To understand, I mean, what Mama means when she says you are the strongest, wisest person--" He pretended to smile.
"When did your mother say that ?" "Oh, ages ago." She stopped, aware of a faint motion to withdraw on the part of the hand she held.

"I suppose you want to go to her." "No.

The sort of headache she has is better left alone, I think, though you might stop as you go up." "I will.

When do you think I can see Pete ?" "I'd wait a day or two; but you might telephone him at once, if you like, and say--or do you know what to say ?" She laughed.
"It used to frighten me when you made fun of me like that; but now--It must be simply delirious to be able to make people as happy as you've just made us." He smiled at her word.
"Other people's happiness is not exactly delirious," he said.
She was moving in the direction of the nearest telephone, but she said over her shoulder: "Oh, well, I think you did pretty well for yourself when you chose Mama." She left him sipping his black coffee; he took every drop of that.
When he had finished he did not go back to his study, but to the drawing-room, where he sat down in a large chair by the fire.

He lit a cigar.