TREBELL. Is that difficult? AMY O'CONNELL. To get what I want, without paying more than it's worth to me . . ? TREBELL. Never to be reckless. AMY O'CONNELL. [_With a side-glance._] One isn't so often tempted. TREBELL. In fact . . to flirt with life generally. Now, what made your husband marry you? AMY O'CONNELL. [_Dealing with the impertinence in her own fashion._] What would make you marry me? Don't say: Nothing on earth. TREBELL. [_Speaking apparently of someone else._] A prolonged fit of idleness might make me marry . . a clever woman. But I've never been idle for more than a week. And I've never met a clever woman . . worth calling a woman. AMY O'CONNELL. [_Bringing their talk back to herself, and fastidiously._] Justin has all the natural instincts. TREBELL. He's Roman Catholic, isn't he? AMY O'CONNELL. So am I . . by profession. TREBELL. It's a poor religion unless you really believe in it. AMY O'CONNELL. [_Appealing to him._] If I were to live at Linaskea and have as many children as God sent, I should manage to make Justin pretty miserable! And what would be left of me at all I should like to know? TREBELL. So Justin lives at Linaskea alone? AMY O'CONNELL. I'm told now there's a pretty housemaid . . [_she shrugs._] TREBELL. Does he drink too? AMY O'CONNELL. Oh, no. You'd like Justin, I daresay. He's clever. The thirteenth century's what he knows about. He has done a book on its statutes . . has been doing another. TREBELL. And after an evening's hard work I find you here ready to flirt with. AMY O'CONNELL. What have you been working at? TREBELL. A twentieth century statute perhaps. That's not any concern of yours either. _She does not follow his thought._ AMY O'CONNELL. No, I prefer you in your unprofessional moments. TREBELL. Real flattery. I didn't know I had any. AMY O'CONNELL. That's why you should flirt with me . . Henry . . to cultivate them. I'm afraid you lack imagination. TREBELL. One must choose something to lack in this life. AMY O'CONNELL. Not develop your nature to its utmost capacity. TREBELL. And then? AMY O'CONNELL. Well, if that's not an end in itself . . [_With a touch of romantic piety._] I suppose there's the hereafter. TREBELL. [_Grimly material._] What, more developing! I watch people wasting time on themselves with amazement . . I refuse to look forward to wasting eternity. AMY O'CONNELL. [_Shaking her head._] You are very self-satisfied. TREBELL. Not more so than any machine that runs smoothly. And I hope not self-conscious. AMY O'CONNELL. [_Rather attractively treating him as a child._] It would do you good to fall really desperately in love with me . . to give me the power to make you unhappy. _He suddenly becomes very definite._ TREBELL. At twenty-three I engaged myself to be married to a charming and virtuous fool. I broke it off. AMY O'CONNELL. Did she mind much?