ugh at? How could I laugh?"

He lifted the glass he held and drank from it, then offered it to her.
"Drink with me!" he said.

She took, not the glass, but his wrist, and drank with her eyes upon his
face.

When she had finished she drew his arms about her, and lay against his
shoulder with closed eyes for a space, saying no word.

At last, with a little murmuring sigh, she spoke. "What is going to
happen, Billikins?"

"God knows," he said.

But there was no note of dismay in his voice. His hold was strong and
steadfast.

She stirred a little. "Do you believe in God?" she asked him, for the
second time.

He had not answered her before; he answered her now without hesitation.
"Yes, I do."

She lifted her head to look at him. "I wonder why?" she said.

He was silent for a moment; then, "Just because I can hold you in my
arms," he said, "and feel that nothing else matters--or can matter
again."

"You really feel that?" she said, quickly. "You really love me, dear?"

"That is love," he said, simply.

"Oh, darling!" Her breath came fast. "Then, if they try to take me from
you--you will really do it--you won't be afraid?"

"Do what?" he questioned, sombrely.

"Kill me, Billikins," she answered, swiftly. "Kill me--sooner than let
me go."

He bent his head. "Yes," he said. "My love is strong enough for that."

"But what would you do--afterwards?" she breathed, her lips raised to
his.

A momentary surprise showed in his eyes. "Afterwards?" he questioned.

"After I was gone, darling?" she said, anxiously.

A very strange smile came over Merryon's face. He pressed her to him,
his eyes gazing deep into hers. He kissed her, but not passionately,
rather with reverence.

"Your afterwards will be mine, dear, wherever it is," he said. "If it
comes to that--if there is any going--in that way--we go together."

The anxiety went out of her face in a second. She smiled back at him
with utter confidence. "Oh, Billikins!" she said. "Oh, Billikins, that
will be great!"

She went back into his arms, and lay there for a further space, saying
no word. There was something sacred in the silence between them,
something mysterious and wonderful. The drip, drip, drip of the
ceaseless rain was the only sound in the stillness. They seemed to be
alone together in a sanctuary that none other might enter, husband and
wife, made one by the Bond Imperishable, waiting together for
deliverance. They were the most precious moment