"Yes, but so he is. It's commonplace of you, really, Val, not to see it."
"I'm awfully sorry.... I do love Romer, and I think I appreciate him. But somehow it's a little dull. It's not exciting as I thought it would be."
"Well! if you must have fun, and amusement, and make a hero of somebody, why just Harry? Why not a superior man? Me, for instance?"
He was laughing.
"I've been told that an adoration for you would be hopeless, utterly hopeless." She smiled. "And we're friends. I can't imagine——"
"Nor I. Of course I know it's utterly absurd to come and give people advice on these subjects, and one can't dispute about tastes and all that. But my practical mind revolts to see any one so delightful as you throwing away the substance for the shadow. You see, I'm a mass of platitudes."
"Shadows are very attractive sometimes."
"But they go away too. And then where are you?"
She was silent.
"They do, really. I know what I'm talking about." He stood up. "Think over what I've said."