“No.”
“Absolutely ignorant of your world.”
“Yes.”
“You are ten years older than she is.”
“Yes.”
“Well—well—well—”
“Well, Bertrand, we can’t argue about these things. There it is, and I can’t account for it. I want Hilary, and I don’t want the ‘clever, charming woman.’ She satisfies me, and—”
“Have you spoken to her?”
“Certainly not! I don’t know that I should have ever summoned up courage to speak to you, if you had not taken me by surprise. It would be different if I were now as I was ten years ago, but I feared you might think my health an insuperable objection.”
“No—no! I can’t say that—if you have really set your heart on it. How long has this been going on?”