Axel laughed.
"The mere question makes you laugh," she said, looking up quickly. "I never heard of a man who did want to. But lots of women would give anything to be men."
"And you are one of them?"
"Yes."
He laughed again.
"You think I would make a queer little man?" she said, laughing too; but her face became sober immediately, and with a glance at the shut dining-room door she continued: "It is so horrid to feel weak. My sister Susie says I am very obstinate. Perhaps I was with her, but different people have different effects on one." She sank her voice to a whisper, and looked at him anxiously. "You can't think what an effort it is to me to say No to that man."
"What, to Dellwig?"
"Sh—sh."
"But if that is how you feel, my dear Miss Estcourt, it is very evident that the man must go."
"How easy it is to say that! Pray, who is to tell him to go?"