"I do like you when you're human," said Rowena, laughing. "Why is it that absolutely perfect people never appeal to one? I suppose one likes to be surprised. The dead monotony of the virtuous good ..."
He put out his hand as if to stop her.
"Don't!" he said. "There's no chance of monotony with the best people in the world! They ought always to be rising higher."
Rowena gave a little groan.
"I hope you won't try to rise to a higher plane than your present one. You are quite far-away from me as it is."
He shook his head.
"Have you heard of the Hermit of Abertarlie? You ought to bring him into your book."
"No, do tell me."
"He made himself a hut at the bottom of the glen. If you look opposite you'll see a very old oak down by the edge of the loch."
"I know it well. There are not many trees that I do not know. I lie here and look-out at them all day long. Was his hut over there?"