‘O Frank, how horrid!’
‘Dear girl, we must look into the future. We are going to live all our lives together. We must foresee and prepare for all the chances of life.’
‘But that is absurd.’
‘You can’t live all your life and never be in a bad temper!’
‘But not with you, Frank.’
‘Oh, I can be very aggravating sometimes. Now, my idea is this. Ill-humour passes and hurts nobody. But if two people are ill-humoured, then each excites the other, and they say ever so much more than they mean. Let us make a compact never both to be ill-humoured at the same time. If you are cross, then it is your turn, and I stand clear. If I am cross, you let me work it off. When either hoists the danger-signal, the other is on guard. What do you think of that?’
‘I think you are the funniest old boy—’
‘Do you agree?’
‘Yes, dear, of course I agree.’
‘Article number one,’ said Frank, and scribbled upon his paper.