“You mean civilization?” she hazarded.
“Yes. And yet I've come back to it.”
Of course she did not ask him why. Their talk was like the starting of a heavy train—a series of jerks; and yet both were aware of an irresistible forward traction. She had not recovered from her surprise in finding herself already so far in his confidence.
“And the time will come, I suppose, when you'll long to get away again.”
“No,” he said, “I've come back to stay. It's taken me a long while to learn it, but there's only one place for a man, and that's his own country.”
Her eyes lighted.
“There's always so much for a man to do.”
“What would you do?” he asked curiously.
She considered this.
“If you had asked me that question two years ago—even a year ago—I should have given you a different answer. It's taken me some time to learn it, too, you see, and I'm not a man. I once thought I should have liked to have been a king amongst money changers, and own railroad and steamship lines, and dominate men by sheer power.”