 it - and in my
dreams, too. Why did she go to Fleurières to-day? She never told me. What has
happened? Ah, she ought to have guessed I was here - this way. It is the first
time in her life she ever disappointed me. Poor Claire!«
    »You know we are not man and wife quite yet - your sister and I,« said
Newman. »She doesn't yet account to me for all her actions.« And, after a
fashion, he smiled.
    Valentin looked at him a moment. »Have you quarrelled?«
    »Never, never, never!« Newman exclaimed.
    »How happily you say that!« said Valentin. »You are going to be happy - va!«
In answer to this stroke of irony, none the less powerful for being so
unconscious, all poor Newman could do was to give a helpless and transparent
stare. Valentin continued to fix him with his own rather over-bright gaze, and
presently he said: »But something is the matter with you. I watched you just
now; you haven't a bridegroom's face.«
    »My dear fellow,« said Newman, »how can I show you a bridegroom's face? If
you think I enjoy seeing you lie there and not being able to help you --«
    »Why, you are just the man to be cheerful; don't forfeit your rights! I'm a
proof of your wisdom. When was a man ever gloomy when he could say: I told you
so? You told me so, you know. You did what you could about it. You said some
very good things; I have thought them over. But, my dear friend, I was right,
all the same. This is the regular way.«
    »I didn't do what I ought,« said Newman. »I ought to have done something
else.«
    »For instance?«
    »Oh, something or other. I ought to have treated you as a small boy.«
    »Well, I'm a very small boy, now,« said Valentin. »I'm rather less than an
infant. An infant is helpless, but it's generally voted promising. I'm not
promising, eh? Society can't lose a less valuable member.«
    Newman was strongly moved. He got up and turned his back upon his friend and
walked away to the window, where he stood looking out, but only vaguely seeing.
