foroutatSantaMarinaHelenknew，byexperience，thathewouldworkallday；hisboxes，shesaid，werepackedwithbooks。
　　“Leaveittome——leaveittome！“saidWilloughby，obviouslyintendingtodomuchmorethansheaskedofhim。ButRidleyandMr。Pepperwereheardfumblingatthedoor。
　　“Howareyou，Vinrace？“saidRidley，extendingalimphandashecamein，asthoughthemeetingweremelancholytoboth，butonthewholemoresotohim。
　　Willoughbypreservedhisheartiness，temperedbyrespect。
　　Forthemomentnothingwassaid。
　　“Welookedinandsawyoulaughing，“Helenremarked。“Mr。Pepperhadjusttoldaverygoodstory。“
　　“Pish。Noneofthestoriesweregood，“saidherhusbandpeevishly。
　　“Stillaseverejudge，Ridley？“enquiredMr。Vinrace。
　　“Weboredyousothatyouleft，“saidRidley，speakingdirectlytohiswife。
　　AsthiswasquitetrueHelendidnotattempttodenyit，andhernextremark，“Butdidn’ttheyimproveafterwe’dgone？“
　　wasunfortunate，forherhusbandansweredwithadroopofhisshoulders，“Ifpossibletheygotworse。“
　　Thesituationwasnowoneofconsiderablediscomfortforeveryoneconcerned，aswasprovedbyalongintervalofconstraintandsilence。Mr。Pepper，indeed，createdadiversionofakindbyleapingontohisseat，bothfeettuckedunderhim，withtheactionofaspinsterwhodetectsamouse，asthedraughtstruckathisankles。Drawnupthere，suckingathiscigar，withhisarmsencirclinghisknees，helookedliketheimageofBuddha，andfromthiselevationbeganadiscourse，addressedtonobody，fornobodyhadcalledforit，upontheunplumbeddepthsofocean。
　　HeprofessedhimselfsurprisedtolearnthatalthoughMr。Vinracepossessedtenships，regularlyplyingbetweenLondonandBuenosAires，notoneofthemwasbiddentoinvestigatethegreatwhitemonstersofthelowerwaters。
　　“No，no，“laughedWilloughby，“themonstersoftheeartharetoomanyforme！“
　　Rachelwasheardtosigh，“Poorlittlegoats！“
　　“Ifitweren’tforthegoatsthere’dbenomusic，mydear；
　　musicdependsupongoats，“saidherfatherrathersharply，andMr。Pepperwentontodescribethewhite，hairless，blindmonsterslyingcurledontheridgesofsandatthebottomofthesea，whichwouldexplodeifyoubroughtthemtothesurface，theirsidesburstingasunderandscatteringentrailstothewindswhenreleasedfrompressure，withconsiderabledetailandwithsuchshowofknowledge，thatRidleywasdisgusted，andbeggedhimtostop。
　　FromallthisHelendrewherownconclusions，whichweregloomyenough。
　　Pepperwasabore；Rachelwasanunlickedgirl，nodoubtprolificofconfidences，theveryfirstofwhichwouldbe:“Yousee，Idon’tgetonwithmyfather。“Willoughby，asusual，lovedhisbusinessandbuilthisEmpire，andbetweenthemallshewouldbeconsiderablybored。Beingawomanofaction，however，sherose，andsaidthatforherpartshewasgoingtobed。AtthedoorsheglancedbackinstinctivelyatRachel，expectingthatastwoofthesamesextheywouldleavetheroomtogether。Rachelrose，lookedvaguelyintoHelen’sface，andremarkedwithherslightstammer，“I’mgoingouttot-t-triumphinthewind。“
　　Mrs。Ambrose’sworstsuspicionswereconfirmed；shewentdownthepassagelurchingfromsidetoside，andfendingoffthewallnowwithherrightarm，nowwithherleft；ateachlurchsheexclaimedemphatically，“Damn！“
