'
'What step?'
She reminded him of his intention to spend half a year in working
at the seaside.
'I had utterly forgotten it,' he returned with a mocking laugh.
'That shows how ridiculous such a thing would have been.'
'You are doing no literary work at all?' Amy asked.
'Do you imagine that I have the peace of mind necessary for
anything of that sort?'
This was in a changed voice. It reminded her so strongly of her
husband before his disasters that she could not frame a reply.
'Do you think I am able to occupy myself with the affairs of
imaginary people?'
'I didn't necessarily mean fiction.'
'That I can forget myself, then, in the study of literature?--I
wonder whether you really think of me like that. How, in Heaven's
name, do you suppose I spend my leisure time?'
She made no answer.
'Do you think I take this calamity as light-heartedly as you do,
Amy?'
'I am far from taking it light-heartedly.'
'Yet you are in good health. I see no sign that you have
suffered.'
She kept silence. Her suffering had been slight enough, and
chiefly due to considerations of social propriety; but she would
not avow this, and did not like to make admission of it to
herself.
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