“My ignorance was inexcusable, I admit.”
“Why did you want to know?”
“The scene of your praiseworthy labours? What a question to ask of an admiring brother!”
“I will know, Felix.” She stopped and stamped her foot, then, warned perhaps by my face, checked herself, and resumed, with a strained attempt at a more conciliatory tone: “You might have consideration for others, if you have no apprehensions for yourself. You don’t seem to realise what a difficult tortuous part I am having to play.”
“Naturally, when I know nothing about it.”
She glanced at me, and away.
“Please come on, Felix. Will you not tell me what brought you?”
“That is better. Call it partly idleness, partly curiosity, partly the absence of any reason why I should not do exactly as I pleased.”
“Is there no reason? Can you really say so?”
“None whatever that I know. It was made no condition of an extraordinary situation forced upon me that my absolute liberty of action was to be restricted. I should not have accepted the situation if it had been.”