IreadintoLadyJohn’swonderfulmanner——whichquiteclamoured，moreover，foraninterpretation——allthatwasimpliedinthelessonIhadextractedfromotherportionsofthebusiness。Itwasdistinctlypoorshewhogavemethelead，anditwasnotlessdefinitethatsheputittomethatI
　　shouldrenderheraserviceeitherbyremainingwiththemorbyinventingsomething—thatwouldlureherpersecutoraway。Shedesiredhim，evenatthecostofherbeingleftalone，distractedfromhispursuit。
　　Poorhe，inhisquarter，Ihastentoadd，contributedtomypickingoutthisembroiderynothingmorehelpfulthanasustaineddetachment。Hesaidaslittleaspossible，seemedheedlessofwhatwasotherwisesaid，andonlygavemeonhisownaccountalookortwoofdimsuggestiveness。
　　Yetitwastheselooksthatmosttoldwithme，andwhatthey，fortheirpart，conveyedwasapleathatdirectlycontradictedLadyJohn’s。Iunderstoodhimthatitwashewhowasbored，hewhohadbeenpursued，heforwhomperversityhadbecomeadreadfulmenace，he，infine，whopleadedformyintervention。HewassowillingtotrustmetorelievehimofhiscompanionthatIthinkhewouldsimplyhaveboltedwithoutdeferringtomeifIhadnottakenmyprecautionsagainstit。Ihad，asithappened，anothermomentaryuseforhimthanthis：IwishedontheonehandnottolosehimandontheothernottoloseLadyJohn，thoughIhadquicklyenoughguessedthisbrilliantwoman’srealpreference，ofwhichitinfactsoonbecamemylivelywishtoseetheproof。Theunionofthesetwowastooartificialformenotalreadytohaveconnectedwithittheserviceitmightrender，inherladyship’sview，tothatundetectedcultivation，onherpart，ofasentimentforGilbertLongwhich，throughhisfeignedresponsetoit，fittedsocompletelytotheotherpiecesinmycollection。Toseeallthiswasatthetime，Iremember，tobeasinhumanlyamusedasifonehadfoundonecouldcreatesomething。IhadcreatednothingbutaclueortwotothelargercomprehensionIstillneeded，yetIpositivelyfoundmyselfovertakenbyamildartisticglow。Whathadoccurredwasthat，formyfulldemonstration，IneededLong，andthat，bythesamestroke，IbecamesureIshouldcertainlygethimbytemporisingalittle。
　　LadyJohnwasinlovewithhimandhadkickedup，tosavehercredit，thedustofafictiverelationwithanotherman——therelationoneofmereartificeandthemanoneinherencouragementofwhomnobodywouldbelieve。
　　Yetshewasalsodiscoverablydividedbetweenherprudenceandhervanity，forifitwasdifficulttomakepoorBrissfigureatallvividlyasaninsistentsatellite，thethanklesstactshehadtoemploygaveherexactly，sheargued，therighttoberefreshinglyfannedwithanoccasionalflapoftheflagunderwhichshehad，assheridiculouslyfancied，trulyconquered。
　　IfshewaswhereIfoundherbecauseherescorthaddraggedherthere，shehadmadethebestofitthroughthehopeofassistancefromanotherquarter。ShehadheldoutonthepossibilitythatMr。Long——whomoneCOULD
