"I think you'll always find me quite willing to be frank," replied the younger woman.
"Very well then. Perhaps you'll tell me this. Is Eric doing everything he possibly can to make you happy?"
Louise raised her eyebrows.
"What an odd question! Yes, I suppose he is—as well as he knows how. Why?"
"Because it isn't hard to see that you're not happy, and it makes me very sad."
"I suppose people do notice it," said Louise. "I can't help that. I'm not happy."
"Just what I thought. Well, can you tell me the cause of it? Eric has succeeded in a good many things, and I don't like to see him make a failure of his marriage."
"I suppose not."
"You two ought to be happy. You have everything; you married for love, presumably. I'm sure you've done your part. It must be Eric's fault in some way."
Louise began pulling off her gloves, her chin suddenly trembling like that of a child who is about to cry.
"It's nobody's fault, I suppose. We're simply not suited to each other. Eric should have had a wife who'd be willing to sit at his feet all day
