“You were wondering.... You were wondering at what? What are you looking at?”
Deane took her eyes from him.
“Please go on, Roberts.”
He hesitated.
“I was saying—I was saying that you have a remarkable influence over Martin. Doubtless he has told you of our early misunderstanding—a misunderstanding based on the assumption that I was instrumental in having him fired. As an intelligent woman you are probably aware of the fact that he lost his position because he neglected his work. He is not incompetent, but his social program affected his efficiency.”
Deane spoke without looking at him.
“Do you mean that I caused Martin to lose his position?” Her lack of resentment, her cold, unemotional question disconcerted the adviser momentarily.
“Indeed not,” he answered. “Please believe that I have valued and approved his friendships for certain people. Martin tends toward introspection and celibacy. It is most important that he cultivate the social quality. That is why I was so astonished that he should, of a sudden, become so interested in what constitutes society.”
“I do not constitute society, Roberts. I love him.”
Roberts lifted his eyebrows.