After another brief silence Shotwell ventured: “I suppose you’d find it agreeable to meet Palla Dumont again, wouldn’t you?”
“Why, yes, of course,” replied the other pleasantly.
“Then, if you like, she’ll ask us to tea some day––after her new house is in shape.”
“You seem to be very sure about what Palla Dumont is likely to do,” said Estridge, smiling.
“Indeed, I’m not!” retorted Shotwell, with emphasis. “Palla Dumont has a mind of her own,––although you don’t seem to think so,–––”
“I think she has a will of her own,” interrupted the other, amused.
“Glad you concede her some mental attribute.”
“I do indeed! I never intimated that she is weak-willed. She isn’t. Other and stronger wills don’t dominate hers. Perhaps it would be better if they did sometimes....
“But no; Palla Dumont arrives headlong at her own red-hot decisions. It is not the will of others that influences her; it is their indecision, their lack of willpower, their very weakness that seems to stimulate and vitally influence such a character as Palla Dumont’s––”
“––Such a character?” repeated Shotwell. “What sort of character do you suppose hers to be, anyway? 77 Between you and your psychological and pathological surmises you don’t seem to leave her any character at all.”