　　withoutabsurditysitinanarbourwith——mighthavehadsomehappydivinationofherplight。Hehadhadsuchdivinationsbefore——thankstoaconditioninhimthatmadesensibilityabnormal——andtheleastawretchedwomancoulddowhenbetrayedbytheexcessofnature’sbountywastoplayadmireragainstadmirerandbe"talkedabout"onherownterms。Shewouldjustthisoncehaveadmittedit，Iwastogather，tobeanoccasionforpleadingguilty——oh，soharmlessly！——toaconsciousnessofthegentlemanmutelynamedbetweenus。Well，the"proof"IjustalludedtowasthatIhadnotsatwithmyfriendsfiveminutesbeforeGilbertLongturnedup。
　　IsawinamomenthowneatlymybeingtherewiththemplayedHISgame；
　　IbecameinthisfashionawitnessforhimthathecouldalmostaslittleleaveLadyJohnaloneas——well，asotherpeoplecould。Itmayperfectlyhavebeenthepleasureofthisreflectionthatagainmadehimfreeandgay——producedinhim，inanycase，adifferentshadeofmannerfromthatwithwhich，beforeluncheon，astheconsequenceperhapsofavagueflairformypossiblepenetration，Ihadsuspectedhimofedgingawayfromme。
　　NotsincemyencounterwithhimatPaddingtontheafternoonbeforehadIhadsotorecognisehimasthetransfiguredtalker。ToseeLadyJohnwithhimwastohavelittleenoughdoubtofHERrecognitions，justasthisspectaclealsodottedeach"i"inmyconvictionofhisvenial——Icanonlycallitthat——duplicity。Imadeupmymindonthespotthatithadbeennopartofhisplantopractiseonher，andthattheworsthecouldhavebeenaccusedofwasagood—naturedacceptance，moreapparentthanreal，forhisownpurposes，ofhertheory——whichshefromtimetotimeletpeepout——thattheywouldhavelikedeachotherbetteriftheyhadn’tbeeneach，alas！sogood。Heprofitedbythehappyaccidentofhavingpleasedapersonsomuchinevidence，andindeeditwastolerablycleartomethatneitherpartywasduped。LadyJohndidn’twantalover；thiswouldhavebeen，aspeoplesay，alargerorderthan，giventheothercomplicationsofherexistence，shecouldmeet；butshewanted，inahighdegree，theappearanceofcarryingonapassionthatimposedalikefearlessrealisationsandconsciousrenouncements，andthiscircumstancefullyfellinwiththeconvenienceandthespecialsituationofherfriend。Hervanityrejoiced，sofarasshedaredtoletitnibble，andthemysteriesshepractised，thedissimulationssheelaborated，thegeneraldangerofdetectioninwhichsheflatteredherselfthatshepubliclywalked，wereafterallsomuchgristtothemillofthatappetite。
　　Byjustsomuch，however，asitcouldnevercomeupbetweenthemthattherewasanotherwomaninGilbert’shistory，byjustsomuchwoulditontheotherhandhavebeenanarticulateaxiomthatasmanyofthepoorBrissesoftheworldasshemightcaretoaccommodatewouldbewelcometofigureinherown。Thispersonage，underthatdeeperinduction，IsuddenlybecameawarethatIalsogreatlypitied——pitiedalmostasmuchasIpitiedMrs。Server；andmypityhaddoubtlesssomethingtodowiththefactthat，afterIhadproposedtohimthatweshouldadjourntogetherandwehad，onhisprompt，eventhoughslightlydryresponse，placedtheinvidiousarbouratacertaindistance，Ipassedmyhandintohisarm。TherewerethingsIwantedofhim，andthefirstwasthatheshouldletmeshowhimIcouldbekindtohim。Ihadmadeofthecircumstanceofteaatthehouseapretextforourleavingtheothers，eachofwhomIfeltasrathershowilycallingmyattentiontotheirgoodoldgroundfornotwishingtorejointhecrowd。AstowhatBrissendenwishedIhadmadeupmymind；Ihadmadeupmymindastothesubjectofhisthoughtswhiletheywandered，duringhisdetention，fromLadyJohn；andifthenextofmywisheswastoenterintohisdesire，Ihaddecidedongivingiteffectbythetimewereachedtheshortestofthevistasattheendofwhichthehouserearedabravefront。
