“I theenk we would. But I shall meet her jus’ the same. ... She is the kind of girl Americans marry. I wish to study why.”
“She would be studying you, too.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Of course. One woman always studies another. It is natural.... I do not know why, unless it is to determine if the woman can take one’s lover away, or if one can take the woman’s lover away from her.... I theenk that is it.”
“But suppose you didn’t want the woman’s lover?”
“That is of no importance. It is still ver’ well to be able to say to oneself that it would be possible to take that woman’s lover if it was desired.”
“1 don’t like to hear you talk like that!”
“Pourquoi?” Andree’s eyes were big with surprise.
“It doesn’t sound nice.... It sounds—oh, it doesn’t sound like you.”
She put her cheek against his. “Then I will not say it if you do not like.... I do not want any other man. I want only you.... Do you love me?”
“Yes.”