"Yes. It's got to stop."
Her voice and manner had quite changed. She spoke now with earnest and very serious decision.
"What?"
"The work, Claude. I've seen for some time that unless you take a short holiday you are going to break down."
"Well, but you have always encouraged me to work!"
She noticed a faint suspicion in his expression and voice.
"I know. I've been too eager, too keen on the opera. I haven't realized what a strain you are going through. But—it's just like a woman, I'm afraid!—now I see another urging you on, I see plainly. It may be jealousy—"
"You jealous of old Jernington!"
"I believe I am a tiny bit. But, apart really from that, you are looking dreadful these last few days. When you asked Jernington to prolong his visit I was horrified. You see, he's come to it all fresh. And then he's not creating. That's the tiring work. It's all very well helping and criticising."
"That's very true," Claude said.