　　Chapter7
　　IstayedhimtherewhileIputittohimthathewouldprobablyinfactprefertogoback。
　　"You’renotgoingthenyourself？"
　　"No，Idon’tparticularlywanttea；andImayaswellnowconfesstoyouthatI’mtakingalonely，unsociablewalk。Idon’tenjoysuchoccasionsasthese，"Isaid，"unlessIfromtimetotimegetoffbymyselfsomewherelongenoughtotellmyselfhowmuchIdoenjoythem。That’swhatIwascultivatingsolitudeforwhenIhappenedjustnowtocomeuponyou。WhenIfoundyoutherewithLadyJohntherewasnothingformebuttomakethebestofit；butI’mgladofthischancetoassureyouthat，everyappearancetothecontrarynotwithstanding，Iwasn’tprowlingaboutinsearchofyou。"
　　"Well，"mycompanionfranklyreplied，"I’mgladyouturnedup。Iwasn’tespeciallyamusingmyself。"
　　"Oh，IthinkIknowhowlittle！"
　　Hefixedmeamomentwithhispatheticoldface，andIknewmorethaneverthatIwassorryforhim。Iwasquiteextraordinarilysorry，andI
　　wonderedwhetherImightn’twithoutoffenceorindiscretionreallylethimseeit。ItwastothisendIhadheldhimandwantedalittletokeephim，andIwasreassuredasIfelthim，thoughIhadnowreleasedhim，lingerinsteadofleavingme。Ihadmadehimuneasylastnight，andanewreasonortwoformydoingsohadpossiblyevensincethencomeup；yetthesethingsalsowoulddependonthewayhemighttakethem。ThelookwithwhichheatpresentfacedmeseemedtohintthathewouldtakethemasIhoped，andtherewasnocurtness，butonthecontrarythedawnofadimsensethatImightpossiblyaidhim，inthetonewithwhichhecamehalf—way。"You’know’？"
　　"Ah，"Ilaughed，"Iknoweverything！"
　　Hedidn’tlaugh；Ihadn’tseenhimlaugh，atNewmarch，once；hewascontinuously，portentouslygrave，andIatpresentrememberedhowtheeffectofthishadtoldformeatluncheon，contrastedasitwaswiththatofMrs。Server’sdesperate，exquisitelevity。"YouknowIdecidedlyhavetoomuchofthatdreadfuloldwoman？"
　　Therewasasoundinthequestionthatwouldhavemademe，tomyownsense，start，thoughIasquicklyhopedIhadnotdonesotoBrissenden’s。
　　Icouldn’thavepersuadedmyself，however，thatIhadescapedshowinghimtheflushofmyefforttoshownothing。IhadtakenhisdisgustedallusionastoMrs。Brissenden，andtheactionofthatwasupsetting。Butnothing，fortunately，waspsychologicallymoreinterestingthantograspthenextmomentthetruthofhisreference。ItwasonlythefactofhishimselflookingsomucholderthanLadyJohnthathadblindedmeforaninstanttotheproprietyofhisnotthinkingofherasyoung。Shewasn’tyoungasHEhadarighttocallpeople，andIfeltaglow——also，Ifeared，toovisible——assoonasIhadseenwhomhemeant。HismeaningLadyJohndidmesomehowsomuchgoodthatIbelieveditwouldhavedonemestillmoretohearhimcallheraharridanoraJezebel。Itwasnoneofmybusiness；
