Page:Heartbreak House, Great Catherine, and Playlets of the War.djvu/144

84 You. These fellows live in an office all day. You will have to put up with him from dinner to breakfast; but you will both be asleep most of that time. All day you will be quit of him; and you will be shopping with his money. If that is too much for you, marry a seafaring man: you will be bothered with him only three weeks in the year, perhaps.

That would be best of all, I suppose.

It's a dangerous thing to be married right up to the hilt, like my daughter's husband. The man is at home all day, like a damned soul in hell.

I never thought of that before.

If you're marrying for business, you can't be too businesslike.

Why do women always want other women's husbands?

Why do horse-thieves prefer a horse that is broken-in to one that is wild?

[with a short laugh]. I suppose so. What a vile world it is!

It doesn't concern me. I'm nearly out of it.

And I'm only just beginning.

Yes; so look ahead.

Well, I think I am being very prudent.

I didn't say prudent. I said look ahead.

What's the difference?

It's prudent to gain the whole world and lose your own soul. But don't forget that your soul sticks to you if you stick to it; but the world has a way of slipping through your fingers.

[wearily, leaving him and beginning to wander restlessly about the room]. I'm sorry, Captain