Thatevening，Cliffordwantedtobenicetoher。Hewasreadingoneofthelatestscientific-religiousbooks：hehadastreakofaspurioussortofreligioninhim，andwasegocentricallyconcernedwiththefutureofhisownego。ItwaslikehishabittomakeconversationtoConnieaboutsomebook，sincetheconversationbetweenthemhadtobemade，almostchemically。
　　Theyhadalmostchemicallytoconcoctitintheirheads。
　　`Whatdoyouthinkofthis，bytheway？’hesaid，reachingforhisbook。
　　`You’dhavenoneedtocoolyourardentbodybyrunningoutintherain，ifonlywehaveafewmoreaeonsofevolutionbehindus。Ah，hereitis!——“Theuniverseshowsustwoaspects：ononesideitisphysicallywasting，ontheotheritisspirituallyascending。“’
　　Connielistened，expectingmore。ButCliffordwaswaiting。Shelookedathiminsurprise。
　　`Andifitspirituallyascends，’shesaid，`whatdoesitleavedownbelow，intheplacewhereitstailusedtobe？’
　　`Ah!’hesaid。`Takethemanforwhathemeans。Ascendingistheoppositeofhiswasting，Ipresume。’
　　`Spirituallyblownout，sotospeak!’
　　`No，butseriously，withoutjoking：doyouthinkthereisanythinginit？’
　　Shelookedathimagain。
　　`Physicallywasting？’shesaid。`Iseeyougettingfatter，andI’msotwastingmyself。Doyouthinkthesunissmallerthanheusedtobe？He’snottome。AndIsupposetheappleAdamofferedEvewasn’treallymuchbigger，ifany，thanoneofourorangepippins。Doyouthinkitwas？’
　　`Well，hearhowhegoeson：“Itisthusslowlypassing，withaslownessinconceivableinourmeasuresoftime，tonewcreativeconditions，amidwhichthephysicalworld，asweatpresentknowit，willherepresentedbyaripplebarelytobedistinguishedfromnonentity。“’
　　Shelistenedwithaglistenofamusement。Allsortsofimproperthingssuggestedthemselves。Butsheonlysaid：
　　`Whatsillyhocus-pocus!Asifhislittleconceitedconsciousnesscouldknowwhatwashappeningasslowlyasallthat!Itonlymeanshe’saphysicalfailureontheearth，sohewantstomakethewholeuniverseaphysicalfailure。Priggishlittleimpertinence!’
　　`Oh，butlisten!Don’tinterruptthegreatman’ssolemnwords!——“Thepresenttypeoforderintheworldhasrisenfromanunimaginablepart，andwillfinditsgraveinanunimaginablefuture。Thereremainstheinexhaustiverealmofabstractforms，andcreativitywithitsshiftingcharactereverdeterminedafreshbyitsowncreatures，andGod，uponwhosewisdomallformsoforderdepend。“——There，that’showhewindsup!’
　　Conniesatlisteningcontemptuously。
　　`He’sspirituallyblownout，’shesaid。`Whatalotofstuff!Unnimaginables，andtypesoforderingraves，andrealmsofabstractforms，andcreativitywithashiftycharacter，andGodmixedupwithformsoforder!Why，it’sidiotic!’
　　`Imustsay，itisalittlevaguelyconglomerate，amixtureofgases，sotospeak，’saidClifford。`Still，Ithinkthereissomethingintheideathattheuniverseisphysicallywastingandspirituallyascending。’
　　`Doyou？Thenletitascend，solongasitleavesmesafelyandsolidlyphysicallyherebelow。’
　　`Doyoulikeyourphysique？’heasked。
　　`Iloveit!’Andthroughhermindwentthewords：It’sthenicest，nicestwoman’sarseasis!
