He said, "It can't be. It can't be."

She began again to speak. He said, "I don't want to hear those things.
They're done. I don't want to be told those things. They have nothing to
do with me."

She tried to present to him indifferent subjects for his entertainment.
She could not get him to talk any more. Presently she said, with a
movement, "I am not to stay with you very long."

He then aroused himself and spoke and had a firmness in his voice. "And
I'll tell you this," he said. "This was what I said I had to tell you.
When you go, you are not to return. I don't want to see you again."

She drew a breath, steadying herself, "Why not, Marko?"

"Because what's been has been. Done. I've been through frightful things.
They're on me still. They always will be on me. But from everything that
belongs to them I want to get right away. And I'm going to."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. Only get right away."

She got up. "Very well. I understand." She turned away. "It grieves me,
Marko. But I understand. I've always understood you." She turned again
and came close to him. "That's what you're going to do. Do you know what
I'm going to do?"

He shook his head. He was breathing deeply.

"I'm going to do what I ought to have done the minute I came into the
room. I hadn't quite the courage. This."

She suddenly stooped over him. She encircled him with her arms and
slightly raised him to her. She put her lips to his and kissed him and
held him so.

"You are never going to leave me, Marko. Never, never, never, till
death."

He cried, "Beloved, Beloved," and clung to her. "Beloved, Beloved!" and
clung to her....

* * * * *

_Postscript...._ This went through the mail bearing postmark, September,
1919:

"And seeing in the picture newspaper photograph with printing
called 'Lady Tybar, widow of the late Lord Tybar, V.C., who is
marrying Mr. Mark Sabre (inset)' and never having been in
comfortable situation since leaving Penny Green, have expected you
might be wishing for cook and house parlourmaid as before and would
be most pleased and obliged to come to you, which if you did not
remember us at first were always called by you hi! Jinks and lo!
Jinks, and no offence ever taken, as knowing it was only your way
and friendly. And so will end now and hoping you may take us and
oblige, your obedient servants

"Sarah Jinks