Harding laughed. 'Happy! for how long?'
'That depends. Love is not a joy that lasts for ever,' the old lady added with a chuckle.
'But did no woman make you happy, Mr. Harding?' asked Lilian, and she fixed her round, prominent eyes upon him.
'The woman who gives most happiness gives most pain. The man who leaves an adoring mistress at midnight suffers most. A few minutes of distracted happiness as he drives home. He falls asleep thanking God that he will see her at midday. But he awakes dreading a letter putting him off. He listens for the footstep of a messenger boy.'
'If she doesn't disappoint him?'
'She will disappoint him sooner or later.'
'I have never disappointed you,' said Lilian, still looking at
Harding.
'But you have not been to see me.'
'No; I've not been to see you,' she replied, and played distractedly with some dried fruit on her plate.
'These are confessions,' said Lady Castlerich, laughing.