She still said nothing--only gripped his hand more and more tightly.
"And Rose? One thing father said is being such a comfort to me. Father thinks that I shall still be able to be of use--I mean in the way I should like to be, especially if the war goes on a long time. I wonder if he showed you this?" He picked up off his bed a little piece of paper and held it out to her.
Through her bitter tears she read the words: "German thoroughness"--and then a paragraph which explained how the German military authorities were using their disabled officers in the training of recruits.
"Father thinks that in time they'll do something of the sort here--not yet, perhaps, but in some months from now."
And then, as she still did not speak, he grew uneasy. "Come a little nearer," he whispered. "I feel as if you were so far away. We needn't be afraid of any one coming in. Father has promised that no one shall disturb us till you ring."
She did as he asked, and putting his uninjured arm right round her, he held her closely to him.
It was the first time since that strange home-coming of his that Jervis had felt secure against the sudden irruption into the room of some well-meaning person. Of the two it was Jervis who had been silently determined to give the talkative, sentimental nurses no excuse for even the mildest, the kindliest comment.
But now everything was merged in this great ordeal of love and grief they were battling through together--secure from the unwanted presence of others as they had not been since he had last felt her heart fluttering beneath his, in the porch of the cathedral.
"Oh, Rose," he whispered at last, "you don't know what a difference having you makes to me! If it wasn't for you, I don't know how I could face it."
For a moment she clung a little closer to him. He felt her trembling with a wave of emotion to which he had no present clue. "Oh, Jervis--dear Jervis, is that true?" she asked piteously.
"Then there's something I want you to do for me."
"You know that there isn't anything in the world you could ask me to do that I wouldn't do, Rose."
"I want you to marry me to-morrow," she said. And then, as for a moment he remained silent, she began to cry. "Oh, Jervis, do say yes--unless you very, very much want to say no!"