“And that, in a month, we shall have to say goodbye forever!”
“Unless, Christine, we pledge our faith and wait for each other forever.”
She put her hand on his mouth.
“Hush, Raoul! … You know there is no question of that … And we shall never be married: that is understood!”
She seemed suddenly almost unable to contain an overpowering gaiety. She clapped her hands with childish glee. Raoul stared at her in amazement.
“But … but,” she continued, holding out her two hands to Raoul, or rather giving them to him, as though she had suddenly resolved to make him a present of them, “but if we can not be married, we can … we can be engaged! Nobody will know but ourselves, Raoul. There have been plenty of secret marriages: why not a secret engagement? … We are engaged, dear, for a month! In a month, you will go away, and I can be happy at the thought of that month all my life long!”
She was enchanted with her inspiration.
Then she became serious again.
“This,” she said, “ is a happiness that will harm no one .”
Raoul jumped at the idea. He bowed to Christine and said:
“Mademoiselle, I have the honor to ask for your hand.”
“Why, you have both of them already, my dear betrothed! … Oh, Raoul, how happy we shall be! … We must play at being engaged all day long.”
It was the prettiest game in the world and they enjoyed it like the children that they were.