"I did not say I had any theory about it," he answered.
"But then, why do you consider it at all? And why seem to think that
its supposed presence in the eyes of a woman makes that woman in any
way different from others?"
"But I did not say I thought so," Julian said, rather hastily. "How you
jump to conclusions to-day!"
"You implied it, and you meant it. Now, didn't you?"
"Perhaps I may have."
"This is all too much for me," Valentine said, showing now a very unusual
irritation. He even began to pace up and down the room with a slow, soft
footstep, monotonous and mechanical in its regularity. As he was walking
he went on:
"I do really think, Julian, that it is a mistake to allow any fancy to
get upon your nerves. You know what the doctor thought about this flame."
"Yes."
"And you know what I think."
"Do I?"
"Yes, that it is a mere chimera. But my opinion on such a subject has no
particular value. The doctor is different. He is a great specialist. The
nerves have been his constant study for years. If this vision continues
to haunt you, you really ought to put yourself definitely into his
hands."
"Perhaps I will," said Julian.
He spoke rather seriously and meditatively. Valentine, possibly because
he was in the sort of peculiarly irritable frame of mind that will
sometimes cause a man to dislike having his tendered advice taken, seemed
additionally vexed by this reply, or at any rate struck by it.
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