'There are bonds stronger than cart ropes which may drag a man by force from the path he has marked out for himself. Surely you must understand?'
'Really, Mr Maule.'
'Why will you be so formal!' he interrupted impetuously. 'It is absurd. Women nowadays always call men they know well by a PETIT NOM.'
'Do I know you well! I often think I never knew you at all.'
'That is what Lady Tallant used to say to me, latterly, about you and myself—that we never really knew each other.'
'Oh, poor Rosamond! It makes me miserable to think of her. You became friends, then—latterly?'
'She was very nice to me when she came back from Leichardt's Land. And besides, she was anxious for me to come out to Luke and help him a bit.... She told me about your marriage. She knew I could settle to nothing—of course, the world in general thought it was because of that tragedy—my wife's death—and the child—you understand?'
Bridget nodded slowly.
'Lady Tallant knew the truth—that I was tormented by one ceaseless longing—after the impossible. I fancy she thought that if I could realise the impossibility, I might get over the longing.... But—Bridget, it's no use pretending—I did try to do my duty. I think I succeeded, to a certain extent, in making my wife happy—but there was always the same gnawing regret....'
'You must put all that out of your head,' she interrupted curtly.