"Such a united family," remarked Athalie, amused by the mutual demonstrations.
"How is Henry?" he asked.
"Fatter and slower than ever, dear. He suits my unenterprising disposition to perfection. Now and then he condescends to be harnessed and to carry me about the landscape. But mostly he drags the cruel burden of Connor's lawn-mower. Do you think the place looks well kept?"
"I knew you wanted to be flattered," he laughed.
"I do. Flatter me please."
"It's one of the best things I do, Athalie! For example—the lawn, the cat, and the girl are all beautifully groomed; the credit is yours; and you're a celestial dream too exquisite to be real."
"I am becoming real—as real as you are," she said with a faint smile.
"Yes," he admitted, "you and I are the only real things in the world after all. The rest—woven scenes that come and go moving across a loom."
She quoted: