“Never at any other time?” asked Joe.
“Seldom; why should I? I do not feel other things or situations so strongly.”
“In other words,” replied Joe, “it is just as I said; you are generally very cold.”
“I suppose so,” John acquiesced, “since you will not allow the occasions when I am not cold to be counted.”
Joe looked down as she stood, and moved her skates slowly on the ice; the shadows hid her face.
“Do you know,” she said presently, “you lose a great deal; you must, you cannot help it. You only like people in a body, so as to see what you can do with them. You only care for things on a tremendously big scale, so that you may try to influence them. When you have not a crowd to talk to, or a huge scheme to argue about, you are bored to extinction.”
“No,” said John; “I am not bored at present, by any means.”
“Because you are talking about big things. Most men in your place would be talking about the moonlight, and quoting Shelley.”
“To oblige you, Miss Thorn, I could quote a little now and then,” said John, laughing. “Would it please you? I dare say you have seen elephants stand upon their hind legs and their heads alternately. I should feel very much like one; but I will do anything to oblige you.”
“That is frivolous,” said Joe, who did not smile.