"Are you afraid of my loyalty?" she demanded. "Do you think I go to Oaktown to be made love to?" "Sylvia!" he protested. "I go there because I'm bored, bored, endlessly, hopelessly, paralyzingly bored. It's my own fault. I never ought to have married you. I can't think why I did, but at least it wasn't for any mercenary reason. You're not to believe that. Philip, I do like you, but why will you always upset me?" He thought for a moment and asked her presently what greater freedom she wanted, what kind of freedom. "That's it," she went on. "I told you I couldn't find any one big rope that bound me. There isn't a single thread I can't snap with perfect ease, but it's the multitude of insignificant little threads that almost choke me." "You told me you thought you would like to live in the country," he reminded her. "I do, but, Philip, do remember that I really am still a child. I've got a deep voice and I can talk like a professor, but I'm still a hopeless kid. I oughtn't to have to tell you this. You ought to see it for yourself if you love me." "Dearest Sylvia, I'm always telling you how young you are, and there's nothing that annoys you more," he said. "Oh, Philip, Philip, you really are pathetic! When did you ever meet a young person who liked to have her youth called attention to? You're so remote from beginning to understand how to manage me, and I'm still manageable. Very soon I sha'n't be, though; and there'll be such a dismal smash-up." "If you'd only explain exactly," he began; but she interrupted him at once. "My dear man, if I explain and you take notes and consult them for your future behavior to me, do you think that's going to please me? It can all be said in two words. I'm human. For the love of God be human yourself." "Look here, let's go away for a spell," said Philip, brightly. "The cat's miaowing. Let's open the door. No, seriously, I think I should like to go away from here for a while." "By yourself?" he asked, in a frightened voice. "Oh no, not by myself. I'm perfectly content with you. Only don't suggest the Italian lakes and try to revive the early sweets of our eight months of married life. Don't let's have a sentimental rebuilding. It will be so much more practical to build up something quite new."