Has your coming abroad succeeded, for yourself, as well as you hoped ?" "I think I may say that it has turned out as well as I expected." "Are you happy ?" "Don't I look so ?" "So it seems to me.

But"-- and she hesitated a moment--"I imagine you look happy whether you are so or not." "I 'm like that ancient comic mask that we saw just now in yonder excavated fresco: I am made to grin." "Shall you come back here next winter ?" "Very probably." "Are you settled here forever ?" "'Forever' is a long time.

I live only from year to year." "Shall you never marry ?" Rowland gave a laugh.

"'Forever'-- 'never!' You handle large ideas.

I have not taken a vow of celibacy." "Would n't you like to marry ?" "I should like it immensely." To this she made no rejoinder: but presently she asked, "Why don't you write a book ?" Rowland laughed, this time more freely.