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the door would open； and his fate be decided。 The feeling was not unlike
that of being at the dentist's； he was almost reckless。 But at the same
time； to his immense surprise； Reggie heard himself saying； 〃Lord； Thou
knowest； Thou hast not done much for me。。。〃 That pulled him up； that
made him realize again how dead serious it was。 Too late。 The door
handle turned。 Anne came in； crossed the shadowy space between them；
gave him her hand； and said； in her small； soft voice； 〃I'm so sorry； father
is out。 And mother is having a day in town； hat…hunting。 There's only
me to entertain you； Reggie。〃
Reggie gasped； pressed his own hat to his jacket buttons； and
stammered out； 〃As a matter of fact； I've only come。。。to say good…bye。〃
〃Oh！〃 cried Anne softlyshe stepped back from him and her grey eyes
danced〃what a very short visit！〃
Then； watching him； her chin tilted； she laughed outright； a long； soft
peal； and walked away from him over to the piano； and leaned against it；
playing with the tassel of the parasol。
〃I'm so sorry；〃 she said； 〃to be laughing like this。 I don't know why I
do。 It's just a bad hahabit。〃 And suddenly she stamped her grey shoe；
and took a pocket…handkerchief out of her white woolly jacket。 〃I really
must conquer it； it's too absurd；〃 said she。
〃Good heavens； Anne；〃 cried Reggie； 〃I love to hear you laughing！ I
can't imagine anything more〃
But the truth was； and they both knew it； she wasn't always laughing； it
wasn't really a habit。 Only ever since the day they'd met； ever since that
very first moment； for some strange reason that Reggie wished to God he
understood； Anne had laughed at him。 Why？ It didn't matter where
they were or what they were talking about。 They might begin by being
as serious as possible； dead seriousat any rate； as far as he was
concernedbut then suddenly； in the middle of a sentence； Anne would
glance at him； and a little quick quiver passed over her face。 Her lips
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parted； her eyes danced； and she began laughing。
Another queer thing about it was； Reggie had an idea she didn't herself
know why she laughed。 He had seen her turn away； frown； suck in her
cheeks； press her hands together。 But it was no use。 The long； soft peal
sounded； even while she cried； 〃I don't know why I'm laughing。〃 It was a
mystery。。。
Now she tucked the handkerchief away。
〃Do sit down；〃 said she。 〃And smoke； won't you？ There are
cigarettes in that little box beside you。 I'll have one too。〃 He lighted a
match for her； and as she bent forward he saw the tiny flame glow in the
pearl ring she wore。 〃It is to…morrow that you're going； isn't it？〃 said
Anne。
〃Yes； to…morrow as ever was；〃 said Reggie； and he blew a little fan of
smoke。 Why on earth was he so nervous？ Nervous wasn't the word for
it。
〃It'sit's frightfully hard to believe；〃 he added。
〃Yesisn't it？〃 said Anne softly； and she leaned forward and rolled the
point of her cigarette round the green ash…tray。 How beautiful she looked
like that！simply beautifuland she was so small in that immense chair。
Reginald's heart swelled with tenderness； but it was her voice； her soft
voice； that made him tremble。 〃I feel you've been here for years；〃 she
said。
Reginald took a deep breath of his cigarette。 〃It's ghastly； this idea of
going back；〃 be said。
〃Coo…roo…coo…coo…coo；〃 sounded from the quiet。
〃But you're fond of being out there； aren't you？〃 said Anne。 She
hooked her finger through her pearl necklace。 〃Father was saying only
the other night how lucky he thought you were to have a life of your own。〃
And she looked up at him。 Reginald's smile was rather wan。 〃I don't
feel fearfully lucky；〃 he said lightly。
〃Roo…coo…coo…coo；〃 came again。 And Anne murmured； 〃You mean
it's lonely。〃
〃Oh； it isn't the loneliness I care about；〃 said Reginald； and he stumped
his cigarette savagely on the green ash…tray。 〃I could stand any amount
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of it； used to like it even。 It's the idea of〃 Suddenly； to his horror； he
felt himself blushing。
〃Roo…coo…coo…coo！ Roo…coo…coo…coo！〃
Anne jumped up。 〃Come and say good…bye to my doves；〃 she said。
〃They've been moved to the side veranda。 You do like doves； don't you；
Reggie？〃
〃Awfully；〃 said Reggie； so fervently that as he opened the French
window for her and stood to one side； Anne ran forward and laughed at the
doves instead。
To and fro； to and fro over the fine red sand on the floor of the dove
house； walked the two doves。 One was always in front of the other。
One ran forward； uttering a little cry； and the other followed； solemnly
bowing and bowing。 〃You see；〃 explained Anne； 〃the one in front； she's
Mrs。 Dove。 She looks at Mr。 Dove and gives that little laugh and runs
forward； and he follows her； bowing and bowing。 And that makes her
laugh again。 Away she runs； and after her；〃 cried Anne； and she sat back
on her heels； 〃comes poor Mr。 Dove； bowing and bowing。。。and that's their
whole life。 They never do anything else； you know。〃 She got up and
took some yellow grains out of a bag on the roof of the dove house。
〃When you think of them； out in Rhodesia； Reggie； you can be sure that is
what they will be doing。。。〃
Reggie gave no sign of having seen the doves or of having heard a
word。 For the moment he was conscious only of the immense effort it
took to tear his secret out of himself and offer it to Anne。 〃Anne； do you
think you could ever care for me？〃 It was done。 It was over。 And in
the little pause that followed Reginald saw the garden open to the light； the
blue quivering sky； the flutter of leaves on the veranda poles； and Anne
turning over the grains of maize on her palm with one