It's only that I see
you differently. Don't you know how hard it is to convince elderly people
that the type of the evening paper is no smaller than when they were
young?
_Oberville_. I've shrunk then?
_Isabel_. You couldn't have grown bigger. Oh, I'm serious now; you needn't
prepare a smile. For years you were the tallest object on my horizon. I
used to climb to the thought of you, as people who live in a flat country
mount the church steeple for a view. It's wonderful how much I used to see
from there! And the air was so strong and pure!
_Oberville_. And now?
_Isabel_. Now I can fancy how delightful it must be to sit next to you at
dinner.
_Oberville_. You're unmerciful. Have I said anything to offend you?
_Isabel_. Of course not. How absurd!
_Oberville_. I lost my head a little--I forgot how long it is since we
have met. When I saw you I forgot everything except what you had once been
to me. (_She is silent_.) I thought you too generous to resent that.
Perhaps I have overtaxed your generosity. (_A pause_.) Shall I confess it?
When I first saw you I thought for a moment that you had remembered--as I
had. You see I can only excuse myself by saying something inexcusable.
_Isabel (deliberately)_. Not inexcusable.
_Oberville_. Not--?
_Isabel_. I had remembered.
_Oberville_. Isabel!
_Isabel_. But now--
_Oberville_. Ah, give me a moment before you unsay it!
_Isabel_. I don't mean to unsay it.
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