'No, not now; but then I see so little of you!'
'Well, I wouldn't be always at home; don't think it. I'm away from Strathhaye sometimes for weeks; and when I'm there, I'm out most of the day. Well, you can laugh as much as you like, though I'll be shot if I can make out often what amuses you so much!'
'Well, you really are too original in some ways. You tell me that sometimes people die off early in married life, and that we would not see much of each other—all by way of encouragement.'
'Yes, because I'm trying hard to follow your lead; though, by Jove! it would go very much against the grain with me either to die or be away from you after we are married.'
'Heavens, you make my flesh creep when you talk as if it were an accomplished fact! There is one thing I want to say to you, Ted.'
'One thing?—say a thousand! Say so many that you will never be done till we are both old and gray-headed.'
'I must go away and write my letters if you are to be so foolish.'
'No, no—no, Stella; I'll be dumb as a sonnet. Tell me the one thing.'
'Those pearls that you left the day before you went away——'
'What about them? Don't you care for them?'