　　Uncomfortableasthenight，withitsrockingmovement，andsaltsmells，mayhavebeen，andinonecaseundoubtedlywas，forMr。Pepperhadinsufficientclothesuponhisbed，thebreakfastnextmorningworeakindofbeauty。Thevoyagehadbegun，andhadbegunhappilywithasoftbluesky，andacalmsea。
　　Thesenseofuntappedresources，thingstosayasyetunsaid，madethehoursignificant，sothatinfutureyearstheentirejourneyperhapswouldberepresentedbythisonescene，withthesoundofsirenshootingintheriverthenightbefore，somehowmixingin。
　　Thetablewascheerfulwithapplesandbreadandeggs。HelenhandedWilloughbythebutter，andasshedidsocasthereyeonhimandreflected，“Andshemarriedyou，andshewashappy，Isuppose。“
　　Shewentoffonafamiliartrainofthought，leadingontoallkindsofwell-knownreflections，fromtheoldwonder，whyTheresahadmarriedWilloughby？
　　“Ofcourse，oneseesallthat，“shethought，meaningthatoneseesthatheisbigandburly，andhasagreatboomingvoice，andafistandawillofhisown；“but——“heresheslippedintoafineanalysisofhimwhichisbestrepresentedbyoneword，“sentimental，“bywhichshemeantthathewasneversimpleandhonestabouthisfeelings。
　　Forexample，heseldomspokeofthedead，butkeptanniversarieswithsingularpomp。Shesuspectedhimofnamelessatrocitieswithregardtohisdaughter，asindeedshehadalwayssuspectedhimofbullyinghiswife。Naturallyshefelltocomparingherownfortuneswiththefortunesofherfriend，forWilloughby’swifehadbeenperhapstheonewomanHelencalledfriend，andthiscomparisonoftenmadethestapleoftheirtalk。Ridleywasascholar，andWilloughbywasamanofbusiness。RidleywasbringingoutthethirdvolumeofPindarwhenWilloughbywaslaunchinghisfirstship。
　　TheybuiltanewfactorytheveryyearthecommentaryonAristotle——
　　wasit？——appearedattheUniversityPress。“AndRachel，“shelookedather，meaning，nodoubt，todecidetheargument，whichwasotherwisetooevenlybalanced，bydeclaringthatRachelwasnotcomparabletoherownchildren。“Shereallymightbesixyearsold，“
　　wasallshesaid，however，thisjudgmentreferringtothesmoothunmarkedoutlineofthegirl’sface，andnotcondemningherotherwise，forifRachelwereevertothink，feel，laugh，orexpressherself，insteadofdroppingmilkfromaheightasthoughtoseewhatkindofdropsitmade，shemightbeinterestingthoughneverexactlypretty。
　　Shewaslikehermother，astheimageinapoolonastillsummer’sdayislikethevividflushedfacethathangsoverit。
　　MeanwhileHelenherselfwasunderexamination，thoughnotfromeitherofhervictims。Mr。Pepperconsideredher；andhismeditations，carriedonwhilehecuthistoastintobarsandneatlybutteredthem，tookhimthroughaconsiderablestretchofautobiography。OneofhispenetratingglancesassuredhimthathewasrightlastnightinjudgingthatHelenwasbeautiful。Blandlyhepassedherthejam。
　　Shewastalkingnonsense，butnotworsenonsensethanpeopleusuallydotalkatbreakfast，thecerebralcirculation，asheknewtohiscost，beingapttogivetroubleatthathour。Hewentonsaying“No“toher，onprinciple，forheneveryieldedtoawomanonaccountofhersex。
　　Andhere，droppinghiseyestohisplate，hebecameautobiographical。
　　Hehadnotmarriedhimselfforthesufficientreasonthathehadnevermetawomanwhocommandedhisrespect。CondemnedtopassthesusceptibleyearsofyouthinarailwaystationinBombay，hehadseenonlycolouredwomen，militarywomen，officialwomen；
