Page:Twilight of the Souls (1917).djvu/219

Rh "No. I am. I've grown older, haven't I, Gerrit?"

"Your eyes haven't."

"But the rest of me?"

"Yes, of course. . . . You have grown older. . . ."

"Gerrit, I don't want to get old. . . . I think it terrible to get old. . . . Am I still pretty and . . . ?"

"Yes, yes, yes. . . ."

"But, very soon, I shall . . ."

"You'll what?"

"I shall be plain . . . and old."

"Oh, don't sit there bothering!"

"I'm very fond of you, Gerrit. You're so . . ."

"Yes, I know what you're going to say. I'm off now. . . ."

"Must you go? . . . I say, Gerrit, you have children, haven't you? I expect they're charming children."

He seemed to see mockery in the gleaming eyes.

"You drop it about my children, will you?"

"Mayn't I ask after them?"

"No."

"I saw them out walking the other day."

"Shut up!"

"I thought them so charming."

He swore at her, roughly and hoarsely: