“Ye-es,I’veaskedforit。”
MrsBoultespokeinalow,eve~voiceforfiveminutes,verydistinctly,thattheremightbenomisunderstandinghermeaningWhenSamsonbrokethepillarsofGaza,hedidalittlething,andonenottobecomparedtothedeliberatepullingdownofawoman5homesteadaboutherownearsTherewasnoWisefemalefriendtoadviseMrs。
Boulte,thesingularlycautiouswife,toholdherhandShestruckatBoulte’sheart,becauseherownwassickwithsuspicionofKurrell,andwornoutwiththelongstrainofwatchingalonethroughtheRainsTherewasnoplanorpurposeinherspeakingThesentencesmadethemselves;
andBoultelistenedleaningagainstthedoor-postwithhishandsinhispocketsWhenallwasover,andMrsBoultebegantobreathethroughhernosebeforebreakingoutintotears,helaughedandstaredstraightinfrontofhimattheDosebrihills。
“Isthatall?”besaid“Thanks,Ionlywantedtoknow,youknow。”
“Whatareyougoingtodo?”saidthewoman,betweenhersobs。
“Do!NothingWhatshouldIdo?KillKurrellorsendyouHome,orapplyforleavetogetadivorce?It’~
20aWORKSOFRUDYARDKIPLING
twodays’dokintoNarkarra。”Helaughedagainandwenton:“I’lltellyouwhatyoucando。
YoucanaskKurrelltodinnerto-morrow-no,onThursday,thatwillallowyoutimetopack~andyoucanholtwithhimIgiveyoumywordIwon’tfollow。”
Hetookuphishelmetandwentoutoftheroom,andMrsBoultesattillthemoonlightstreakedthefloor,thinkingandthinkingandthinkingShehaddoneherbestuponthespurofthemomenttopullthehousedown;butitwouldnotfallMoreover,shecouldnotunderstandherhusband,andshewasafraidThenthefollyofheruselesstruthfulnessstruckher,andshewasashamedtowritetoKurrell,say]ng:“IhavegonemadandtoldeverythingMyhusbandsaysthatIamfreetoelopewithyouGetaddkforThursday,andwewillflyafterdinner。”Therewasacold-bloodednessaboutthatprocedurewhichdidnotappealtoherSoshesatstillinherownhouseandthought。
Atdinner-timeBoultecamebackfromhiswalk,whiteandwornandhaggard,andthewomanwastouchedathisdistressAstheeveningworeon,shemutteredsomeexpressionofsorrow,somethingapproachingtocontritionBoultecameoutofabrownstudyandsaid,“Oh,that!I
wasn’tthinkingaboutthatBytheway,whatdoesKurrellsaytotheelopement?”
“Ihaven’tseenhim。”saidMrsBoulte“GoodGod!isthatall?”
ButBoultewasnotlistening,andhersentenceendedinagulp。
ThenextdaybroughtnocomforttoMrsBoulte,forKurrelldidnotappear,andthenewlifethatshe,inthefiveminutes’madnessofthepreviousevening,hadhopedtobuildoutoftheruinsoftheold,seemedtobenonearer。
Boulteatehisbreakfast,advisedhertoseeherArabponyfedintheveranda,andwentoutThemorningworethrough,andatmiddaythetensionbecameunendurableMrsBoultecouldnotcryShehadfinishedhercryinginthenight,andnowshedidnotwanttobeleftalonePerhapstheVansoythenwomanwouldtalktoher;and,sincetalkingopenstheheart,perhapstheremightbesomecomforttobefoundinhercompanyShewastheonlyotherwomanintheStation。
InKasbimatherearenoregularcalling-hoursEveryonecandropinuponeveryoneelseatpleasureMrsBoulteputonabigteraihat,andwalkedacrosstotheVansoythen’shousetoborrow]astweek’sQueenThetwocompoundstouched,andin-steadofgoingupthedrive,shecrossedthroughthegapinthecactus-hedge,enteringthehousefromthebackAsshepassedthroughthedining-room,sheheard,behindthepurdahthatcloakedthedrawing-roomdoor,herhusband’svoice,saying-“ButonmyHonor!OnmySoulandHonor,Itellyoushedoesn’tcareformeShetoldmesolastnightIwouldhavetoldyouthenifVansuythenhadn’tbeenwithyouIfitisforhersakethatyou’llhavenothingtosaytome,youcanmakeyourmindeasyIt’sKurrell’
“What?”saidMrsVansoythen,withanhystericallittlelaugh。
“Kurrell!Oh,itcan’tbeYoutwomusthavemadesomehorriblemistakePerhapsyou-youlostyourtemper,ormisunAWAYSIDECOMEDY
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derstood,orsomethingThingscan’tbeaswrongasyousay。”
MrsVansuythenhadshiftedherdefencetoavoidtheman’spleading,andwasdesperatelytryingtokeephimtoaside-issue。
“Theremustbesomemistake。”sheinsisted,“anditcanbeallputrightagain。”
Boultelaughedgrimly。
“Itcan’tbeCaptainKurrell!Hetoldmethathehadnevertakentheleast-theleastinterestinyourwife,MrBoulteOh,dolisten!HesaidhehadnotHesworehehadnot。”saidMrs。
Vansuythen。
Thepurdahrustled,andthespeechwascutshortbytheentryofalittle,thinwomanwithbigringsroundhereyesMrsVansuytbenstoodupwithagasp。
“Whatwasthatyousaid?”askedMrsBoulte“NevermindthatmanWhatdidTedsaytoyou?
