Armitage's expression of mild cynicism yielded to one of concerned attentiveness. But he was concerned with the bearing on Sophie of what she had to say, and not at all with its relation to conditions of existence.
"After all, life only goes on by its interests," she went on musingly; "and Mrs. Youille-Bailey's not altogether to blame for what she is. When people are bored, they've got to get interest or die; and if faculties which ought to be spent in useful or creative work aren't spent in that work, they find outlet in the silly energies a selfish and artificial life breeds...."
"I admit," Armitage said, trying to veer her thoughts from the abstract to the personal issue, "that you went the pace. I couldn't keep up with it—not with Adler and his mob! But there's no need to go back to that sort of life. We could live as quietly as you like."
Sophie shook her head. "I want to live here," she said. "I want to work with my hands ... feel myself in the swim of the world's life ... going with the great stream; and I want to help Michael here."
Armitage sat back against the window-sill regarding her steadily.
"If I could help you to do a great deal for the Ridge," he said; "if I were to settle here and spend all the money I've got in developing this place.—There's nothing innately immoral about a water-supply or electric power, I suppose, or in giving people decent houses to live in. And it would mean that for Fallen Star, if the scheme I have in mind is put into action. And if it is ... and I build a house here and were to live here most of my time ... would you marry me then, Sophie?"
Sophie gazed at him, her eyes widening to a scarcely believable vision.
"Do you mean you'd give up all your money to do that for the Ridge?" she asked.
"Not quite that," he replied. "But the scheme would work out like that. I mean, it would provide more comfort and convenience for everybody on the Ridge—a more assured means of livelihood."
"You don't mean to buy up the mines?"