'Ah!' she said, drawing a long breath and growing grave all at once, 'I wish one might! It would have been a comfort.'
'Well,' said he, 'I think I can resolve that question.'
'Duke, what are you talking of? You have got out of philosophy into metaphysics,' said Prim.
'She is the philosopher of the family,' said Rollo, by way of explanation to Hazel. 'But she has made a mistake. As she confesses she does make them, I may remark that.'
'Why, you are talking of perceiving what does not exist!' cried Prim.
'Is that what you call metaphysics? I should call it nonsense.'
'I never supposed you were talking nonsense, Duke.'
'No,' said Duke. 'That would be a mistake. No, I was speaking, Prim, of the detection, by no visible or intelligible means, of what we are not aware has existence.'
'By no intelligible means,' said Prim. 'You mean, knowing a person is coming, that you have not heard is coming—and such things?'
'And knowing a person is near, who you had thought was very far off.'