That hurt him. I could feel him stiffen under it.

“You see, Donald,” I persisted, “I like thinking about her.”

It was cruel of me; but I had to break him.

“You can think as much as you like,” he said, “provided you stop talking.”

“All the same, it’s as bad for you,” I said, “as it is for me, not talking.”

“I don’t care if it is bad for me. I can’t talk about her, Helen. I don’t want to.”

“How do you know,” I said, “it isn’t bad for her?”

“For her?”

I could see I had roused him.

“Yes. If she really is there, all the time.”