HerworstoffenceformewasanoccasionalexcursionintotheSmithiestyleofdressing，debasedWestKensington。Forshehadnosenseatallofherownbeauty。Shehadnocomprehensionwhateverofbeautyofthebody，andshecouldslashherbeautifullinestoragswithhat-brimsandtrimmings。ThankHeaven！anaturalrefinement，anaturaltimidity，andherextremelyslenderpursekeptherfromtherealSmithieefflorescence！
　　Poor，simple，beautiful，kindlylimitedMarion！NowthatIamforty-five，Icanlookbackatherwithallmyoldadmirationandnoneofmyoldbitternesswithanewaffectionandnotascrapofpassion，andtakeherpartagainsttheequallystupid，drivingly-energetic，sensuous，intellectualsprawlIusedtobe。
　　Iwasayoungbeastforhertohavemarried——ahoundbeast。Withheritwasmybusinesstounderstandandcontrol——andIexactedfellowship，passion。
　　Webecameengaged，asIhavetold；webrokeitoffandjoinedagain。Wewentthroughasuccessionofsuchphases。Wehadnosortofideawhatwaswrongwithus。Presentlywewereformallyengaged。Ihadawonderfulinterviewwithherfather，inwhichhewasstupendouslygraveandH——less，wantedtoknowaboutmyoriginsandwastolerantexasperatinglytolerantbecausemymotherwasaservant，andafterwardshermothertooktokissingme，andIboughtaring。Butthespeechlessaunt，Igathered，didn’tapprove——havingdoubtsofmyreligiosity。Wheneverwewereestrangedwecouldkeepapartfordays；andtobeginwith，everysuchseparationwasarelief。AndthenIwouldwanther；arestlesslongingwouldcomeuponme。Iwouldthinkoftheflowofherarms，ofthesoft，graciousbendofherbody。IwouldlieawakeordreamofatransfiguredMarionoflightandfire。ItwasindeedDameNaturedrivingmeontowomankindinherstupid，inexorableway；butIthoughtitwastheneedofMarionthattroubledme。SoIalwayswentbacktoMarionatlastandmadeitupandmoreorlessconcededorignoredwhateverthinghadpartedus，andmoreandmoreIurgedhertomarryme。
　　Inthelongrunthatbecameafixedidea。Itentangledmywillandmypride；ItoldmyselfIwasnotgoingtobebeaten。I
　　hardenedtothebusiness。Ithink，asamatteroffact，myrealpassionforMarionhadwanedenormouslylongbeforeweweremarried，thatshehadliveditdownbysheerirresponsiveness。
　　WhenIfeltsureofmythreehundredayearshestipulatedfordelay，twelvemonths’delay，“toseehowthingswouldturnout。”
　　ThereweretimeswhensheseemedsimplyanantagonistholdingoutirritatinglyagainstsomethingIhadtosettle。Moreover，I
　　begantobegreatlydistractedbytheinterestandexcitementofTono-Bungay’ssuccess，bythechangeandmovementinthings，thegoingtoandfro。Iwouldforgetherfordaystogether，andthendesireherwithanirritatingintensityatlast，oneSaturdayafternoon，afterabroodingmorning，Ideterminedalmostsavagelythatthesedelaysmustend。
　　IwentofftothelittlehomeatWalhamGreen，andmadeMarioncomewithmetoPutneyCommon。Marionwasn’tathomewhenIgotthereandIhadtofretforatimeandtalktoherfather，whowasjustbackfromhisoffice，heexplained，andenjoyinghimselfinhisownwayinthegreenhouse。
　　“I’mgoingtoaskyourdaughtertomarryme！”Isaid。“Ithinkwe’vebeenwaitinglongenough。”
　　“Idon’tapproveoflongengagementseither。”saidherfather。
　　“ButMarionwillhaveherownwayaboutit，anyhow。Seenthisnewpowderedfertiliser？”
　　IwentintotalktoMrs。Ramboat。“She’llwanttimetogetherthings。”saidMrs。Ramboat。
　　IandMarionsatdowntogetheronalittleseatundersometreesatthetopofPutneyHill，andIcametomypointabruptly。
　　“Lookhere，Marion。”Isaid，“areyougoingtomarrymeorareyounot？”
　　Shesmiledatme。“Well。”shesaid，“we’reengaged——aren’twe？”
　　“Thatcan’tgoonforever。Willyoumarrymenextweek？”
　　Shelookedmeintheface。“Wecan’t。”shesaid。
　　“YoupromisedtomarrymewhenIhadthreehundredayear。”
　　Shewassilentforaspace。“Can’twegoonforatimeasweare？WeCOULDmarryonthreehundredayear。Butitmeansaverylittlehouse。There’sSmithie’sbrother。Theymanageontwohundredandfifty，butthat’sverylittle。Shesaystheyhaveasemi-detachedhousealmostontheroad，andhardlyabitofgarden。Andthewalltonext-doorissothintheyheareverything。Whenherbabycries——theyrap。Andpeoplestandagainsttherailingsandtalk。Can’twewait？You’redoingsowell。”