　　andhisidealwasawomanwhocouldreadGreek，ifnotPersian，wasirreproachablyfairintheface，andabletounderstandthesmallthingsheletfallwhileundressing。Asitwashehadcontractedhabitsofwhichhewasnotintheleastashamed。
　　Certainoddminuteseverydaywenttolearningthingsbyheart；
　　henevertookaticketwithoutnotingthenumber；hedevotedJanuarytoPetronius，FebruarytoCatullus，MarchtotheEtruscanvasesperhaps；anyhowhehaddonegoodworkinIndia，andtherewasnothingtoregretinhislifeexceptthefundamentaldefectswhichnowisemanregrets，whenthepresentisstillhis。
　　Soconcludinghelookedupsuddenlyandsmiled。Rachelcaughthiseye。
　　“Andnowyou’vechewedsomethingthirty-seventimes，Isuppose？“
　　shethought，butsaidpolitelyaloud，“Areyourlegstroublingyouto-day，Mr。Pepper？“
　　“Myshoulderblades？“heasked，shiftingthempainfully。
　　“BeautyhasnoeffectuponuricacidthatI’mawareof，“hesighed，contemplatingtheroundpaneopposite，throughwhichtheskyandseashowedblue。Atthesametimehetookalittleparchmentvolumefromhispocketandlaiditonthetable。Asitwasclearthatheinvitedcomment，Helenaskedhimthenameofit。Shegotthename；
　　butshegotalsoadisquisitionuponthepropermethodofmakingroads。
　　BeginningwiththeGreeks，whohad，hesaid，manydifficultiestocontendwith，hecontinuedwiththeRomans，passedtoEnglandandtherightmethod，whichspeedilybecamethewrongmethod，andwoundupwithsuchafuryofdenunciationdirectedagainsttheroad-makersofthepresentdayingeneral，andtheroad-makersofRichmondParkinparticular，whereMr。Pepperhadthehabitofcyclingeverymorningbeforebreakfast，thatthespoonsfairlyjingledagainstthecoffeecups，andtheinsidesofatleastfourrollsmountedinaheapbesideMr。Pepper’splate。
　　“Pebbles！“heconcluded，viciouslydroppinganotherbreadpelletupontheheap。“TheroadsofEnglandaremendedwithpebbles！
　　’Withthefirstheavyrainfall，’I’vetold’em，’yourroadwillbeaswamp。’Againandagainmywordshaveprovedtrue。
　　Butd’yousupposetheylistentomewhenItell’emso，whenI
　　pointouttheconsequences，theconsequencestothepublicpurse，whenIrecommend’emtoreadCoryphaeus？No，Mrs。Ambrose，youwillformnojustopinionofthestupidityofmankinduntilyouhavesatuponaBoroughCouncil！“Thelittlemanfixedherwithaglanceofferociousenergy。
　　“Ihavehadservants，“saidMrs。Ambrose，concentratinghergaze。
　　“AtthismomentIhaveanurse。She’sagoodwomanastheygo，butshe’sdeterminedtomakemychildrenpray。Sofar，owingtogreatcareonmypart，theythinkofGodasakindofwalrus；
　　butnowthatmyback’sturned——Ridley，“shedemanded，swingingrounduponherhusband，“whatshallwedoifwefindthemsayingtheLord’sPrayerwhenwegethomeagain？“
　　Ridleymadethesoundwhichisrepresentedby“Tush。“ButWilloughby，whosediscomfortashelistenedwasmanifestedbyaslightmovementrockingofhisbody，saidawkwardly，“Oh，surely，Helen，alittlereligionhurtsnobody。“
　　“Iwouldrathermychildrentoldlies，“shereplied，andwhileWilloughbywasreflectingthathissister-in-lawwasevenmoreeccentricthanheremembered，pushedherchairbackandsweptupstairs。
　　Inasecondtheyheardhercallingback，“Oh，look！We’reoutatsea！“
