenceinwhichMarytookpartwithoutthatpleasantcompanionshiptheroadseemedlonganddreary.WhenhewasappointedtoaregimentinIndia,andhisheartsoftenedattheprospectofthefirstlongpartingfromallhecaredfor,itwastheseparationfromMarythatseemedhardesttobear.
"Idon'tknowwhatIshalldowithoutyou,Mary,"hesaid.
"Youwillforgetallaboutuswhenyou'vebeeninIndiaamonth."
Butherlipstwitched,andhenoticedthatshefounddifficultyinspeakingquitefirmly.Shehesitatedamoment,andspokeagain.
"It'sdifferentforus,"shesaid,"Thosewhogoforget,butthosewhostay—remember.Weshallbealwaysdoingthesamethingstoremindusofyou.Oh,youwon'tforgetme,Jamie?"
Thelastwordsslippedoutagainstthegirl'sintention.
"Mary!"hecried.
Andthenheputhisarmsroundher,andMaryrestedherfaceonhisshoulderandbegantocry.Hekissedher,tryingtostophertearshepressedhertohisheart.Hereallythoughthelovedherthenwithallhisstrength.
"Mary,"hewhispered,"Mary,doyoucareforme?Willyoumarryme?"
Thenquicklyheexplainedthatitwouldmakeitsomuchbetterforbothiftheybecameengaged.
"Ishan'tbeabletomarryyouforalongtimebutwillyouwaitforme,Mary?"
Shebegantosmilethroughhertears.
"Iwouldwaitforyoutotheendofmylife."
DuringthefirsttwoyearsinIndiathetiehadbeentoJamesentirelypleasurableandif,amongthemanifoldexperiencesofhisnewlife,heboreMary'sabsencewithgreaterequanimitythanhehadthoughtpossible,hewasalwaysgladtoreceiveherletters,withtheirdelicatearoma