She laughed and shook her head

"Tell you what, great thing, this liberty! Everything's changednowadays; why shouldn't marriage be too? A man can get out of abusiness partnership when he wants to; but the parsons want tokeep us noosed up to each other for life because we've blunderedinto a church one day and said 'Yes' before one of 'em. No,no--that's too easy. We've got beyond that. Science, and allthese new discoveries .... I say the Ten Commandments were madefor man, and not man for the Commandments; and there ain't aword against divorce in 'em, anyhow! That's what I tell my poorold mother, who builds everything on her Bible. Find me theplace where it says: 'Thou shalt not sue for divorce.' Itmakes her wild, poor old lady, because she can't; and shedoesn't know how they happen to have left it out.... I ratherthink Moses left it out because he knew more about human naturethan these snivelling modern parsons do. Not that they'llalways bear investigating either; but I don't care about that. 　　Live and let live, eh, Susy? Haven't we all got a right to ourAffinities? I hear you're following our example yourself. 　　First-rate idea: I don't mind telling you I saw it coming onlast summer at Venice. Caught you at it, so to speak! OldNelson ain't as blind as people think. Here, let's open anotherbottle to the health of Streff and Mrs. Streff!"She caught the hand with which he was signalling to thesommelier. This flushed and garrulous Nelson moved her morepoignantly than a more heroic figure. "No more champagne,please, Nelson. Besides," she suddenly added, "it's not true."He stared. "Not true that you're going to marry Altringham?""No.""By George then what on earth did you chuck Nick for? Ain't yougot an Affinity, my dear?"She laughed and shook her head. 　　"Do you mean to tell me it's all Nick's doing, then?""I don't know. Let's talk of you instead, Nelson. I'm gladyou're in such good spirits. I rather thought--"He interrupted her quickly. "Thought I'd cut up a rumpus-dosome shooting? I know--people did." He twisted his moustache,evidently proud of his reputation. "Well, maybe I did see redfor a day or two--but I'm a philosopher, first and last. BeforeI went into banking I'd made and lost two fortunes out West. 　　Well, how did I build 'em up again? Not by shooting anybodyeven myself. By just buckling to, and beginning all over again.