"Paul is right to be sure of my love," replied Isabel's better self, "it is a poor trick to try to enhance the value of anything by pretending that its existence is precarious."
"There is no good in having power if you never use it," argued the evil genius.
"There is no good in having love if you ever abuse it," answered the better self.
"Paul is not nearly as fond of you as he was at first.
"Paul loves me as much as ever, and it is a shame to doubt him."
"If he is as fond of you as he was, why has he ceased to look black when you speak to another man?"
"Because he knows that I love him and he trusts me."
Then the evil genius whispered: "Do you think it would be possible to make him as jealous as he used to be?"
"I am sure it would, but nothing would induce me to try."
"Still it would be an interesting experiment—just to see for certain if he does love you as much as ever," suggested the evil genius.