Whatdidhesaytoyou?Whatdidhesaytoyou?”
MrsVansuythensatdownhelplesslyonthesofa,overbornebythetroubleofherquestioner。
“Hesaid-Ican’trememberexactlywhathesaid-butIunderstoodhimtosay-thatis-But,really,MrsBoulte,isn’titratherastrangequestion?”
“Willyoutellmewhathesaid?”repeatedMrsBoulteEvenatigerwillflybeforeabearrobbedofherwhelps,andMrsVansuythenwasonlyanordinarilygoodwomanShebeganinasortofdesperation:“Well,hesaidthathenevercaredforyouatall,and,ofcourse,therewasnottheleastreasonwhyheshouldhave,and-and-thatwasall。”
“YousaidhesworehehadnotcaredformeWasthattrue?”
“Yes。”saidMrsVansuythen,verysoftly。
MrsBoultewaveredforaninstantwhereshestood,andthenfellforwardfainting。
“WhatdidItellyou?”saidBoulte,asthoughtheconversationhadbeenunbroken“YoucanseeforyourselfShecaresforhim。”Thelightbegantobreakintohisdullmind,andhewenton-“Andh~whatwashesayingtoyou?”
ButMrsVansuythen,withnoheartforexplanationsorimpassionedprotestations,waskneelingoverMrsBoulte。
“Oh,youbrute!”shecried“Areallmenlikethis?Helpmetogetherintomyroom-andherfaceiscutagainstthetableOh,willyoubequiet,andhelpmetocarryher?Ihateyou,andIhateCaptainKurrellLiftherupcarefullyandnow-go!Goaway!”
BoultecarriedhiswifeintoMrsVansuythen’sbedroomanddepartedbeforethestormofthatlady’swrathanddisgust,impenitentandburningwithjealousy。
KurrellhadbeenmakinglovetoMrsVansuythen-woulddoVansuytbenasgreatawrongashehaddoneBoulte,whocaughthimselfconsideringwhetherMrsVansuythenwouldfaintifshediscoveredthatthemanshelovedhadforeswornher。
Inthemiddleofthesemeditations,Kurrellcamecanteringalongtheroadandpulledupwithacheery,“Goodmornin’’BeenmashingMrsVansuythenasusual,eh?Badthingforasober,marriedman,thatWhatwillMr~Boultesay?”
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WORKSOFRUDYARDKIPLING
Boulteraisedhisheadandsaid,slowly,“Oh,youliar!”Kurrell’sfacechanged“What’sthat?”
heasked,quickly。
“Nothingmuch。”saidBoulte“Hasmywifetoldyouthatyoutwoarefreetogooffwheneveryouplease?ShehasbeengoodenoughtoexplainthesituationtomeYou’vebeenatruefriendtome,Kurrell-oldman-haven’tyou?”
Kurrellgroaned,andtriedtoframesomesortofidioticsentenceaboutbeingwillingtogive“satisfaction。”Buthisinterestinthewomanwasdead,haddiedoutintheRains,and,mentally,hewasabusingherforheramazingindiscretionItwouldhavebeensoeasytohavebrokenoffthethinggentlyandbydegrees,andnowhewassaddledwith-Boulte’5voicerecalledhim。
“’Idon’tthinkIshouldgetanysatisfactionfromkillingyou,andI’mprettysureyou’dgetnonefromkillingme。”
Theninaqueruloustone,ludicrouslydisproportionedtohiswrongs,Boulteadded-“’Seemsratherapitythatyouhaven’tthedecencytokeeptothewoman,nowyou’vegotherYou’vebeenatruefriendtohertoo,haven’tyou?”
