But have you ever seen such a taste--a really exquisite one--ruffled ?" "I hope it may never be my fortune to fail to gratify my husband's." At these words a sudden passion leaped to Ralph's lips.

"Ah, that's wilful, that's unworthy of you! You were not meant to be measured in that way--you were meant for something better than to keep guard over the sensibilities of a sterile dilettante!" Isabel rose quickly and he did the same, so that they stood for a moment looking at each other as if he had flung down a defiance or an insult.
But "You go too far," she simply breathed.
"I've said what I had on my mind--and I've said it because I love you!" Isabel turned pale: was he too on that tiresome list?
She had a sudden wish to strike him off.

"Ah then, you're not disinterested!" "I love you, but I love without hope," said Ralph quickly, forcing a smile and feeling that in that last declaration he had expressed more than he intended.
Isabel moved away and stood looking into the sunny stillness of the garden; but after a little she turned back to him.

"I'm afraid your talk then is the wildness of despair! I don't understand it--but it doesn't matter.

I'm not arguing with you; it's impossible I should; I've only tried to listen to you.