over her shoulder.

"Don't be soft. People would think we'd quarrelled," said Wilf.

"Let them think, then," said Caroline.

"Oh, that's it, is it?" He stood still. "I can go back if you don't
want me, you know. I'm not one to force myself on anybody."

"All right. Go back." They stood on the cliff beyond the promenade
peering into each other's angry faces, in the translucent dusk
reflected from the great expanse of sky and sea.

"You mean that?"

"Yes, I do."

"You want things to come to an end between us?"

"I'm not particular." She paused, then drew a long breath. "Yes--as
you put it like that--I do."

"Well, if you do it now, it's done for good. You won't whistle me back
again, you know. I'm not that sort. If I go, I go." He paused,
adding with a sudden spurt of anger at her injustice: "And I shan't
come back if you crawl on your hands and knees after me from one end of
the promenade to the other. I haven't done nothing. What's the matter
with you? But I can tell you. You're gone on that Wilson."

"I aren't gone on him," said Caroline angrily. "A man I hardly know.
You must have got a bee in your bonnet, Wilf."

"I may, or I may not, but I'm not going to have my future wife conduct
herself in a silly style without saying a word," he answered with
youthful pomposity.

"Your wife! It hasn't got to that yet," said Caroline. Then she
thrust her face nearer to his, adding impulsively: "It would be years
and years before we could think of marrying. I didn't plan ahead like
that when we started keeping company, and I don't feel as if I could
ever look on you as a future husband, Wilf. I don't feel I ever shall
want to marry you--not now it comes to it."

"Then that's why you wouldn't have my ring," he said, his face blank
and pale in the twilight. He began to see that it was all real--not
just a "tiff" such as they had had before.

"I suppose so," said Caroline, her tone changing too--becoming anxious
and slightly troubled. "I didn't realize at the time, but I expect I
was shying away from the idea, if you know what I mean?"

"Oh, I know what you mean well enough. You're tired of me, and you
want to turn me down. But let me tell you you won't find fellows like
me growing on every gooseberry bush. I've always treated you like a
gentleman--I have. I never hinted a word when you were going out as
day girl to that woman who keeps a little shop in your street, though I
could see som