"Not about men."
"Do you prefer her to remain a dupe?"
"Is anybody happy unless life dupes them?"
"By 'life' you mean 'men.' You have the seraglio point of view. You probably prefer your women screened and veiled."
"We are all born veiled. God knows why we ever tear the film."
"Mr. Quarren—are you becoming misanthropic?" she exclaimed, laughing. But under his marred eyes of a boy she saw shadows, and the pale induration already stamped on the flesh over the cheek-bones.
"What have you been doing with yourself all these weeks?" she asked, curiously.
"Working at my trade."
"You seem thinner."
"Fewer crumbs have fallen from the banquet, perhaps. I keep Lent when I must."