Don't you see, you dear, foolish thing"-- she laid her hands on his shoulders and looked with agonizing deliciousness into his face--"don't you see that you want a wife to save you from omelettes that you have to use as kettle-holders, and to give you a sense of responsibility?
And don't you see that Emmy, who is never happier than when--oh!" she broke off impatiently, "don't you see ?" He had built for himself no card house of illusion, so it did not come toppling down with dismaying clatter.

But all the same he felt as if her kind hands had turned death cold and were wringing his heart.

He took them from his shoulders, and, not unpicturesquely, kissed her finger-tips.

Then he dropped them and walked to the fire and, with his back to the room, leaned on the mantelpiece.

A little china dog fell with a crash into the fender.
"Oh, I'm so sorry--" he began piteously.
"Never mind," said Zora, helping him to pick up the pieces.