‘I cannot help it,’ she said. ‘He was my all.’
‘Have you striven with it?’
‘Of course I have. I have lived in a tumult of occupation, but—’
‘But you have not conquered yourself, and grappled with the serpents that poison your life.’
‘Pray what do you call those serpents?’
‘If you look them in the face, I believe you will find they are pride and jealousy.’
‘You like to find generic names,’ said Theodora, trying for a cold smile.
‘Because it is safer to know and crush a venomous beast than to dally with it.’
‘If I find there are such serpents, I will crush them and thank you.’
‘No other woman would so have answered,’ cried Percy, exultingly.