"Do you suppose my feelings are a trumpery set of social observances, to be harrowed to order and exhibited at funerals?
She has gone as we three shall go soon enough.

If we were immortal, we might reasonably pity the dead.

As we are not, we had better save our energies to minimize the harm we are likely to do before we follow her." The doctor was deeply offended by this speech, for the statement that he should one day die seemed to him a reflection upon his professional mastery over death.

Mrs.Jansenius was glad to see Trefusis confirming her bad opinion and report of him by his conduct and language in the doctor's presence.

There was a brief pause, and then Trefusis, too far out of sympathy with them to be able to lead the conversation into a kinder vein, left the room.