　　`Butthatisreallyratherextraordinary，becausethere’snodenyingit’sanencumbrance。ButthenIsupposeawomandoesn’ttakeasupremepleasureinthelifeofthemind。’
　　`Supremepleasure？’shesaid，lookingupathim。`Isthatsortofidiocythesupremepleasureofthelifeofthemind？Nothankyou!Givemethebody。Ibelievethelifeofthebodyisagreaterrealitythanthelifeofthemind：whenthebodyisreallywakenedtolife。Butsomanypeople，likeyourfamouswind-machine，haveonlygotmindstackedontotheirphysicalcorpses。’
　　Helookedatherinwonder。
　　`Thelifeofthebody，’hesaid，`isjustthelifeoftheanimals。’
　　`Andthat’sbetterthanthelifeofprofessionalcorpses。Butit’snottrue!thehumanbodyisonlyjustcomingtoreallife。WiththeGreeksitgavealovelyflicker，thenPlatoandAristotlekilledit，andJesusfinisheditoff。Butnowthebodyiscomingreallytolife，itisreallyrisingfromthetomb。AndItwillbealovely，lovelylifeinthelovelyuniverse，thelifeofthehumanbody。’
　　`Mydear，youspeakasifyouwereusheringitallin!True，youamgoingawayonaholiday：butdon’tpleasebequitesoindecentlyelatedaboutit。Believeme，whateverGodthereisisslowlyeliminatingthegutsandalimentarysystemfromthehumanbeing，toevolveahigher，morespiritualbeing。’
　　`WhyshouldIbelieveyou，Clifford，whenIfeelthatwhateverGodthereishasatlastwakenedupinmyguts，asyoucallthem，andisripplingsohappilythere，likedawn。WhyshouldIbelieveyou，whenIfeelsoverymuchthecontrary？’
　　`Oh，exactly!Andwhathascausedthisextraordinarychangeinyou？
　　runningoutstarknakedintherain，andplayingBacchante？desireforsensation，ortheanticipationofgoingtoVenice？’
　　`Both!Doyouthinkitishorridofmetobesothrilledatgoingoff？’
　　shesaid。
　　`Ratherhorridtoshowitsoplainly。’
　　`ThenI’llhideit。’
　　`Oh，don’ttrouble!Youalmostcommunicateathrilltome。IalmostfeelthatitisIwhoamgoingoff。’
　　`Well，whydon’tyoucome？’
　　`We’vegoneoverallthat。Andasamatteroffact，Isupposeyourgreatestthrillcomesfrombeingabletosayatemporaryfarewelltoallthis。Nothingsothrilling，forthemoment，asGood-bye-to-all!——Buteverypartingmeansameetingelsewhere。Andeverymeetingisanewbondage。’
　　`I’mnotgoingtoenteranynewbondages。’
　　`Don’tboast，whilethegodsarelistening，’hesaid。
　　Shepulledupshort。
　　`No!Iwon’tboast!’shesaid。
　　Butshewasthrilled，nonetheless，tobegoingoff：tofeelbondssnap。Shecouldn’thelpit。
　　Clifford，whocouldn’tsleep，gambledallnightwithMrsBolton，tillshewastoosleepyalmosttolive。
　　AndthedaycameroundforHildatoarrive。ConniehadarrangedwithMellorsthatifeverythingpromisedwellfortheirnighttogether，shewouldhangagreenshawloutofthewindow。Iftherewerefrustration，aredone。
　　MrsBoltonhelpedConnietopack。
　　`ItwillbesogoodforyourLadyshiptohaveachange。’
　　`Ithinkitwill。Youdon’tmindhavingSirCliffordonyourhandsaloneforatime，doyou？’
　　`Ohno!Icanmanagehimquiteallright。Imean，Icandoallheneedsmetodo。Don’tyouthinkhe’sbetterthanheusedtobe？’
　　`Ohmuch!Youdowonderswithhim。’
　　`DoIthough!Butmenareallalike：justbabies，andyouhavetoflatterthemandwheedlethemandletthemthinkthey’rehavingtheirownway。
　　Don’tyoufinditso，myLady？’
　　`I’mafraidIhaven’tmuchexperience。’
　　Conniepausedinheroccupation。
