After these wistful, stark, and barren years--loveless, weary, naked, and unkind----" Suddenly she covered her face with her hands, bowing her head to her knees.
"Yet you bid me hope, Lois ?" I asked under my breath.
She nodded.
"You make me happy beyond words," I whispered.
She looked up from her hands: "Is that all you required to make you happy ?" "Can I ask more ?" "I--I thought men were more ruthless--more imperious and hotly impatient with the mistress of their hearts--if truly I am mistress of yours, as you tell me." "I am impatient only for your happiness; ruthless only to secure it." "For my happiness?
Not for your own ?" "How can that come to me save when yours comes to you ?" "Oh!...

I did not understand.

I had not thought it mattered very greatly to men, so that they found their happiness--so that they found contentment in their sweethearts' yielding....

Then my surrender would mean nothing to you unless I yielded happily ?" "Nothing.

Good God! In what school have you learned of love!" She nodded thoughtfully, looking me in the eyes.
"What you tell me, Euan, is pleasant to think on.