“Your experiences have been fortunate—and brief.”
He looked vaguely round the room as if he looked for somebody to take her away.
Boo, who had been examining the library, came up to him with a little agate Cupid, a paper weight; the Cupid had gold wings and quiver, and was a delicate work of art. “It’s pretty,” she said; “will you let me have it?”
“Pray keep it,” said Vanderlin. Her mother scolded her and protested, she was indeed considerably annoyed at the child’s effrontery; but Boo kept tight hold on the Cupid.
“Gentleman don’t want it,” she said. “He’s too old for toys.”
He laughed. He had not laughed for a long time.
“Have you any children?” asked Boo.
“No, my dear.”
“Why haven’t you?”
“They are treasures not accorded to all.”