　　howlittlewasanything，whenitcametothat，mybusiness！——yetindefinably，unutterably，Ifeltassuagedforhimandcomforted。Iverilybelieveithunginthebalanceaminuteortwothatinmyimpulsetodrawhimout，sothatImightgivehimmysympathy，Iwaspreparedtoriskoverturningtheedificeofmyprecautions。Iluckily，asithappened，didnothingofthesort；Icontrivedtobreatheconsolinglyonhissecretwithoutbetrayinganintention。Therewasalmostnooneintheplacesavetwoorthreeoftheveryyoungestwomenwhomhewouldn’thavehadarighttocallold。
　　LadyJohnwasahag，then；Mrs。Serverherselfwasmorethanontheturn；
　　GilbertLongwasfatandforty；andIcastaboutforsomelightinwhichIcouldshowthatI——aplusforteraison——wasapantaloon。"Ofcourseyoucan’tquiteseethefunofit，anditreallyisn’tfairtoyou。Youstruckmeasmuchmoreinyourelement，"Iventuredtoadd，"when，thismorning，morethanonce，IchancedtoobserveyouledcaptivebyMrs。Server。"
　　"Oh，that’sadifferentaffair，"heansweredwithanaccentthatpromisedagrowthofconfidence。
　　"Mrs。Server’sanoldwoman，"Icontinued，"butshecan’tseemtoafellowlikeyouasoldasLadyJohn。Shehasatanyratemorecharm；thoughperhapsnot，"Iadded，"quitesomuchtalk。"
　　Onthishesaidanextraordinarything，whichallbutmademestartagain。"Oh，shehasn’tanyTALK！"
　　Itook，asquicklyaspossible，refugeinasurpriseddemurrer。"NotANY？"
　　"Nonetospeakof。"
　　Iletallmywondercome。"Butwasn’tshechatteringtoyouatluncheon？"
　　Itforcedhimtomeetmyeyesatgreaterlength，andIcouldalreadyseethatmyexperiment——forinsidiouslyandpardonablysuchIwishedtomakeit——wasonthewaytosucceed。Ihadbeenrightthen，andIknewwhereIstood。Hecouldn’thavebeen"drawn"onhiswife，andhecouldn’thavebeendrawn，intheleastdirectly，onhimself，butashecouldthuseasilybeonLadyJohn，solikewisehecouldonotherwomen，orontheparticularone，atleast，whomatteredtome。IfeltIreallyknewwhatIwasabout，fortodrawhimonMrs。Serverwasintruthtodrawhimindirectlyonhimself。
　　ItwasindeedperhapsbecauseIhadbythistimeinameasureexpressed，intermshowevergeneral，theinterestwithwhichheinspiredme，thatInowfoundmyselffreetoshiftthegroundofmyindiscretion。IonlywantedhimtoknowthatonthequestionofMrs。ServerIwaspreparedtogoasfarwithhimasheshouldcaretomove。HowitcametomenowthathewasTHEabsolutelysafepersoninthehousetotallofherwith！"I
　　wastoofarawayfromyoutohear，"Ihadgoneon；"andIcouldonlyjudgeofherflowofconversationfromtheanimatedexpressionofherface。Itwasextraordinarilyanimated。Butthat，Iadmit，"Iadded，"strikesonealwaysasasortofpartipriswithher。She’sneverNOTextraordinarilyanimated。"
　　"Shehasnoflowofconversationwhatever，"saidGuyBrissenden。
　　Iconsidered。"Really？"
　　Heseemedtolookatmequitewithoutuneasinessnow。"Why，haven’tyouseenforyourself——？"
　　"Howthecasestandswithheronthathead？Doyoumeanhaven’tItalkedwithher？Well，scarcely；forit’safactthateverymaninthehouseBUT
　　Istrikesmeashavingbeendelugedwiththatprivilege：ifindeed，"I
