"Of course," she said, "although you aren't accustomed to flattering, you've taken to doing it almost constantly."
"Well, why shouldn't I?" he asked curiously.
"Why not, if you care to?" Her reply was as gentle as if she were a submissive object of his whims.
He felt that now was the time to speak, but he could not bring himself to the point. The thought of his blindness killed all confidence.
"Hang it all," he broke out, quite as if it were a part of their previous talk, "blindness certainly does rob one of his will!"
She looked at him apprehensively. "I thought you had decided you were the master of that."
"I had, but it seems I was mistaken."
Claire laid her hand on his arm tenderly. Her eyes were dazzling.
"Lawrence, you must master that, you know."
"Why?" he said thoughtfully. "If I shouldn't, it would mean only one more human animal on the scrap heap!"