“And, somehow, you who are, at heart, good and kind and merciful, have not really awakened real love in many of those about you.  For one thing your work has absorbed you.  But if, at the same time, you could pay a little more attention to human beings—­”

“Valerie!” he said in astonishment, “I have plenty of friends.  Do you mean to say I care nothing for them?”

“How much do you care, Louis?”

“Why, I—­” He fell silent, troubled gaze searching hers.

She smiled:  “Take Sam, for example.  The boy adores you.  He’s a rotten painter, I know—­and you don’t even pretend to an interest in what he does because you are too honest to praise it.  But, Louis, he’s a lovable fellow—­and he does the best that’s in him.  You needn’t pretend to care for what he does—­but if you could show that you do care for and respect the effort—­”

“I do, Valerie—­when I think about it!”

“Then think about it; and let Sam know that you think about his efforts and himself.  And do the same for Harry Annan.  He’s a worse painter than Sam—­but do you think he doesn’t know it?  Don’t you realise what a lot of heartache the monkey-shines of those two boys conceal?”

“I am fond of them,” he said, slowly.  “I like people, even if I don’t show it—­”

“Ah, Louis!  Louis!  That is the world’s incurable hurt—­the silence that replies to its perplexity—­the wistful appeal that remains unanswered....  And many, many vex God with the desolation of their endless importunities and complaints when a look, a word, a touch from a human being would relieve them of the heaviest of all burdens—­a sad heart’s solitude.”

He put his arm around her, impulsively: 

“You little angel,” he said, tenderly.

“No—­only a human girl who has learned what solitude can mean.”

“I shall make you forget the past,” he said.

“No, dear—­for that might make me less kind.”  She put her lips against his cheek, thoughtfully:  “And—­I think—­that you are going to need all the tenderness in me—­some day, Louis—­as I need all of yours....  We shall have much to learn—­after the great change....  And much to endure.  And I think we will need all the kindness that we can give each other—­and all that the world can spare us.”

CHAPTER X

It was slowly becoming evident to Neville that Valerie’s was the stronger character—­not through any genius for tenacity nor on account of any domineering instinct—­but because, mistaken or otherwise in her ethical reasoning, she was consistent, true to her belief, and had the courage to live up to it.  And this made her convictions almost unassailable.

Slavery to established custom of any kind she smilingly disdained, refusing to submit to restrictions which centuries of social usage had established, when such social restrictions and limitations hampered or annoyed her.