　　Theyfollowedherontothedeck。Allthesmokeandthehouseshaddisappeared，andtheshipwasoutinawidespaceofseaveryfreshandclearthoughpaleintheearlylight。TheyhadleftLondonsittingonitsmud。Averythinlineofshadowtaperedonthehorizon，scarcelythickenoughtostandtheburdenofParis，whichneverthelessresteduponit。Theywerefreeofroads，freeofmankind，andthesameexhilarationattheirfreedomranthroughthemall。Theshipwasmakingherwaysteadilythroughsmallwaveswhichslappedherandthenfizzledlikeeffervescingwater，leavingalittleborderofbubblesandfoamoneitherside。
　　ThecolourlessOctoberskyabovewasthinlycloudedasifbythetrailofwood-firesmoke，andtheairwaswonderfullysaltandbrisk。
　　Indeeditwastoocoldtostandstill。Mrs。Ambrosedrewherarmwithinherhusband’s，andastheymovedoffitcouldbeseenfromthewayinwhichherslopingcheekturneduptohisthatshehadsomethingprivatetocommunicate。TheywentafewpacesandRachelsawthemkiss。
　　Downshelookedintothedepthofthesea。Whileitwasslightlydisturbedonthesurfacebythepassageofthe_Euphrosyne_，beneathitwasgreenanddim，anditgrewdimmeranddimmeruntilthesandatthebottomwasonlyapaleblur。Onecouldscarcelyseetheblackribsofwreckedships，orthespiraltowersmadebytheburrowingsofgreateels，orthesmoothgreen-sidedmonsterswhocamebyflickeringthiswayandthat——
　　“And，Rachel，ifanyonewantsme，I’mbusytillone，“saidherfather，enforcinghiswordsasheoftendid，whenhespoketohisdaughter，byasmartblowupontheshoulder。
　　“Untilone，“herepeated。“Andyou’llfindyourselfsomeemployment，eh？Scales，French，alittleGerman，eh？There’sMr。PepperwhoknowsmoreaboutseparableverbsthananymaninEurope，eh？“andhewentofflaughing。Rachellaughed，too，asindeedshehadlaughedeversinceshecouldremember，withoutthinkingitfunny，butbecausesheadmiredherfather。
　　Butjustasshewasturningwithaviewperhapstofindingsomeemployment，shewasinterceptedbyawomanwhowassobroadandsothickthattobeinterceptedbyherwasinevitable。
　　Thediscreettentativewayinwhichshemoved，togetherwithhersoberblackdress，showedthatshebelongedtothelowerorders；
　　neverthelessshetookuparock-likeposition，lookingabouthertoseethatnogentrywerenearbeforeshedeliveredhermessage，whichhadreferencetothestateofthesheets，andwasoftheutmostgravity。
　　“Howeverwe’retogetthroughthisvoyage，MissRachel，Ireallycan’ttell，“shebeganwithashakeofherhead。“There’sonlyjustsheetsenoughtogoround，andthemaster’shasarottenplaceyoucouldputyourfingersthrough。Andthecounterpanes。Didyounoticethecounterpanes？Ithoughttomyselfapoorpersonwouldhavebeenashamedofthem。TheoneIgaveMr。Pepperwashardlyfittocoveradog……No，MissRachel，theycould_not_bemended；
　　they’reonlyfitfordustsheets。Why，ifonesewedone’sfingertothebone，onewouldhaveone’sworkundonethenexttimetheywenttothelaundry。“
　　Hervoiceinitsindignationwaveredasiftearswerenear。
　　Therewasnothingforitbuttodescendandinspectalargepileoflinenheapeduponatable。Mrs。Chaileyhandledthesheetsasifshekneweachbyname，character，andconstitution。Somehadyellowstains，othershadplaceswherethethreadsmadelongladders；
　　buttotheordinaryeyetheylookedmuchassheetsusuallydolook，verychill，white，cold，andirreproachablyclean。