‘But think of the emptiness within,’ he laughed.
‘No,’ she said. ‘I am jealous that men have such perfect landladies and such beautiful lodgings. There is nothing left them to desire.’
‘In the house-keeping way, we’ll hope not. It is disgusting, people marrying for a home.’
‘Still,’ said Ursula, ‘a man has very little need for a woman now, has he?’
‘In outer things, maybe — except to share his bed and bear his children. But essentially, there is just the same need as there ever was. Only nobody takes the trouble to be essential.’
‘How essential?’ she said.