'Edith, you are a romantic,' he said with a smile....
'But why must I be called a romantic just because I don't see things the same way as you do?'
'Because you are misled by what you would like to believe. Haven't you learned that there is no such thing as complete harmony between two people, however much they profess to love one another? Haven't you realized how much time and speculation are waste, how much mythological agonizing goes on, simply because they are out of phase? Haven't you seen how the light touch sometimes, nearly always, in fact, is more effective than the deepest passion?'
'Yes, I have seen that,' said Edith, sombre.
'Then, my dear, learn to use it. You have no idea how promising the world begins to look once you have decided to have it all for yourself. And how much healthier your decisions are once they become entirely selfish...you must learn to discount the others. Within your own scope you can accomplish much more. You can be self-centered, and that is a marvellous lesson to learn.'
'But if you would prefer to share your life?' asked Edith.