Seeing that Lightbody had only half listened, De Gollyer spoke with some hesitation:
"Of course it's devilish impudent. I'll offend you dreadfully. But, I say, now as a matter of fact, were you really so—so seraphically happy?"
"What's that?"
"As a matter of fact," said De Gollyer changing his note instantly, "you were happy, terrifically happy, always happy, weren't you?"
Lightbody was indignant.
"Oh, how can you, at such a moment?"
The new emotion gave him back his physical elasticity. He began to pace up and down, declaiming at his friend, "I was happy, ideally happy. I never had a thought, not one, for anything else. I gave her everything. I did everything she wanted. There never was a word between us. It was ideal"
De Gollyer, somewhat shamefaced, avoiding his angry glance, said hastily:
"So, so, I was quite wrong. I beg your pardon."
"Ideally happy," continued Lightbody, more insistently. "We had the same thoughts, the same tastes, we read the same books. She had a mind, a wonderful mind. It was an ideal union."