"Oh, be fair! You know I am."
"Is rather—exacting—fatiguing?"
"That's too strong. Rather, as I say, emotional. She likes living on the heights. I like going up there now and then. In fact I maintain the national ideal."
"Yes, I think you'd do that very well—quite well enough, Grantley."
"There's a sting in the tail of your praise?"
"After all, I'm a woman too."
"We really needn't fuss ourselves, I think. You see, she has the great saving grace—a sense of humour. If I perceive dimly that somehow something hasn't been quite what it ought to have been, that I haven't—haven't played up somehow—you know what I mean?"
"Very well indeed," Mrs. Raymore laughed gently.
"I can put it all right by a good laugh—a bit of mock heroics, perhaps—some good chaff, followed by a good gallop—not at all a bad prescription! After a little of that, she's laughing at herself for having the emotions, and at me for not having them, and at both of us for the whole affair."
"Well, as long as it ends like that there's not much wrong. But take care. Not everything will stand the humorous aspect, you know."