KurrellstaredlongandgravelyThesituationwasgettingbeyondhim。
“Whatdoyoumean?”hesaid。
Boulteanswered,moretohimselfthanthequestioner:’MywifecameovertoMrsVansuythen’sjustnow;anditseemsyou’dbeentellingMrsVansuythenthatyou’dnevercaredforEmmaI
supposeyoulied,asusualWhathadMrsVansuytbentodowithyou,oryouwithher?Trytospeakthetruthforonceinaway。”
Kurrelltookthedoubleinsultwithoutwincing,andrepliedbyanotherquestion:“Goon。
Whathappened?”
“Emmafainted。”saidBoulte,simply。
“But,lookhere,whathadyoubeensayingtoMrsVansuythen?”
KurrelllaughedMrsBoultehad,withunbridledtongue,madehavocofhisplans;andhecouldatleastretaliatebyhurtingthemaninwhoseeyeshewashumiliatedandshowndishonorable。
“Saidtoher?Whatdoesamantellalielikethatfor?IsupposeI
saidprettymuchwhatyou’vesaid,unlessI’magooddealmistaken。”
“Ispokethetruth。”saidBoulte,againmoretohimselfthanKurrell“EmmatoldmeshehatedmeShehasnorightinme。”
“No!IsupposenotYou’reonlyherhusband,y’knowAndwhatdidMrsVansuythensayafteryouhadlaidyourdisengagedheartatherfeet?”
Kurrellfeltalmostvirtuousasheputthequestion。
“Idon’tthinkthatmatters。”Boultereplied;“anditdoesn’tconcernyou。”
“Butitdoes!Itellyouitdoes“beganKurrell,shamelessly。
ThesentencewascutbyaroaroflaughterfromBoulte’slips。
Kurrellwassilentforaninstant,andthenhe,too,laughed-laughedlongandloudly,rockinginhissaddleItwasanunpleasantsound-themirthlessmirthofthesemenonthelong,whitelineoftheNarkarraRoadTherewerenostrangersinKashima,ortheymighthavethoughtthatcaptivitywithintheAWAYSIDECOMEDY
211
DosehrihillshaddrivenhalftheEuropeanpopulationmadThelaughter~ndedabruptly,andKurrellwasthefirsttospeak。
“Well,whatareyougoingtodo?”
Boultelookeduptheroad,andatthehills“Nothing。”saidhe,quietly;“what’stheuse?It’stooghastlyforanythingWemustlettheoldlifegoon。
Icanonlycallyouahoundandaliar,andIcan’tgooncallingyounamesforeverBesideswhich,Idon’tfeelthatI’mmuchbetterWecan’tgetoutofthisplaceWhatistheretodo?”
Kurrelllookedroundtherat-pitofKashimaandmadenoreply。
Theinjuredhusbandtookupthewondroustale。
“Rideon,andspeaktoEmmaifyouwanttoGodknowsIdon’tcarewhatyoudo。”
HewalkedforwardandleftKurrellgazingblanklyafterhim。
KurrelldidnotrideoneithertoseeMrsBoulteorMrsVansuythenHesatinhissaddleandthought,whilehisponygrazedbytheroadside。
ThewhirofapproachingwheelsrousedhimMrsVansuythenwasdrivinghomeMrsBoulte,whiteandwan,withacutonherforehead。
“Stop,please。”saidMrsBoulte“IwanttospeaktoTed。”
MrsVansuythenobeyed,butasMrsBoulteleanedforward,puttingherhanduponthesplash-hoardofthedog-cart,Kurrel]spoke。
“I’veseenyourhusband,MrsBoulte。
TherewasnonecessityforanyfurtherexplanationTheman’seyeswerefixed,notuponMrs。
Boulte,buthercompanionMrsBoultesawthelook。
“Speaktohim!”shepleaded,turningtothewomanatherside。
“Oh,speaktohim!TellhimwhatyoutoldmejustnowTellhimyouhatehimTellhimyouhatehim!”
