Iréné hesitated. She did not wish to intrude on Lydia, and yet she knew the Mother Superior would not be satisfied with this answer. But there was no reason for forcing an answer from Lydia at once, so she accompanied her to her room.
"I want a bath," said Lydia. "I feel contaminated."
"Physically contaminated?" asked Iréné, smiling.
"The mere presence of that woman is a physical contamination," answered Lydia.
"Well, let us go down and take a plunge together," answered Iréné, laughing.
"Will you?" asked Lydia. "And then we can go to the temple afterwards. That will be the best of all."
The two women stepped down to the swimming bath and donned their swimming dress.
Lydia stood on the plunging board, and as she raised her beautiful arms above her head and straightened herself for the plunge, she said:
"Ah! Iréné, if life were all as simple and as wholesome and as delightful as this!"