“Not at all,” said Dukes; “the top of you’s by no means hors de combat. You’ve got the life of the mind sound and intact. So let us hear your ideas.”

“Well,” stammered Clifford, “even then I don’t suppose I have much idea⁠ ⁠… I suppose marry-and-have-done-with-it would pretty well stand for what I think. Though of course between a man and woman who care for one another, it is a great thing.”

“What sort of great thing?” said Tommy.

“Oh⁠ ⁠… it perfects the intimacy,” said Clifford, uneasy as a woman in such talk.