　　`Evenyourhusband，didyouhavetomanagehim，andwheedlehimlikeababy？’sheasked，lookingattheotherwoman。
　　MrsBoltonpausedtoo。
　　`Well!’shesaid。`Ihadtodoagoodbitofcoaxing，withhimtoo。
　　ButhealwaysknewwhatIwasafter，Imustsaythat。Buthegenerallygaveintome。’
　　`Hewasneverthelordandmasterthing？’
　　`No!Atleastthere’dbealookinhiseyessometimes，andthenIknewI’dgottogivein。Butusuallyhegaveintome。No，hewasneverlordandmaster。ButneitherwasI。IknewwhenIcouldgonofurtherwithhim，andthenIgavein：thoughitcostmeagoodbit，sometimes。’
　　`Andwhatifyouhadheldoutagainsthim？’
　　`Oh，Idon’tknow，Ineverdid。Evenwhenhewasinthewrong，ifhewasfixed，Igavein。Yousee，Ineverwantedtobreakwhatwasbetweenus。Andifyoureallysetyourwillagainstaman，thatfinishesit。Ifyoucareforaman，youhavetogiveintohimoncehe’sreallydetermined；
　　whetheryou’reintherightornot，youhavetogivein。Elseyoubreaksomething。ButImustsay，Ted’udgiveintomesometimes，whenIwassetonathing，andinthewrong。SoIsupposeitcutsbothways。’
　　`Andthat’showyouarewithallyourpatients？’askedConnie。
　　`Oh，That’sdifferent。Idon’tcareatall，inthesameway。Iknowwhat’sgoodforthem，orItryto，andthenIjustcontrivetomanagethemfortheirowngood。It’snotlikeanybodyasyou’rereallyfondof。It’squitedifferent。Onceyou’vebeenreallyfondofaman，youcanbeaffectionatetoalmostanyman，ifheneedsyouatall。Butit’snotthesamething。
　　Youdon’treallycare。Idoubt，onceyou’vereallycared，ifyoucaneverreallycareagain。’
　　ThesewordsfrightenedConnie。
　　`Doyouthinkonecanonlycareonce？’sheasked。
　　`Ornever。Mostwomennevercare，neverbeginto。Theydon’tknowwhatitmeans。Normeneither。ButwhenIseeawomanascares，myheartstandsstillforher。’
　　`Anddoyouthinkmeneasilytakeoffence？’
　　`Yes!Ifyouwoundthemontheirpride。Butaren’twomenthesame？Onlyourtwopridesareabitdifferent。’
　　Connieponderedthis。Shebeganagaintohavesomemisgivingabouthergagaway。Afterall，wasshenotgivinghermanthego-by，ifonlyforashorttime？Andheknewit。That’swhyhewassoqueerandsarcastic。
　　Still!thehumanexistenceisagooddealcontrolledbythemachineofexternalcircumstance。Shewasinthepowerofthismachine。Shecouldn’textricateherselfallinfiveminutes。Shedidn’tevenwantto。
　　HildaarrivedingoodtimeonThursdaymorning，inanimbletwo-seatercar，withhersuit-casestrappedfirmlybehind。Shelookedasdemureandmaidenlyasever，butshehadthesamewillofherown。Shehadtheveryhellofawillofherown，asherhusbandhadfoundout。Butthehusbandwasnowdivorcingher。
　　Yes，sheevenmadeiteasyforhimtodothat，thoughshehadnolover。
　　Forthetimebeing，shewas`off’men。Shewasverywellcontenttobequiteherownmistress：andmistressofhertwochildren，whomshewasgoingtobringup`properly’，whateverthatmaymean。
　　Conniewasonlyallowedasuit-case，also。Butshehadsentonatrunktoherfather，whowasgoingbytrain。NousetakingacartoVenice。AndItalymuchtoohottomotorin，inJuly。Hewasgoingcomfortablybytrain。
　　HehadjustcomedownfromScotland。
　　So，likeademurearcadianfield-marshal，Hildaarrangedthematerialpartofthejourney。SheandConniesatintheupstairsroom，chatting。
　　`ButHilda!’saidConnie，alittlefrightened。`Iwanttostaynearheretonight。Nothere：nearhere!’