Shebentforwardandweptbitterly,whilethesais,impassive,wentforwardtoholdthehorse。
MrsVansuythenturnedscarletanddroppedthereinsShewishedtobenopartytosuchunholyexplanations。
“I’venothingtodowithit。”shebegan,coldly;butMrsBoulte’ssobsovercameher,andsheaddressedherselftotheman“Idon’tknowwhatIamtosay,CaptainKurrellIdon’tknowwhatIcancallyouIthinkyou’ve-you’vebehavedabominably,andshehascutherforeheadterriblyagainstthetable。”
“Itdoesn’thurtItisn’tanything。”saidMrsBoultefeebly“Thatdoesn’tmatterTellhimwhatyoutoldmeSayyoudon’tcareforhimOh,Ted,~von’tyoubelieveher?”
“MrsBoultehasmademeunderstandthatyouwere-thatyouwerefondofheronceuponatime。”wentonMrsVansuythen。
“Well!”saidKurrellbrutally“ItseemstomethatMrsBoultehadbetterbefondofherownhusbandfirst。”
“Stop!”saidMrsVansuythen“HearmefirstIdon’tcare-Idon’twanttoknowanythingaboutyouandMrsBoulte;butIwantyoutoknowthatIhateyou,thatI
thinkyouareacur,andthatI’llnever,neverspeaktoyouagainOh,Idon’tdaretosaywhatI
thinkofyou,you-man!”
~outhlIorderedtheHawleyBoy,as’aevaluedmypatronage,nottocallThefirstpersonI
stumbleover-literallystumbleover-inherpoky,dark,jittledrawing-roomis,ofcourse,theflawleyBoyShekeptuswaitingtenrninutes,andthenemergedasthough~hehadbeentippedoutofthedirtyrIothesbasketYouknowmyway,dear,whenIamallputoutIwasSuperior,crrrushinglySuperior!’LiftedmyeyestoHeaven,andhadheardofnothing-’droppedmyeyesonthecarpetand’reallydidn’tknow’-’playedwitnmycardcaseand’supposedso。’TheHawleyBoygiggledlikeagirl,andIhadtofreezehimwithscowlsbetweenthesentences。”
“Andshe?”
“Shesatinaheapontheedgeofacouch,andmanagedtoconveytheimpressionthatshewassufferingfromstomach-ache,attheveryleastItwasallIcoulddonottoaskafterhersymptomsWhenIroseshegruntedjust~keabuffalointhewater-toolazytomove。”
“Areyoucertain?’-“AmIblind,Polly?Laziness,sheerl。~iness,nothingelse-orhergarmentswereonlyconstructedforsittingdownin。
Istayedforaquarterofanhourtryingtopenetratethegloom,toguesswhathersurroundingswerelike,whileshestuckouthertongue。”
“Lu-cy!’~
“Well-I’llwithdrawthetongue,thoughI’msureifshedidn’tdoitwhenIwasintheroom,shedidtheminuteIwasoutsideAtanyrate,shel~yinalumpandgruntedAsktheHawleyBoy,dearIbel~evcthegruntswerem~antforsentencesbutshespokesoindistinctlythatIcan’tsweartoit。”
“Youareincorrigible,simply。”
“Iamnot!Treatmecivilly,givemepeacewithhonor,don’tputtheonlyavailableseatfacingthewindow,andachildmayeatjaminmylapbeforeChurchButIresentbeinggruntedat。
Wouldn’tyou?DoyousupposethatshecommunicatesherviewsonlifeandlovetoTheDancingMasterinasetofmodulated’Grmphs’?”
