It was not my fault. So far as our affections are
concerned, we are machines, all of us. Well, my mainspring has
broken."
"I don't believe it," she declared.
"It is, nevertheless, true," he affirmed calmly. "I am living in exile
because I have no friends, because friends have become an
impossibility to me. I shall not tell you any more of my life because
you are young and you would not believe me if I did. Some day," he
added grimly, "you will probably hear for yourself."
"I shall never believe anything," she declared, "which I do not choose
to believe. I shall never believe, for instance, that you are quite
what you think yourself."
"We will talk of other things," he said. "Five years ago, you showed
Aynesworth where the seagulls built."
"And now I will show you," she exclaimed, "if you are sure that your
head is steady enough. Come along!" . . .
It was after dinner that she took him into the picture gallery. Miss
Harrison, very much disturbed by the presence of the master of
Tredowen, and still more so by the hint which she had already received
as to coming changes, followed them at a little distance.
"I am so sorry," Juliet said, "that we have no cigars or cigarettes."
"I seldom smoke," Wingrave answered.
"If only we had had the slightest idea of your coming," Miss Harrison
said for the tenth time, "we would have made more adequate
preparations. The wine cellar, at least, could have been opened.
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