To him this enchanted island had risen out of the sea, and floated, dew-drenched, in the pure light of the dawn. He saw no reason why he should bid so beautiful a thing sink back again and be lost under the waters. He had no desecrating impulses. Why should not two people look together at life with eyes that smiled and understood? They were harming no one, and they were transfiguring each other.
Canterton and his wife were dining alone, and for once he deliberately chose to talk to her of his work, and of his future plans. Gertrude would listen perfunctorily, but he was determined that she should listen. The intimate part of his life did not concern her, simply because she was no longer either in his personality or in his work. So little sympathy was there between them that they had never succeeded in rising to a serious quarrel.
“I am taking Miss Carfax into the business. I thought you might like to know.”
So dead was her personal pride in all that was male in him, that she did not remember to be jealous.
“That ought to be a great opportunity for the girl.”
“I shall benefit as much as she will. She has a very remarkable gift, just something I felt the need of and could not find.”
“Then she is quite a discovery?”
Canterton watched his wife’s face and saw no clouding of its complacency.
“She will be a very great help in many ways.”
“I see. You will make her a kind of fashion-plate artist to produce new designs.”