Rob tried to speak cheerfully, and after waiting a minute to see if Roy would say any more, he left the room quietly; all the light having died out of his honest grey eyes.
Roy watched the antics of his mice in the firelight, but his thoughts were far away from them. At last he opened the door and made his way up to his grandmother's room to have his usual chat with her before tea.
"Granny, if a person you like will do anything you like, ought you to make that person do what you like instead of what they like?"
"It sounds like a riddle," said Mrs. Bertram, with a smile. "I won't ask who the person is, the question is whether you like that person or yourself best. Which do you?"
Roy did not answer for a minute, then he hung his head.
"I'm afraid I like myself best."
"If you give me more details, perhaps I can advise you."
"Well, granny, may I talk first to Dudley about it, and then I'll tell you. But you see it's like this—the person wants to please you, and you can't pretend to be pleased if he does what doesn't please you!"
"I think the best plan would be to leave yourself out of the question entirely, and only think of the other person; that would be the most unselfish way."
Roy knitted his brows and heaved a heavy sigh.