They left him happy over the unusual break in his monotony, and continued their walk to the hotel.
"Here is the other side to the picture," Huntington remarked. "This old man and his wife, and hundreds of others no doubt, live their lives out here happy and contented with their nineteen square miles of world, yet you and I are pitying Hamlen because of his self-exile under circumstances infinitely more acceptable!"
"It is a question of what one has within, isn't it?" Merry asked, "that something which keeps one from being satisfied with anything less than the most and the best that life can give him and he can give to life."
Huntington looked at her with undisguised admiration. "You couldn't have stated it better if you had taken all the college courses in the world," he said. "You're a wonderful little girl, Miss Merry, and if you don't let your heart play pranks with that well-balanced head of yours you will certainly achieve your great ambition."
They were near the hotel now, and the conversation had strayed so far from the original subject that the girl did not follow him.
"My great ambition?" she asked. "And that is—"
"I won't tell you until we're up the steps."
"Well?" she demanded archly, as at length they stood on the piazza.
"You will marry a man who will let you contribute your share to the real life which you will jointly live."
The laughing response which he had looked for was not spoken, but to his amazement Merry turned from him without a word and disappeared within the hallway.