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。
