"You quote wrong, Captain. It is a fool and money; a woman is not always a fool."
Longville reserved his opinion as to this but assumed his grinning, playful manner which reminded one of the antics of a wild cat.
"Ah, Mam'selle, you must buy a husband. He will manage you and your good money."
A deep flush rose to Jo's dark face; her scowling brows hid her suffering eyes.
"You think I must buy what I could not win, Captain?" she asked quietly. "God help me from falling to such folly."
The two talked a little longer, but the real meaning and purpose that had held them together during the past years was gone. They both realized this fully, for the first time, as they tried now to make talk.
They spoke of the future only to find that they had no common future. Jo retreated as Longville advanced.
They clutched at the fast receding past with the realization that it was a dead thing and eluded them already.
The present was all that was left and that was heavy with new emotions. Longville presently became aware of a desire to hurt Jo Morey, since he could no longer control her; and Jo eyed the Captain as a suddenly released animal eyes its late torturer: free, but haunted by memories that still fetter its movements. She wanted to get rid of the disturbing presence.
"Yes, Mam'selle, since you put it that way," Longville shifted from one foot to the other as he harked back to the words that he saw hurt, "you must buy a husband."