‘Do let us talk of something else.’
‘And not one as clever?’
‘How absurd you are to-night, Maude!’
‘Come, answer me.’
‘I’ve answered you already.’
‘I did not hear you.’
‘Oh yes, you did. I said that I had married you, and that shows that I liked you best. I don’t compare you quality for quality against every one in the world. That would be absurd. What I say is that your combination of qualities is the one which is most dear to me.’
‘Oh, I see,’ said Maude dubiously. ‘How nice and frank you are!’
‘Now I’ve hurt you!’
‘Oh no, not in the least. I like you to be frank. I should hate to think that there was anything you did not dare to tell me.’