She had spoken at the same time as he, exclaiming, "But what is the good of talking of that?
Because no matter what happened I feel as though I could not break my promise to Van, even if I should want to.

Because I have talked like this, Dolly," she went on more seriously, "you must not be deceived or get a wrong impression.

You understand how things are, don't you ?" "Oh, yes," he answered, still trying to carry it off with a laugh.

"I know, I know.

But now I hope you won't let anything I have said bother you, and that things will go on just as if I hadn't spoken, just as if nothing had happened." "Why, of course," she said, laughing with him again.