"Don't be remorseful, Mrs. Selford. It's the most unprofitable of emotions."
He had preached the same doctrine to Christine.
"When it's too late to go back?"
"And that's always." He looked down at her with a cheerful smile. "That's for your private ear. Don't tell the children. Walter Blake's quite great on remorse."
Mrs. Selford laughed rather ruefully.
"I suppose it'll turn out as well as most things. Do you know any thoroughly happy couples?"
"Very hard to say. One isn't behind the scenes. But I'm inclined to think I do. Oh, ecstasies aren't for this world, you know—not permanent ecstasies. You might as well have permanent hysterics! And, as you're aware, there are no marriages in heaven. So perhaps there's no heaven in marriages either. That would seem to be plausible reasoning, wouldn't it? But they'll be all right; they'll learn one another's paces."
"I can't help wishing she seemed more in love."
"Perhaps she will be when she flirts with somebody else. Don't frown! I'm not a pessimist. If I don't always look for happiness by the ordinary roads, I often discern it along quite unexpected routes."
"It's pleasant to see people start by being in love."