He tried to recover his dignity in saying, “He's 'a very good fellow, and he deserves his happiness.”
“Oh, indeed!” said Alma, perversely. “Does any one deserve happiness?”
“I know I don't,” sighed Beaton.
“You mean you don't get it.”
“I certainly don't get it.”
“Ah, but that isn't the reason.”
“What is?”
“That's the secret of the universe,” She bit in her lower lip, and looked at him with eyes, of gleaming fun.
“Are you never serious?” he asked.
“With serious people always.”