“Well, I don’t!” he flung at her. “She’d get on any one’s nerves.” “Oh well, she won’t bother you any more. She’s going abroad. Touring.” He shrugged his shoulders. “My dear girl! it’s her own doing. We’ve offered her a home and income. She need never see a theatre again.” Laura looked at him in a sort of despair. “What’s the use of saying that? Do you know what you’re saying? ‘Oh, Sunflower, I’ve such a nice cellar for you! If you’ll come and live in it, you never need see the sun!’” “You’re talking absolute nonsense,” said Justin austerely. “I’m not. It’s you. You can no more put yourself in another person’s place——You can no more imagine how Coral feels——” He looked at her, on that, with something of the despair with which she had looked at him. “Look here, old girl,” he began, with heavy patience, “you mayn’t believe me, but honestly, if I’d had any idea you were so keen on Coral——” “Coral? Coral? What do I care for Coral?” she asked him fiercely. “But if you’re not upset about Coral,” demanded the logical sex, “what’s all the row about? What’s the matter with you?” She turned away from him because she felt her lips were trembling. “I don’t know,” she said weakly. “I don’t know.” And then—“I know I’m very unhappy.” She trailed away to the window, without a glance, without, I give you my word, a glance at the new cabinet, though it half blocked her way. He did not know whether he should laugh or be bored by her inexplicability. He was not in the habit of translating his sensations into thoughts, but what he really wanted was that she should stop talking and be smiling and interested in his interests, and be quick about it, so that he might legitimately dispense with his quite definite discomfort. Yet if, at that moment, she could have broken down completely, letting her trouble and her anxious love for him show itself in a storm of tears, I believe that she might have won him. He would have recognized tears: he would have understood tears: he would have done anything to comfort tears. Can’t you foresee his horrified distress? She might have said all her say and he would have listened. It was her chance, hers for the taking!