“YouattachtoomuchimportancetoTheDancingMaster。”
“Hecameaswewent,andTheDowdgrewalmostcordialatthesightofhimHesmiledgreasily,andmovedaboutthatdarkeneddog-kennelinasuspiciouslyfamiliarway。”
“Don’tbeuncharitableAnysinbutthatI’llforgive。”
“ListentothevoiceofHistoryIamonlydescribingwhatIsaw。
Heentered,theheaponthesofarevivedslightly,andtheHawleyBoyandIcameawaytogetherHeisdisillusionea,butI
feltitmydutytolecturehimseverelyforgoingthereAndthat’sall。”
“NowforPity’ssakeleavethewretchedcreatureandTheDancingMasteraloneTheyneverdidyouanyharm。”
“Noharm?Todressasanexampleandastumbling-blockforhalfSimla,andthentofindthisPersonwhoisdressedbythehandofGod-notthatIwishtodisparageHimforamoment,butyouknowthetikkadhurziewayHeattiresthoseliliesofthefield-thisPersondrawstheeyesofmen-andsomeofthemnicemen?It’salmostenough~omakeonedi~cardclothingItoldtheHawleyBoyso。”
“IwanttospeaktoTed。”moanedMrsBoulte,butthedog-cartrattledon,andKurrellwasleftontheroad,shamed,andboilingwithwrathagainstMrsBoulte。
HewaitedtillMrsVansuythenwasdrivingbacktoherownhouse,and,shebeingfreedfromtheembarrassmentofMrsBoulte’spresence,learnedforthesecondtimeheropinionofhimselfandhisactions。
Intheevenings,itwasthewontofallKashimatomeetattheplatformontheNarkarraRoad,todrinktea,anddiscussthetrivialitiesofthedayMajorVansuythenandhiswifefoundthemselvesaloneatthegathering-placeforalmostthefirsttimeintheirremembrance;andthecheeryMajor,intheteethofhiswife’sremarkablyreasonablesuggestionthattherestoftheStationmightbesick,insistedupondrivingroundtothetwobungalowsandunearthingthepopulation。
“Sittinginthetwilight!”saidhe,withgreatindignationtotheBoultesThat’llneverdo!Hangitall,we’reonefamilyhere!Youmustcomeout,andsomustKurrellI’llmakehimbringhisbanjo。”SogreatisthepowerofhonestsimplicityandagooddigestionoverguiltyconsciencesthatallKashimadidturnout,evendowntothebanjo;andtheMajorembracedthecompanyinoneexpansivegrinAshegrinned,MrsVansuythenraisedhereyesforaninstantandlookedatallKashimaHermeaningwasclearMajorVansuythenwouldneverknowanythingHewastobetheoutsiderinthathappyfamilywhosecagewastheDosehrihills。
“You’resingingvillainouslyoutoftune,Kurrell。”saidtheMajor,truthfully“Passmethatbanjo。”
Andhesanginexcruciating-wisetillthestarscameoutandallKashimawenttodinner。
ThatwasthebeginningoftheNewLifeofKashima-thelifethatMrsBoultemadewhenhertonguewasloosenedinthetwilight。
MrsVansuythenhasnevertoldtheMajor;andsincebeinsistsuponkeepingupaburdensomegeniality,shehasbeencompelledtobreakhervowofnotspeakingtoKurrellThisspeech,whichmustofnecessitypreservethesemblanceofpolitenessandinterest,servesadmirablytokeepalivetheflameofjealousyanddullhatredinBoulte’sbosom,asitawakensthesamepassionsinhiswife’sheartMrsBoultehatesMrsVansuythenbecauseshehastakenTedfromher,and,insomecuriousfashion,hatesherbecauseMrs。
Vansuythen-andherethewife’seyesseefarmoreclearlythanthehusband’s-detestsTedAndTed-thatgallantcaptainandhonorableman-knowsnowthatitispossibletohateawomanonceloved,tothevergeofwishingtosilenceherforeverwithblows。
Aboveall,isheshockedthatMrsBoultecannotseetheerrorofherways。
Boulteandhegoouttiger-shootingtogetherinallfriendship。
Boultehasputtheirrelationshiponamostsatisfactoryfooting。
“You’reablackguard。”hesaystoKurrell,“andI’velostanyself-respectImayeverhavehad;butwhenyou’reASECOND-RATEWOMAN
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literyousawherwalkingwithTheDancingMaster-anhourlateryoumetherhereattheLibrary。”
“StillwithTheDancingMaster,remember。”
“StillwithTheDancingMaster,Iadmit,butwhyonthestrengthofthatshouldyouimagine“-“I
imaginenothingIhavenoimaginationIamonlyconvincedthatTheDancingMasterisattractedtoTheDowdbecauseheisobjectionableineverywayandsheineveryotherIfIknowthemanasyouhavedescribedhim,heholdshiswifeinslaveryatpresent。”
“Sheistwentyyearsyoungerthanhe。”
“Poorwretch!And,intheend,afterkehasposedandswaggeredandlied-hehasamouthunderthatraggedmoustachesimplymadeforlies-hewillberewardedaccordingtohismerits。”
“Iwonderwhatthosereallyare。”saidMrsMallowe。
ButMrsHauksbee,herfaceclosetoheshelfofthenewbooks,washummingsoftly:“WhatshallhehavewhokilledtheDeer!”Shewasaladyofunfetteredspeech。
Onemonthlater,sheannouncedherotentionofcallinguponMrs。
DelvilleBothMrsHauksbeeandMrsMallowewereinmorningwrappers,andtherewasagreatpeaceintheland。
“IshouldgoasIwas。”saidMrsMallowe“Itwouldbeadelicatecomplimenttoherstyle。”
MrsHauksbeestudiedherselfintheglass。
“Assumingforamomentthatsheeverdarkenedthesedoors,I
shouldputonthisrobe,afteralltheothers,toshowherwhatamorningwrapperoughttobeItmightenlivenherAsitis,Ishallgointhedove-colored-sweetemblemofyouthandinnocenc~andshallputonmynewgloves。”
“Ifyoureallyaregoing,dirtytanwouldbetoogood;andyouknowthatdove-colorspotswiththerain。”
“IcarenotImaymakeherenviousAtleastIshalltry,thoughonecannotexpectverymuchfromawomanwhoputsalacetuckerintoherhabit。”
“JustHeavens!Whendidshedothat?”
