"What we want" (this, Gathbroke), "is an alliance
between Great Britain, and the United States. They could rule the world.
Let the rest of everlastingly snarling Europe go hang." Elton Gwynne would
work for that. He had already obtained his discharge and returned to
America. He, Gathbroke, 'd work for it too. So would anybody else in the
two countries that had any sense and no personal fish to fry.
II
When they returned to the salon he smoked. Alexina was thankful that it was
cigarettes. Mortimer had made her hate cigars. If, like most Englishmen, he
loved his pipe, he had the tact to keep it in his pocket.
It was she who reopened the subject that filled him.
"I feel sorry for Gora. Her life has been a tragedy in a way. Of course she
has had her successes, her compensations. But it isn't quite everything
to be the best of nurses, and I don't know that even writing could fill
a woman's life. Not unless she'd had the other thing first. I am afraid
she'll never be very popular anyhow. There are only small groups here and
there in America than can stand intellect in fiction....It seems to me that
she would make a great wife. I mean that. It is a great role and she could
fill it greatly. I don't know, of course, whether she cares for you or not.
I am not in her confidence. She is staying at my pension in Passy and I saw
her constantly for ten days before I came here, but she did not mention
your name.
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