The matter of competition in business was purely nominal.
They were both too successful in business to be envious of each other in
that respect. But where Sophie Carr was concerned it was a conflict, no
less existent because neither man ever betrayed his consciousness of
such a conflict. Indeed Thompson sometimes wondered uneasily if Ashe's
serenity came from an understanding with her. But he doubted that. Tommy
had not won--yet. That intangible yet impenetrable wall which was rising
about Sophie was built of other, sterner stuff.
She seldom touched on the war, never more than a casual sentence or two.
Perhaps a phrase would flash like a sword, and then her lips would
close. Carr would discuss the war from any angle whatsoever, at any
time. It became an engrossing topic with him, as if there were phases
that puzzled him, upon which he desired light. He ceased to be
positive. But his daughter shunned war talk.
Yet the war levied high toll on her waking hours, and for that reason
Thompson seldom saw her save in company. His vision of little dinners,
of drives together, of impromptu luncheons, of a steady siege in which
the sheer warmth of that passion in him should force capitulation to his
love--all those pleasant dreams went a-glimmering.
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