“I am three years older,” she said, with a little smile.
“Yes, but there are some people to whom the years make very little difference. I think you are one of them.”
“Yet I feel different.”
“How?” looking at her keenly.
“It wouldn’t be easy to describe. It is just different, that’s all,” and she gazed a little wistfully toward the mountains.
“I expect you are getting too thoughtful,” he said.
“You ought to go away somewhere, and see something of the world outside these mountains.”
“I am very fond of the mountains,” she told him simply. “I don’t want to go away. I do not think any place could be as lovely as this.”
“That is where you are wrong. I acknowledge the scenery among these mountains is very beautiful, but there are heaps of equally and indeed more beautiful places in the world.
“The only thing is one gets tired,” relapsing into a languid manner, that Eileen could not but see had gained upon him during his absence. “I’d give something not to have seen, nor heard, nor learned, more than you have. To have it all before me, instead of all behind.”