　　laughed，"herabsenceoftopicssuffersittobeeitheraprivilegeoradeluge！Sheaffectsme，inanycase，asdeterminedtohavenothingtodowithme。Shewalksalltherestofyouabout；shegivesyoueachyourturn；meonlysheskips，shesystematicallyignores。I’mhalfconsoledforit，however，"Iwoundup，"byseeingwhatshortinningsanyindividualofyouhas。Youpersonallystrikemeashavinghadthelongest。"
　　BrissendenappearedtowonderwhereIwascomingout，yetnotasifhefearedit。Therewasevenaparticularplace，ifIcouldbutguessit，wherehewouldhavelikedmetocome。"Oh，she’sextremelycharming。Butofcourseshe’sstrikinglyodd。"
　　"Odd？——really？"
　　"Why，inthesense，Imean，thatIthoughtyousuggestedyou’venoticed。"
　　"Thatofextravagantvivacity？Oh，I’vehadtonoticeitatadistance，withoutknowingwhatitrepresents。"
　　Hejusthesitated。"Youhaven’tanyideaatallwhatitrepresents？"
　　"HowshouldIhave，"Ismiled，"whenshenevercomesnearme？I’vethoughtTHAT，asItellyou，marked。WhatdoesheravoidanceofMErepresent？Hasshehappened，withyou，tothrowanylightonit？"
　　"Ithink，"saidBrissendenafteranothermoment，"thatshe’sratherafraidofyou。"
　　Icouldonlybesurprised。"Themostharmlessmaninthehouse？"
　　"AREyoureally？"heasked——andtherewasatouchofthecomicinhearinghimputitwithhisinveterategravity。
　　"Ifyoutakemeforanythingelse，"Ireplied，"Idoubtifyou’llfindanyonetobackyou。"
　　Mycompanion，onthis，lookedawayforalittle，turnedabout，fixedhiseyesonthehouse，seemed，aswithadropofinterest，onthepointofleavingme。Butinsteadofleavingmehebroughtoutthenextmoment：
　　"Idon’twantanyonetobackme。Idon’tcare。Ididn’tmeanjustnow，"
　　hecontinued，"thatMrs。Serverhassaidtomeanythingagainstyou，orthatshefearsyoubecauseshedislikesyou。SheonlytoldmeshethoughtyoudislikedHER。"
　　Itgavemeakindofshock。"Acreaturesobeautiful，andso——so——"
　　"Sowhat？"heaskedasIfoundmyselfcheckedbymydesiretocometoheraid。
　　"Well，sobrilliantlyhappy。"
　　Ihadallhisattentionagain。"IsthatwhatsheIS？"
　　"Thendon’tyou，withyouropportunities，know？"Iwasconsciousofratheraninspiration，apartofwhichwastobejocose。"Whatareyoutrying，"Ilaughed，"togetoutofme？"
　　Itstruckmeluckilythat，thoughheremainedasproofagainstgaietyasever，hewas，thankstohispreoccupation，notdisagreeablyaffectedbymytone。"Ofcourseifyou’venoidea，Icangetnothing。"
　　"Noideaofwhat？"
　　ThenitwasthatIatlastgotitstraight。"Well，ofwhat’sthematterwithher。"
　　"Isthereanythingparticular？IfthereIS，"Iwenton，"there’ssomethingthatI’vegotoutofYOU！"
　　"Howso，ifyoudon’tknowwhatitis？"
　　"Doyoumeanifyouyourselfdon’t？"Butwithoutdetaininghimonthis，"Ofwhatinespecialdothesigns，"Iasked，"consist？"
　　"Well，ofeveryone’sthinkingso——thatthere’ssomethingorother。"
　　Thisagainstruckme，butitstruckmetoomuch。"Oh，everyone’safool！"
　　Hesaw，inhisqueerwanway，howithaddoneso。"ThenyouHAVEyourownidea？"
　　Idaresaymysmileathim，whileIwaited，showedadiscomfort。"Doyoumeanpeoplearetalkingabouther？"
　　Buthewaitedhimself。"Haven’ttheyshownyou——？"
