did it—it wasn't love, unless compassion is love, and pity—he seemed to need me so! And you only seemed to need your work No, no, don't speak. Let me finish before my courage fails me! A woman wants so terribly to be needed, Elliott."
Her hand lay white on the dark velvet between them. He lifted it to his lips. How good it smelled!
"You asked me if I were happy, but I don't believe you, being you, need to have me tell you. But what does that matter? One learns how unimportant one's own happiness is."
"Yes, the important thing is accepting life."
"Isn't it? Oh, how true that is! If only we didn't have to suffer so to learn it!"
She pressed a lace-bordered cobweb to her eyes, and then smiled at him.
"More tea? I'm not a very good hostess, am I? A little pink cake, specialty of the house? Oh, Elliott, do you remember going to the pâtisserie to get cakes for tea?"
"Do I! And our discussions in front of the
