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？\"
