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    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
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