It doesn't make much difference to you.' 'Is that the kindest thing you have to say to me after my long absence ?' 'I don't know why you should expect me to say kind things.' Captain Wybrow was silent.

He wished very much to avoid allusions to the past or comments on the present.

And yet he wished to be well with Caterina.

He would have liked to caress her, make her presents, and have her think him very kind to her.

But these women are plaguy perverse! There's no bringing them to look rationally at anything.