ith a sort of bravado:

"Don't be a silly old ass! Do you think I'm going to beat her?"

Then it was all over, and Christine and Jimmy were driving away
together.

Jimmy looked at her with a nervous smile.

"Well--we're married," he said eloquently.

"Yes." She raised her beautiful eyes to his face; her heart was
throbbing happily. Unconsciously she made a little movement towards
him.

Jimmy put out his hand and let down the window with a run.

"Jove! isn't it hot!" he said.

He was beginning to wonder if he had drunk too much champagne; he
passed his silk handkerchief over his flushed face.

"I thought it was rather cold," said Christine timidly.

He frowned.

"Does that mean that you want the window up?" He did not mean to speak
sharply; but he was horribly nervous, and Sangster's parting words had
not improved matters at all.

Christine burst into tears; she was overstrung and excited; her nerves
were all to pieces; she sobbed for a moment desolately.

Jimmy swore under his breath; he did not know what to do. After a
moment he touched her--he pressed his silk handkerchief into her
shaking hands.

"Don't cry," he said constrainedly. "People will think I've been
unkind to you . . . already!" he added with a nervous laugh.

She mopped her eyes obediently; she felt frightened.

The horrible feeling that Jimmy was a stranger came back to her afresh.
Oh, was this the kind boy lover who had been so good to her that day
her mother died--the kind lover who had taken her in his arms and told
her that she had him, that he would never leave her?

She longed so for just one word--one sign of affection; but Jimmy only
sat there, hot and uncomfortable and silent.

After a moment:

"Better?" he asked.

"Yes . . ." She tried to control herself; she stammered a little
shamed apology. "I'm so sorry--Jimmy."

He patted her hand.

"That's all right."

She took courage; she looked into his face.

"And you do--oh, you do love me?" she whispered.

"Of course I do." He put an awkward arm round her; he pressed her head
to his shoulder, so that she could not see his face. "Of course I do,"
he said again. "Don't you worry--we're going to be awfully happy." He
kissed her cheek.

Christine turned and put her arms round his neck; she was only a child
still--she saw no reason at all why she should not let Jimmy know how
very much she loved him.

"Oh, I do love you--I do," she said softly.

Jimmy co