Sometimes he thought that if he could only make a quarrel with her it
might help him; but the question was how to quarrel with a young
woman who had such treasures of concession. "I suppose you think the
effort is all on your side!" he was reduced to exclaiming. "Don't
you believe that I have my own effort to make?"
"It's all yours now," she said. "My effort is finished and done
with!"
"Well, mine is not."
"We must bear things together," said Catherine. "That's what we
ought to do."
Morris attempted a natural smile. "There are some things which we
can't very well bear together--for instance, separation."
"Why do you speak of separation?"
"Ah! you don't like it; I knew you wouldn't!"
"Where are you going, Morris?" she suddenly asked.
He fixed his eye on her for a moment, and for a part of that moment
she was afraid of it. "Will you promise not to make a scene?"
"A scene!--do I make scenes?"
"All women do!" said Morris, with the tone of large experience.
"I don't. Where are you going?"
"If I should say I was going away on business, should you think it
very strange?"
She wondered a moment, gazing at him. "Yes--no. Not if you will
take me with you."
"Take you with me--on business?"
"What is your business? Your business is to be with me."
"I don't earn my living with you," said Morris. "Or rather," he
cried with a sudden inspiration, "that's just what I do--or what the
world says I do!"
This ought perhaps to have been a great stroke, but it miscarried.
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