Martin’s face quivered above her bowed head. He had lived in Paradise before, and it had not lasted. He knew that it never did last, that sweet and dear as might be the after life, it was only for a brief period that human beings could remain in their Eden. He held her close, with a jealous touch.
“So long as we have each other, we can bear the rest. Honestly, dear, we shall have less to bear than most people, for the simple reason that we won’t let things trouble! When one has gained the big treasure, the gnats can’t sting. It’s not like you, Grizel, to be afraid!”
“I am hideously afraid, but it’s your fault. It’s loving you so much that has turned me into a coward. I’m afraid of everything where you are concerned,—draughts and drains, and accidents, and editors, and letters in blue envelopes, and perils by night and by day. Every day I bury you of a new disease. If you sneeze it’s consumption, if you cough it’s pneumonia, if you scratch your finger, it’s blood-poisoning. You looked pale this morning, so it was pernicious anaemia.” A little laugh came with the last words, and she raised her head to peer into his face. “Do you feel by any chance as if you had pernicious anaemia?”
Martin took her by the shoulders and led her to the door.
“I shall do, if you keep me waiting any longer for lunch. Go upstairs and take off your hat.”
But Grizel lingered by the door.
“Do you about me?”
“Do I what about you?”
“Think of all the gruesome things that might happen? Lie awake at night imagining them.—Get in a panic every time I am five minutes late?”
“You were over five minutes late to-day, but my pulse was normal. I merely concluded that you had met a friend and were enjoying a gossip.”