"It's difficult to shut one's mind to facts," exclaimed Mark suddenly.
"I fancy I have heard you protest that few things can be more misleading," she retorted.
He sat leaning forward in his chair, close to Carrissima's, his arms resting on his knees.
"Yes, that's all right," he said. "But I have sometimes to advise patients to submit to operations, thinking how I should hate the ordeal on my own account. I quite understand that the only way is often to shut one's eyes. Life seems to include a good many things which simply won't bear thinking about. One realizes the fact, yet goes on thinking of them just the same."
"Well," murmured Carrissima, "you should try—you should try to mend your ways in the future."
"Do you think you could do it?" he asked.
"What?" asked Carrissima.
"Shut your eyes!"
"Mark!" she cried, after a pause.
"Well?" he said.