　　Anextraordinarybitternesspossessedmeatthisinvasionofthestupendousbeautifulbusinessoflovebysordidnecessity。I
　　answeredherwithimmenserestraint。
　　“If。”Isaid，“wecouldhaveadouble-fronted，detachedhouse——atEaling，say——withasquarepatchoflawninfrontandagardenbehind——and——andatiledbathroom“
　　“Thatwouldbesixtypoundsayearatleast。”
　　“Whichmeansfivehundredayear。Yes，well，yousee，ItoldmyuncleIwantedthat，andI’vegotit。”
　　“Gotwhat？”
　　“Fivehundredpoundsayear。”
　　“Fivehundredpounds！”
　　Iburstintolaughterthathadmorethanatasteofbitterness。
　　“Yes。”Isaid，“really！andNOWwhatdoyouthink？”
　　“Yes。”shesaid，alittleflushed；“butbesensible！Doyoureallymeanyou’vegotaRise，allatonce，oftwohundredayear？”
　　“Tomarryon——yes。”
　　Shescrutinisedmeamoment。“You’vedonethisasasurprise！”
　　shesaid，andlaughedatmylaughter。Shehadbecomeradiant，andthatmademeradiant，too。
　　“Yes。”Isaid，“yes。”andlaughednolongerbitterly。
　　Sheclaspedherhandsandlookedmeintheeyes。
　　ShewassopleasedthatIforgotabsolutelymydisgustofamomentbefore。IforgotthatshehadraisedherpricetwohundredpoundsayearandthatIhadboughtheratthat。
　　“Come！”Isaid，standingup；“let’sgotowardsthesunset，dear，andtalkaboutitall。Doyouknow——thisisamostbeautifulworld，anamazinglybeautifulworld，andwhenthesunsetfallsuponyouitmakesyouintoshininggold。No，notgold——intogoldenglass。Intosomethingbetterthateitherglassorgold。”。
　　AndforallthateveningIwooedherandkeptherglad。Shemademerepeatmyassurancesoveragainandstilldoubtedalittle。
　　Wefurnishedthatdouble-frontedhousefromattic——itrantoanattic——tocellar，andcreatedagarden。
　　“DoyouknowPampasGrass？”saidMarion。“IlovePampasGrass。
　　ifthereisroom。”
　　“YoushallhavePampasGrass。”Ideclared。Andthereweremomentsaswewentinimaginationaboutthathousetogether，whenmywholebeingcriedouttotakeherinmyarms——now。ButI
　　refrained。OnthataspectoflifeItouchedverylightlyinthattalk，verylightlybecauseIhadhadmylessons。Shepromisedtomarrymewithintwomonths’time。Shyly，reluctantly，shenamedaday，andnextafternoon，inheatandwrath，we“brokeitoff“
　　againforthelasttime。Wesplituponprocedure。Irefusedflatlytohaveanormalweddingwithweddingcake，inwhitefavours，carriagesandtherestofit。Itdawneduponmesuddenlyinconversationwithherandhermother，thatthiswasimplied。Iblurtedoutmyobjectionforthwith，andthistimeitwasn’tanyordinarydifferenceofopinion；itwasa“row。”I
　　don’trememberaquarterofthethingsweflungoutinthatdispute。Irememberhermotherreiteratingintonesofgentleremonstrance：“But，Georgedear，youmusthaveacake——tosendhome。”Ithinkweallreiteratedthings。Iseemtorememberarefrainofmyown：“Amarriageistoosacredathing，tooprivateathing，forthisdisplay。Herfathercameinandstoodbehindmeagainstthewall，andherauntappearedbesidethesideboardandstoodwitharms，lookingfromspeakertospeaker，asternlygratifiedprophetess。Itdidn’toccurtomethen！HowpainfulitwastoMarionforthesepeopletowitnessmyrebellion。
　　“But，George。”saidherfather，“whatsortofmarriagedoyouwant？Youdon’twanttogotooneofthosethereregistryoffices？”
　　“That’sexactlywhatI’dliketodo。Marriageistooprivateathing——“
　　“Ishouldn’tfeelmarried。”saidMrs。Ramboat。
　　“Lookhere，Marion。”Isaid；“wearegoingtobemarriedataregistryoffice。Idon’tbelieveinallthesefripperiesandsuperstitions，andIwon’tsubmittothem。I’veagreedtoallsortsofthingstopleaseyou。”
　　“What’sheagreedto？”saidherfather——unheeded。
　　“Ican’tmarryataregistryoffice。”saidMarion，sallow-white。
　　“Verywell。”Isaid。“I’llmarrynowhereelse。”
　　“Ican’tmarryataregistryoffice。”
　　“Verywell。”Isaid，standingup，whiteandtenseanditamazedme，butIwasalsoexultant；“thenwewon’tmarryatall。”