The young couple drove at once to the station, where they were to take the train for New York, and wait there a day or two for Mrs. and Mr. Pasmer before they all sailed.

As they drove along, Alice held Dan’s wrist in the cold clutch of her trembling little ungloved hand, on which her wedding ring shone.  “O dearest! let us be good!” she said.  “I will try my best.  I will try not to be exacting and unreasonable, and I know I can.  I won’t even make any conditions, if you will always be frank and open with me, and tell me everything.”

He leaned over and kissed her behind the drawn curtains.  “I will, Alice!  I will indeed!  I won’t keep anything from you after this.”

He resolved to tell her all about Julia Anderson at the right moment, when Alice was in the mood, and as soon as he thoroughly understood what he had really meant himself.

If he had been different she would not have asked him to be frank and open; if she had been different, he might have been frank and open.  This was the beginning of their married life.