It's just as hard for me as it is for you; and I try to make the best of it, don't I ?" She might have reminded him that his philosophy was a very recent acquisition.

When the news of their poverty first came he was the one who raved and sobbed and refused to contemplate anything less direful than slow starvation or quick suicide.

She had soothed and comforted then.

Since the previous evening, when he had gone out, in spite of her protestations, and left her alone, his manner had changed.

He was still nervous and irritable, but no longer threatened self-destruction, and seemed, for some unexplained reason, more hopeful and less desperate.
Sylvester had 'phoned, saying that he would call at the apartment at two, and since Stephen had received the message he had been in a state of suppressed excitement, scarcely keeping still for five minutes at a time.
"It is just as hard for me as it is for you, isn't it ?" he repeated.
"Yes, Steve, I suppose it is." "You suppose?
Don't you know?
Oh, do quit thinking about Mal Dunn and pay attention to me." She did not answer.