Irene came and sat on the floor beside him.
"It's true. I regret it less than you think. It will be good for you to work, too.... You see you must do something useful. There cannot be two Europes, one living cleanly and well, and the other sleeping amongst lice and eating bark."
"I seem to have married a copy of the 'Civil Progress.'"
"Be generous. Don't wait until events prove to us that people must love each other. That sort of lesson costs too much."
In the dusk she scanned Lewis' energetic features which had begun to fill out and to lose their character since he had given up working.
"I have been telling myself that you, too, probably wanted to get your firm back into your own hands, but didn't like to suggest it because of me."
Lewis hastened to be insincere.
"Not at all. I was quite determined never to touch business again. Is there anything you have not lulled to sleep in me?"
"I am anxious about you. What happens nowadays to those passions, those risks, all those forceful lines that once crossed your life? Are they all sleeping, to be stirred up one day against me?"
"Don't be frightened. I soon forget."