I never expect anything,' said Marthe. 'It provides a level, low-pitched existence with no disappointments.' 'I'm all for a level, low-pitched existence,' said Philippa. 'And when you see your way back to one, for heaven's sake don't forget to tell me.' At which Marthe, surprisingly, laughed aloud.
"I never expect anything," Marthe comments, describing her life as simple and steady, free from disappointment by maintaining low expectations. She finds comfort in a life that is predictable and unexciting, avoiding the highs and lows of more ambitious pursuits.
Philippa agrees with her, expressing a desire to return to that same simple existence someday and urging Marthe to share her ways if she ever manages to do so. Their conversation reveals a shared longing for stability and the surprise that Marthe can laugh out loud despite their modest lives.
