He answered Carmina as if there had been no interruption.
"My medical studies," he said, "reconcile me to my life." "Suppose you got tired of your studies ?" she asked.
"I should never get tired of them." "Suppose you couldn't study any more ?" "In that case I shouldn't live any more." "Do you mean that it would kill you to leave off ?" "No." "Then what do you mean ?" He laid his great soft fingers on her pulse.

She shrank from his touch; he deliberately held her by the arm.

"You're getting excited," he said.
"Never mind what I mean." Zo, left unnoticed and not liking it, saw a chance of asserting herself.
"I know why Carmina's excited," she said.

"The old woman's coming at six o'clock." He paid no attention to the child; he persisted in keeping watch on Carmina.

"Who is the woman ?" he asked.
"The most lovable woman in the world," she cried; "my dear old nurse!" She started up from the sofa, and pointed with theatrical exaggeration of gesture to the clock on the mantelpiece.