If socialists are trying to fix things better, why shouldn't we have time--both of us--to read their books; and you could help me know what they mean ?' Paul laughed again, a scornful, hateful laugh, which brought the color up to Lydia's pale face like a blow.

'I gather, then, Lydia, that what you're asking me to do is to neglect my business in order to read socialistic literature with you ?' His wife's rare resentment rose.

She spoke with dignity: 'I begged you to be serious, Paul, and to try to understand what I mean, although I'm so fumbling, and say it so badly.

As for its being impossible to change things, I've heard you say a great many times that there are no conditions that can't be changed if people would really try--' 'Good heavens! I said that of _business_ conditions!' shouted Paul, outraged at being so misquoted.
'Well, if it's true of them--No; I feel that things are the way they are because we don't really care enough to have them some other way.

If you really cared as much about sharing a part of your life with me--really sharing--as you do about getting the Washburn contract--' Her indignant and angry tone, so entirely unusual, moved Paul, more than her words, to shocked protest.