“Oh, that’s just like an old person,” said Elaine. “The cooling-off process is hideous to me! I don’t want any left-overs!”
“Well, what are you going to do about it?” he asked.
“It doesn’t help to be cynical!”
“What does your own heart tell you?”
“My heart tells me that love dies,” murmured Elaine unexpectedly. She was staring into the fire. “I was hoping for some reassurance.”
“I hope it does,” said Wilfred flippantly. He observed that his teeth were clenched together.
She ignored this. “Even though love is transitory, should we not stake everything on it, anyway?” she murmured.
“Everybody must decide that for themselves,” he said composedly, feeling like a little waxy-faced oracle.
“But what do you think?” she insisted.
“It’s too complicated!” he said with a burst of irritation. “I could not possibly give an answer to cover the whole question.”