“Yesterday-ridingwithTheDancingMasterImetthematthebackofJakko,andtherainhadmadethelaceliedownTocompletetheeffect,shewaswearinganuncleanteraiwiththeelasticunderherchinIfeltalmosttoowellcontenttotakethetroubletodespiseher。”
“TheHawleyBoywasridingwithyouWhatdidhethink?”
“Doesaboyevernoticethesethings?ShouldIlikehimifhedid?
Hestaredintherudestway,andjustwhenIthoughthehadseentheelastic,hesaid,’There’ssomethingverytakingaboutthatface。’IrebukedhimonthespotIdon’tapproveofboysbeingtakenbyfaces。”
“OtherthanyourownIshouldn’tbeintheleastsurprisediftheHawleyBoyimmediatelywenttocall。”
“IforbadehimLetherbesatisfiedwithTheDancingMaster,andhiswifewhenshecomesup。
I’mrathercurioustoseeMrsBentandtheDelvillewomantogether。”
MrsHauksheedepartedand,attheendofanhour,returnedslightlyflushed。
“ThereisnolimittothetreacheryofTHEHILLOFILLUSION
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withme,IcanfeelcertainthatyouarenotwithMrsVansuythen,ormakingEmmamiserable。”
KurrellenduresanythingthatBoultemaysaytohimSometimestheyareawayforthreedaystogether,andthentheMajorinsistsuponhiswifegoingovertositwithMrs,Boulte;althoughMrsVansuythenhasrepeatedlydedaredthatsheprefersherhusband’scompanytoanyintheworldFromthewayinwhichsheclingstohim,shewouldcertainlyseemtobespeakingthetruth。
Butofcourse,astheMajorsays,“inalittleStationwemustallbefriendly。”
TheHillofIllusionWhatrenderedvaintheirdeepdesire?
AGod,aGodtheirseveranceruled,AndbadebetweentheirshorestobeTheunplumbed,salt,estrangingsea-
MatthewArnold。
HETellyour’hampanisnottohurryso,dearTheyforgetI’mfreshfromthePlains。
SHESureproofthatIhavenotbeengoingoutwithanyoneYes,theyareanuntrainedcrew。
Wheredowego?
HEAsusual-totheworld’sendNo,Jakko。
SHEHaveyourponyledafteryou,thenIt’salongound。
HEAndforthelasttime,thankHeaven!
SHEDoyoumeanthatstill?Ididn’tdaretowritetoyouaboutit-allthesemonths。
HEMeanit!I’vebeenshapingmyaffairstothatendsinceAutumnWhatmakesyouspeakasthoughithadoccurredtoyouforthefirsttime?
SHEI!Oh!Idon’tknowI’vehadlongenoughtothink,too。
HEAndyou’vechangedyourmind?
SHENoYououghttoknowthatI
amamiracleofconstancyWhatareyour-arrangements?
HEOurs,Sweetheart,please。
SHEOurs,beitthenMypoorboy,howthepricklyheathasmarkedyourforehead!Haveyouevertriedsulphateofcopperinwater?
HEIt’llgoawayinadayortwauphereThearrangementsaresimpleenoughTongaintheearlymorning-reachKalkaattwelve-Umballaatseven-down,straightbynighttrain,toBombay,andthenthesteamerofthe21stforRomeThat’smyideaTheContinentandSweden-aten-weekhoneymoon。
SHESsh!Don’ttalkofitinthatwayItmakesmeafraidGuy,howlonghavewetwobeeninsane?
HESeve~monthsandfourteendays,Iforgettheoddhoursexactly,butI’llthink。
SHEIonlywantedtoseeifyourememberedWhoarethosetwoontheBlessingtonRoad?
HEEabreyandthePennerwomanWhatdotheymattertous?
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