Mrs. Wallace began talking the old nonsense which, in days past, had delighted James; it enchanted him to hear her say, in the tone of voice he knew so well, just those things which he had a thousand times repeated to himself. He looked at her with a happy smile, his eyes fixed upon her, taking in every movement.
"I don't believe you're listening to a word I'm saying!" she cried at last. "Why don't you answer?"
"Go on. I like to see you talk. It's long since I've had the chance."
"You spoke yesterday as though you hadn't missed me much."
"I didn't mean it. You knew I didn't mean it."
She smiled mockingly.
"I thought it doubtful. If it had been true, you could hardly have said anything so impolite."
"I've thought of you always. That's why I feel I know you so much better now. I don't change. What I felt once, I feel always."
"I wonder what you mean by that?"
"I mean that I love you as passionately as when last I saw you. Oh, I love you ten times more!"