'I will mind what you say, Monsieur Dimitri,' she said, faintly smiling, and faintly arching her brows; 'but what advice do you give me?'
'What advice?' repeated Sanin. 'Well, you see, your mother considers that to dismiss Herr Klüber simply because he did not show any special courage the day before yesterday . . .'
'Simply because?' said Gemma. She bent down, picked up the basket, and set it beside her on the garden seat.
'That . . . altogether . . . to dismiss him, would be, on your part . . . unreasonable; that it is a step, all the consequences of which ought to be thoroughly weighed; that in fact the very position of your affairs imposes certain obligations on every member of your family . . .'
'All that is mamma's opinion,' Gemma interposed; 'those are her words; but what is your opinion?'
'Mine?' Sanin was silent for a while. He felt a lump rising in his throat and catching at his breath. 'I too consider,' he began with an effort . . .
Gemma drew herself up. 'Too? You too?'
'Yes . . . that is . . .' Sanin was unable, positively unable to add a single word more.
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