There was a pause. Then Trudi said, "Is she young?"
"Quite young."
"Pretty?"
"Exceedingly pretty."
Trudi looked up at him and smiled.
"Well?" said Axel, smiling back at her.
"Well?" said Trudi, continuing to smile.
Axel laughed outright. "My dear Trudi, your astuteness terrifies me. You not only know already why I wrote to you, but you know more reasons for the letter than I myself dream of. I want to be able to help this extremely helpless young lady, and I can hardly be of any use to her because I have no woman in the house. If I had a wife I could be of the greatest assistance."
"Only then you wouldn't want to be."
"Certainly I should."