　　Hildafixedhersisterwithgrey，inscrutableeyes。Sheseemedsocalm：
　　andshewassooftenfurious。
　　`Where，nearhere？’sheaskedsoftly。
　　`Well，youknowIlovesomebody，don’tyou？’
　　`Igatheredtherewassomething。’
　　`Wellhelivesnearhere，andIwanttospendthislastnightwithhimmust!I’vepromised。’
　　Conniebecameinsistent。
　　HildabentherMinerva-likeheadinsilence。Thenshelookedup。
　　`Doyouwanttotellmewhoheis？’shesaid。
　　`He’sourgame-keeper，’falteredConnie，andsheflushedvividly，likeashamedchild。
　　`Connie!’saidHilda，liftinghernoseslightlywithdisgust：ashehadfromhermother。
　　`Iknow：buthe’slovelyreally。Hereallyunderstandstenderness，’
　　saidConnie，tryingtoapologizeforhim。
　　Hilda，likearuddy，rich-colouredAthena，bowedherheadandponderedShewasreallyviolentlyangry。Butshedarednotshowit，becauseConnie，takingafterherfather，wouldstraightawaybecomeobstreperousandunmanageable。
　　Itwastrue，HildadidnotlikeClifford：hiscoolassurancethathewassomebody!ShethoughthemadeuseofConnieshamefullyandimpudently。
　　Shehadhopedhersisterwouldleavehim。But，beingsolidScotchmiddleclass，sheloathedany`lowering’ofoneselforthefamily。Shelookedupatlast。
　　`You’llregretit，’shesaid，`Ishan’t，’criedConnie，flushedred。`He’squitetheexception。Ireallylovehim。He’slovelyasalover。’
　　Hildastillpondered。
　　`You’llgetoverhimquitesoon，’shesaid，`andlivetobeashamedofyourselfbecauseofhim。’
　　`Ishan’t!IhopeI’mgoingtohaveachildofhis。’
　　`Connie!’saidHilda，hardasahammer-stroke，andpalewithanger。
　　`IshallifIpossiblycan。IshouldbefearfullyproudifIhadachildbyhim。’
　　Itwasnousetalkingtoher。Hildapondered。
　　`Anddoesn’tCliffordsuspect？’shesaid。
　　`Ohno!Whyshouldhe？’
　　`I’venodoubtyou’vegivenhimplentyofoccasionforsuspicion，’saidHilda。
　　`Notitall。’
　　`Andtonight’sbusinessseemsquitegratuitousfolly。Wheredoesthemanlive？’
　　`Inthecottageattheotherendofthewood。’
　　`Isheabachelor？’
　　`No!Hiswifelefthim。’
　　`Howold？’
　　`Idon’tknow。Olderthanme。’
　　Hildabecamemoreangryateveryreply，angryashermotherusedtobe，inakindofparoxysm。Butstillshehidit。
　　`Iwouldgiveuptonight’sescapadeifIwereyou，’sheadvisedcalmly。
　　`Ican’t!Imuststaywithhimtonight，orIcan’tgotoVeniceatall。Ijustcan’t。’
　　Hildaheardherfatheroveragain，andshegaveway，outofmerediplomacy。
　　AndsheconsentedtodrivetoMansfield，bothofthem，todinner，tobringConniebacktothelane-endafterdark，andtofetchherfromthelane-endthenextmorning，herselfsleepinginMansfield，onlyhalfanhouraway，goodgoing。
　　Butshewasfurious。Shestoreditupagainsthersister，thisbalkinherplans。
　　Connieflunganemerald-greenshawloverherwindow-sill。