Waymark encouraged the idea strongly. But his companion could not be roused to the wonted cheerfulness. After a long silence, he all at once put a strange question, and in an abashed way.
"Waymark, have you ever been in love?"
Osmond laughed, and looked at his friend curiously.
"Many thousand times," was his reply.
"No, but seriously," urged Julian.
"With desperate seriousness for two or three days at a time. Never longer."
"Well now, answer me in all earnestness. Do you believe it possible to love a woman whom in almost every respect you regard as your inferior, who you know can't understand your thoughts and aspirations, who has no interest in anything above daily needs?"
"Impossible to say. Is she good-looking?"
"Suppose she is not; yet not altogether plain."
"Then does she love you?"