[Indifferently.] No, no, I only meant did I promise to show you—?
MAIA. —all the glory of the world? Yes, you did. And all that glory should be mine, you said.
That is sort of figure of speech that I was in the habit of using once upon a time.
Only a figure of speech?
Yes, a schoolboy phrase—the sort of thing I used to say when I wanted to lure the neighbours' children out to play with me, in the woods and on the mountains.
[Looking hard at him.] Perhaps you only wanted to lure me out to play, as well?
[Passing it off as a jest.] Well, has it not been a tolerable amusing game, Maia?
[Coldly.] I did not go with you only to play.
No, no, I daresay not.
And you never took me up with you to any high mountain, or showed me—