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，wantedtoknowaboutmyoriginsandwastolerant(exasperatinglytolerant)becausemymotherwasaservant，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。”