　　"No，noonehasspoken。MoreoverIwouldn’thaveletthem。"
　　"ThenthereyouARE！"Brissendenexclaimed。"Ifyou’vekeptthemoff，itmustbebecauseyoudifferwiththem。"
　　"Ishan’tbesureofthat，"Ireturned，"tillIknowwhattheythink！
　　However，Irepeat，"Iadded，"thatIshouldn’teventhencare。Idon’tmindadmittingthatshemuchinterestsme。"
　　"Thereyouare，thereyouare！"hesaidagain。
　　"That’sallthat’sthematterwithhersofarasi’mconcerned。Yousee，atanyrate，howlittleitneedmakeherafraidofme。She’slovelyandshe’sgentleandshe’shappy。"
　　Myfriendkepthiseyesonme。"Whatistheretointerestyousointhat？Isn’titadescriptionthatappliesheretoadozenotherwomen？
　　Youcan’tsay，youknow，thatyou’reinterestedinthem，foryoujustspokeofthemassomanyfools。"
　　Therewasacertainsurpriseformeinsomuchacuteness，which，however，doubtlessadmonishedmeastotheneedofpresenceofmind。"Iwasn’tthinkingoftheladies——Iwasthinkingofthemen。"
　　"That’samiabletome，"hesaidwithhisgentlegloom。
　　"Oh，mydearBrissenden，Iexcept’you。’"
　　"Andwhyshouldyou？"
　　Ifeltatriflepushed。"I’lltellyousomeothertime。AndamongtheladiesIexceptMrs。Brissenden，withwhom，asyoumayhavenoticed，I’vebeenhavingmuchtalk。"
　　"Andwillyoutellmesomeothertimeaboutthattoo？"Onwhich，asIbutamicablyshookmyheadforno，hehadhisfirstdimnessofpleasantry。
　　"I’llgetitthenfrommywife。"
　　"Never。Shewon’ttellyou。"
　　"Shehaspassedyouherword？Thatwon’talterthefactthatshetellsmeeverything。"
　　Hereallysaiditinawaythatmademetakerefugeforaninstantinlookingatmywatch。"Areyougoingbacktotea？Ifyouare，I’ll，inspiteofmydesiretoroam，walktwentystepswithyou。"Ihadalreadyagainputmyhandintohisarm，andwestrolledforalittletillIthrewoffthatIwassureMrs。Serverwaswaitingforhim。TothisherepliedthatifIwishedtogetridofhimhewasaswillingtotakethatasanythingelseforgranted——anobservationthatI，onmyside，answeredwithaninquiry，thoughaninquirythathadnothingtodowithit。"DoyoualsotelleverythingtoMrs。Brissenden？"
　　ItbroughthimupshorterthanIhadexpected。"DoyouaskmethatinorderthatIshan’tspeaktoherofthis？"
　　Ishowedmyselfataloss。"Of’this’——？"
　　"Why，ofwhatwe’vemadeout——"
　　"AboutMrs。Server，youandI？Youmustactastothat，mydearfellow，quiteonyourowndiscretion。AllthemorethatwhatonearthHAVEwemadeout？IassureyouIhaven’tasecrettoconfidetoyouabouther，exceptthatI’veneverseenapersonmoreunquenchablyradiant。"
　　Healmostjumpedatit。"Well，that’sjustit！"
　　"Butjustwhat？"
　　"Why，whatthey’realltalkingabout。ThatsheISsoawfullyradiant。
　　Thatshe’ssotremendouslyhappy。It’sthequestion，"heexplained，"ofwhatintheworldshehastomakeherso。"
　　Iwincedalittle，buttriednottoshowit。"Mydearman，howdoiknow？"
　　"SheTHINKSyouknow，"heafteramomentanswered。
　　Icouldonlystare。"Mrs。ServerthinksIknowwhatmakesherhappy？"
　　Ithemoreeasilyrepresentedsuchaconvictionasmonstrousinthatittrulyhaditssurpriseforme。
　　ButBrissendennowwasallwithhisownthought。"SheISN’Thappy。"
　　"Youmeanthatthat’swhat’sthematterwithherunderherappearance——？
