She leaned over and looked down at the two setters lying at her feet.
“Do you care less for the dogs of the house as they grow older?”
“I think more of them and take better care of them now that their hunting days are over.”
“The friend of your youth—the friend of your middle age—the children—your profession—the world of human life—this house—the dogs of the house—you care more for them all as time passes?”
“I care more for them all as time passes.”
Then there came a great stillness in the room—the stillness of all listening years.
“Am I the only thing that you care less for as time passes?”
There was no reply.
“Am I in the way?”
There was no reply.