That influences many ladies, of course." He burst out laughing, but there was a satirical note in the gaiety, or something still harsher.
"'We deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us,'" he answered.

"It's all such a hollow make-believe." "What is ?" She gazed at him inquiringly, for this mood was new to her.

She was vaguely conscious of some sort of change in him--not exactly toward her, but a change, nevertheless.
"The life we rich people lead is a hollow make-believe, Jasmine," he said, with sudden earnestness.

"I don't know what's the matter, but we're not getting out of life all we ought to get; and we're not putting into it all we ought to put in.

There's a sense of emptiness--of famine somewhere." He caught the reflection of his face in the glass again, and his brow contracted.