　　Thenwhatmakestheappearancesoextraordinary？"
　　"Why，exactlywhatImention——thatonedoesn’tseeanythingwhateverinhertocorrespondtoit。"
　　Ihesitated。"Doyoumeaninhercircumstances？"
　　"Yes——orinhercharacter。Hercircumstancesarenothingwonderful。
　　Shehasnonetoomuchmoney；shehashadthreechildrenandlostthem；
　　andnobodythatbelongstoherappearsevertohavebeenparticularlynicetoher。"
　　Iturneditover。"HowyouDOgetonwithher！"
　　"DoyoucallitgettingonwithhertobethemorebewilderedthemoreIseeher？"
　　"Isn’ttosayyou’rebewilderedonly，onthewhole，tosayyou’recharmed？
　　Thatalways——doesn’tit？——describesmoreorlessanyengrossedrelationwithalovelylady。"
　　"Well，I’mnotsureI’msocharmed。"Hespokeasifhehadthoughtthisparticularquestionoverforhimself；hehadhiswayofbeinglucidwithoutbrightness。"I’mnotatalleasilycharmed，youknow，"hethenextmomentadded；"andI’mnotafellowwhogoesaboutmuchafterwomen。"
　　"Ah，thatIneversupposed！WhyintheworldSHOULDyou？It’sthelastthing！"Ilaughed。"Butisn’tthis——quite（whatshallonecallit？）innocently——ratherapeculiarcase？"
　　Myquestionproducedinhimalittlegestureofelation——agestureemphasisedbyasnapofhisforefingerandthumb。"Iknewyouknewitwasspecial！
　　Iknewyou’vebeenthinkingaboutit！"
　　"Youcertainly，"Irepliedwithassurance，"have，duringthelastfiveminutes，mademedosowithsomesharpness。Idon’tpretendthatIdon’tnowrecognisethattheremustbesomethingthematter。Ionlydesire——notunnaturally——thatthereSHOULDbe，toputmeintherightforhavingthought，if，asyou’resosure，suchafreedomasthatcanbebroughthometome。
　　IfMrs。Serverisbeautifulandgentleandstrange，"Ispeciouslywenton，"whatarethosethingsbutanattraction？"
　　Isawhowhehadthem，whatevertheywere，beforehimasheslowlyshookhishead。"They’renotanattraction。They’retooqueer。"
　　Icaughtinaninstantmywaytofallinwithhim；andnotthelessthatIbythistimefeltmyselfcommitted，uptotheintellectualeyes，toascertainingjustHOWqueerthepersonunderdiscussionmightbe。"Oh，ofcourseI’mnotspeakingofherasapartytoasillyflirtation，oranobjectofanysortoftrivialpursuit。Buttherearesomanydifferentwaysofbeingtaken。"
　　"Forafellowlikeyou。Butnotforafellowlikeme。Formethere’sonlyone。"
　　"Tobe，youmean，inlove？"
　　Heputitalittledifferently。"Well，tobethoroughlypleased。"
　　"Ah，that’sdoubtlessthebestwayandthefirmground。Andyoumeanyou’reNOTthoroughlypleasedwithMrs。Server？"
　　"No——andyetIwanttobekindtoher。Thereforewhat’sthematter？"
　　"Oh，ifit’swhat’sthematterwithYOUyouaskme，thatextendsthequestion。Ifyouwanttobekindtoher，yougetonwithher，asweweresaying，quiteenoughformyargument。Andisn’tthematteralso，afterall，"Idemanded，"thatyousimplyfeelshedesiresyoutobekind？"
　　"Shedoesthat。"Andhelookedatmeaswiththesenseofdrawingfromme，forhisrelief，somegreaterhelpthanIwasasyetconsciousofthecouragetooffer。"Itisthatshedesiresme。Shelikesit。Andtheextraordinarythingisthatilikeit。"
　　"Andwhyintheworldshouldn’tyou？"
