“Yes, I have read it.”
“Without sympathy, of course?”
“Why “of course”? Do I seem to you a shallow optimist?”
“No. A vigorous and rational optimist—such as I myself aim at being.”
“Do you? But optimism of that kind must be proved by some effort on behalf of society.”
“Precisely the effort I am making. If a man works at developing and fortifying the best things in his own character, he is surely doing society a service.”
She smiled sceptically.
“Yes, no doubt. But how do you develop and fortify yourself?”
She was meeting him half-way, thought Everard. Foreseeing the inevitable, she wished to have it over and done with. Or else—
“I live very quietly,” was his reply, “thinking of grave problems most of my time. You know I am a great deal alone.”