"Very," answered Thomasina shortly.
"One feels that the lives spent here must be happy."
"Not necessarily. The average of happiness is probably no higher here than elsewhere. People carry the material of happiness in their hearts."
Utterly listened a little impatiently. It was a period when abstract opinions fell oftener from the lips of men than of women.
"Did you ever know Basil Everman?" he asked.
Thomasina laid her crimson fan across her knees. The children came suddenly to a climax and somewhat boisterously, went to bring in the refreshments provided by Mrs. Scott, the sound of voices from the porch had sunk to a gentle murmur. Into Thomasina's face came a bewildered expression; she looked at the same time incredulous, and intensely desirous of hearing more.
"Did I know Basil Everman?" She repeated the question as though she were trying to make herself believe that it had really been uttered.
"Yes," said Utterly, "Basil Everman."
"I knew him all his life."