　　"Becausesheterrifiesme。Shehassomethingtohide。"
　　"But，mydearman，"Iaskedwithagaietysingularlyoutofrelationtothesmallsecretthrillproducedinmebythesewords——"mydearman，whatwomanwho’sworthanythinghasn’t？"
　　"Yes，buttherearedifferentways。WhatSHEtriesforisthisfalseappearanceofhappiness。"
　　Iweighedit。"Butisn’tthatthebestthing？"
　　"It’sterribletohavetokeepitup。"
　　"Ah，butifyoudon’tFORher？Ifitallcomesonherself？"
　　"Itdoesn’t，"GuyBrissendenpresentlysaid。"Ido——’for’her——helptokeepitup。"Andthen，stillunexpectedlytome，cameouttherestofhisconfession。"Iwantto——Itryto；that’swhatImeanbybeingkindtoher，andbythegratitudewithwhichshetakesit。Onefeelsthatonedoesn’twanthertobreakdown。"
　　Itwasonthis——fromthepoignanttouchinit——thatIatlastfeltI
　　hadburntmyshipsanddidn’tcarehowmuchIshowedIwaswithhim。"Oh，butshewon’t。Youmustkeephergoing。"
　　Hestoodalittlewithathumbineachpocketofhistrousers，andhismelancholyeyesrangingfarovermyhead——overthetopsofthehighesttrees。"Whoamitokeeppeoplegoing？"
　　"Why，you’rejusttheman。Aren’tyouhappy？"
　　Hestillrangedthetree—tops。"Yes。"
　　"Well，then，youbelongtotheusefulclass。You’vethewherewithaltogive。It’sthehappypeoplewhoshouldhelptheothers。"
　　Hehad，inthesameattitude，anotherpause。"It’seasyforYOUtotalk！"
　　"BecauseI’mnothappy？"
　　Itmadehimbringhiseyesagaindowntome。"Ithinkyou’realittlesonowatmyexpense。"
　　Ishookmyheadreassuringly。"Itdoesn’tcostyouanythingif——asI
　　confesstoitnow——Idotosomeextentunderstand。"
　　"That’smore，then，than——aftertalkingofitthiswaywithyou——Ifeelthatido！"
　　Hehadbroughtthatoutwithasuddensigh，turningawaytogoon；sothatwetookafewstepsmore。"You’venothingtotroubleabout，"Ithenfreelyremarked，"butthatyouAREaskindasthecaserequiresandthatyoudohelp。Idaresaythatyou’llfindherevennowontheterracelookingoutforyou。"Ipattedhisback，aswewentalittlefurther，butasI
　　stillpreferredtostayawayfromthehouseIpresentlystoppedagain。
　　"Don’tfallbelowyourchance。Noblesseoblige。We’llpullherthrough。"
　　"Yousay’we，’"hereturned，"butyoudokeepoutofit！"
　　"Whyshouldyouwishmetointerferewithyou？"Iasked。"Iwouldn’tkeepoutofitifshewantedmeasmuchasshewantsyou。That，byyourownadmission，isexactlywhatshedoesn’t。"
　　"Well，then，"saidBrissenden，"I’llmakehergoforyou。IthinkI
　　wantyourassistancequiteasmuchasshecanwantmine。"
　　"Oh，"Iprotestedforthis，"I’vereallygivenyoualreadyeveryounceofmineIcansqueezeout。AndyouknowforyourselffarmorethanIdo。"
　　"No，Idon’t！"——withwhichhebecamequitesharp；"foryouknowHOW
　　youknowit——whichI’venotanotionof。It’sjustwhatIthink，"hecontinued，facingmeagain，"yououghttotellme。"
　　"I’malittleindoubtofwhatyou’retalkingof，butIsupposeyoutoalludetotheoddityofmybeingsomuchinterestedwithoutmyhavingbeenmoreinformed。"
　　"You’vegotsomeclue，"Brissendensaid；"andaclueiswhatImyselfwant。"
　　"Thengetit，"Ilaughed，"fromMrs。Server！"
　　Hewondered。"Doessheknow？"