XI Above The Trap-doors

           Thenextday,hesawherattheOpera.Shewasstillwearingtheplaingoldring.Shewasgentleandkindtohim.Shetalkedtohimoftheplanswhichhewasforming,ofhisfuture,ofhiscareer.

           HetoldherthatthedateofthePolarexpeditionhadbeenputforwardandthathewouldleaveFranceinthreeweeks,oramonthatlatest.Shesuggested,almostgaily,thathemustlookuponthevoyagewithdelight,asastagetowardhiscomingfame.Andwhenherepliedthatfamewithoutlovewasnoattractioninhiseyes,shetreatedhimasachildwhosesorrowswereonlyshort-lived.

           "Howcanyouspeaksolightlyofsuchseriousthings?"heasked."Perhapsweshallneverseeeachotheragain!Imaydieduringthatexpedition."

           "OrI,"shesaidsimply.

           Shenolongersmiledorjested.Sheseemedtobethinkingofsomenewthingthathadenteredhermindforthefirsttime.Hereyeswereallaglowwithit.

           "Whatareyouthinkingof,Christine?"

           "Iamthinkingthatweshallnotseeeachotheragain..."

           "Anddoesthatmakeyousoradiant?"

           "Andthat,inamonth,weshallhavetosaygood-byforever!"

           "Unless,Christine,wepledgeourfaithandwaitforeachotherforever."

           Sheputherhandonhismouth.

           "Hush,Raoul!...Youknowthereisnoquestionofthat...Andweshallneverbemarried:thatisunderstood!"

           Sheseemedsuddenlyalmostunabletocontainanoverpoweringgaiety.Sheclappedherhandswithchildishglee.Raoulstaredatherinamazement.

           "But...