"That is useless, I fear," he said abruptly, his own wishes revolting against sacrificing his companionship with Claire or against sharing it with Lawrence.
"He was unhesitating in his care for me those days we wandered," she remarked simply.
"Pardon me again. I forgot for the time that you owed him anything."
"He doesn't consider that I owe him anything. It's simply that I want him to be as happy as possible shut up here with us away from his own kind of life."
"Oh!" Philip looked at her thoughtfully. "Do you think he could be happier with other people?"
"I'm afraid so," she answered, a little regretfully.
Philip's eyes searched her face. "I should think you could satisfy any one's need for companionship," he said, quietly.
"Don't flatter, Philip. That was a very silly speech."
"Was it? It was not flattery at any rate. It is my feeling about you."
"Please," she said, stopping, "let's not go into that again."