There was silence, then he added,—
"One good one, though, fairly early in life, is useful, like vaccination. You are not so likely to fall in love again after it; just as, after vaccination, you are not so likely to have smallpox. For myself, I should prefer smallpox to being in love."
I merely laughed, without replying. In my present state I was not sure that he was far wrong.
"I say," Dick remarked, after a pause; "you are looking most awfully seedy. Hadn't you better turn in and try and get some sleep? One always thinks one can't, but one generally does."
"Yes; I think I had better," I said, getting up. I turned one lamp out and the other down.
"It's odd—I wonder what the ultimate, future event will be"—
"'Quid sit futurum eras, fuge quaerere,'" answered Dick, with a laugh, as he turned and settled himself on the couch.
"There are a couple of rugs," I said, depositing them on his feet. "Draw them up if you're cold."
"All right. Thanks! Good-night!"
"Good night!"