I should like your conscience to be—to be thoroughly robust.

Indeed? Robust, eh? Is your own conscience robust, may I ask?

Yes, I think it is. I have never noticed that it wasn't.

It has not been put very severely to the test, I should think.

[With a quivering of the lips.] Oh, it was no such simple matter to leave father—I am so awfully fond of him.

Dear me! for a month or two—

I think I shall never go home again.

Never? Then why did you leave him?

[Half-seriously, half-banteringly.] Have you forgotten again that the ten year are up?

Oh nonsense. Was anything wrong at home? Eh?