Page:Encounters (Bowen).djvu/115

 She turned to look at him, pink, self-confident, idiotically pretty.

"But of course. That's what I've been feeling. While I was here Men are so conservative! But this is no sort of life for you really, Herbert; you want a wife, a pretty, cheery wife. And children"

"Children!"

"Oh, don't shout, Herbert. Yes, you don't want the family to die out, do you, after you've made such a name for it, done such fine big things?"

He felt that two springs were broken in the sofa, and pressed the cushions carefully with his hand to discover the extent of further damage.

"Damn it all," he said querulously, "I can't get used to another woman at my time of life!"

"Herbert, you've got no imagination." Her tone was amused, dispassionate. She was suddenly superior, radiant and aloof; his no longer, another man's possession.

Her speech chimed in with his thoughts.

"Every man's got to have one woman!"

Taking one of the candles, she turned and left the room.