"Pardon me again. I forgot for the time that you owed him anything."
"He doesn't consider that I owe him anything. It's simply that I want him to be as happy as possible shut up here with us away from his own kind of life."
"Oh!" Philip looked at her thoughtfully. "Do you think he could be happier with other people?"
"I'm afraid so," she answered, a little regretfully.
Philip's eyes searched her face. "I should think you could satisfy any one's need for companionship," he said, quietly.
"Don't flatter, Philip. That was a very silly speech."
"Was it? It was not flattery at any rate. It is my feeling about you."
"Please," she said, stopping, "let's not go into that again."
"Very well, but why cannot my lady extend her charity? There are other unfortunates besides Lawrence who have troubles to face."
"Oh, Philip, you really haven't any troubles. You merely imagine you have."
He laughed, a little bitterly. "I suppose a life's happiness is a small thing."
"It isn't, Philip," she protested. "But you can get out and tramp and trap and see things, and, after all, you don't really love me as you thought you did. We've settled all that."
"I know we have," he agreed. "That is, you have."
She looked him over, angrily. "So this is the outcome! I ask you to think of another person who needs our care, and you disregard him for your own little troubles!"
Philip looked down and flushed crimson. "Well, it does seem as if I were selfish. I am afraid I am. But I do not mean to be. I can talk to him if you wish."
"You needn't," she said, angered still more. "It isn't charity I'm asking you to bestow on him. He doesn't need that, and you ought to know it."
She had laid more emphasis than she intended on the word "he," and Philip's face darkened.
"I see," he said coldly. "It is I after all to whom you are charitable. Thank you."
Tears of vexation came to Claire's eyes. "Oh, I do wish you'd be reasonable," she said, half angrily, half pleadingly. "Don't you understand that I am giving you more frank friendship than ever I gave any man in my life? Isn't that of any value to you? Don't you realize how unfair you have been to Lawrence?"
His face grew suddenly white, as he said, "Do you love him, Claire?"
She did not look away from him. "If I did, would it concern you?"