"If—in the—the——"
"Course of human events——"
"Jack and I have children," continued Silvette, flushing, "we'll also have nurses to look out for the grubby little things."
"Grubby! You don't know what you're saying. You'll be the most adoring—and adorable mother——"
"Well, please don't talk about it.... I don't care for children now.... I don't know how I'll feel later."
Diana stood in the middle of the room—the smile fading from her face, her small hands clenching.
"I've learned to like children," she said. "I've learned to love them, somehow—even babies.... I want one of my own," she added fiercely. "I wish for one very much; and if I can't have one—and it's impossible, of course—I—I'll marry some man and have one!"
"Good heavens!" exclaimed Silvette, horrified, "what are you talking about? I'll let you have one of mine!"
"I don't want yours! How do you know you'll have any? How do you know you'll have more than one?"
Her eyebrows were bent inward, her lips compressed; she turned her head and stared out at the stars—from where, they say, all babies come, and where they all return at last.