\"Youmakemeafraid，\"saidEm。\"Come，letusgo，andIwillfillyourpail。\"
\"Iwantnomilk。Good—bye！YouwillnotseemeagaintillSaturday。\"
Latethatnight，wheneveryoneelsehadgonetobed，theyellow—hairedlittlewomanstoodaloneinthekitchen。Shehadcometofillthekettleforthenextmorning’scoffee，andnowstoodbeforethefire。Thewarmreflectionlitthegraveold—womanishlittleface，thatwassounusuallythoughtfulthisevening。
\"Betterthanalltheworld；betterthaneverything；helovesmebetterthaneverything！\"Shesaidthewordsaloud，asiftheyweremoreeasytobelieveifshespokethemso。Shehadgivenoutsomuchloveinherlittlelife，andhadgotnoneofitbackwithinterest。Nowonesaid，\"Iloveyoubetterthanalltheworld。\"Onelovedherbetterthanshelovedhim。Howsuddenlyrichshewas。Shekeptclaspingandunclaspingherhands。Soabeggarfeelswhofallsasleeponthepavementwetandhungry，andwhowakesinapalace—hallwithservantsandlights，andafeastbeforehim。Ofcoursethebeggar’sisonlyadream，andhewakesfromit；andthiswasreal。
Gregoryhadsaidtoher，\"IwillloveyouaslongasIlive。\"Shesaidthewordsoverandovertoherselflikeasong。
\"Iwillsendforhimtomorrow，andIwilltellhimhowIlovehimback，\"
shesaid。
ButEmneedednottosendforhim。GregorydiscoveredonreachinghomethatJemima’sletterwasstillinhispocket。And，therefore，muchashedislikedtheappearanceofvacillationandweakness，hewasobligedtobeatthefarmhousebeforesunrisetopostit。
\"IfIseeher，\"Gregorysaid，\"Ishallonlybowtoher。SheshallseethatIamaman，onewhokeepshisword。\"
AstoJemima’sletter，hehadturneddownonecornerofthepage，andthenturneditback，leavingadeepcrease。Thatwouldshowthathewasneitheracceptednorrejected，butthatmatterswereinanintermediatecondition。
Itwasamorepoeticalwaythenputtingitinplainwords。
Gregorywasbarelyintimewithhisletter，forWaldowasstartingwhenhereachedthehomestead，andEmwasonthedoorsteptoseehimoff。Whenhehadgiventheletter，andWaldohadgone，Gregorybowedstifflyandpreparedtoremounthisownpony，butsomewhatslowly。Itwasstillearly；
noneoftheservantswereabout。Emcameupclosetohimandputherlittlehandsoftlyonhisarmashestoodbyhishorse。
\"Idoloveyoubestofall，\"shesaid。Shewasnotfrightenednow，howevermuchhekissedher。\"IwishIwasbeautifulandnice，\"sheadded，lookingupintohiseyesasheheldheragainsthisbreast。
\"Mydarling，tomeyouaremorebeautifulthanallthewomenintheworld；
dearertomethaneverythingitholds。IfyouwereinhellIwouldgoafteryoutofindyouthere！Ifyouweredead，thoughmybodymoved，mysoulwouldbeunderthegroundwithyou。AlllifeasIpasswithyouinmyarmswillbeperfecttome。Itwillpass，passlikearayofsunshine。\"
Emthoughthowbeautifulandgrandhisfacewasasshelookedupintoit。
Sheraisedherhandgentlyandputitonhisforehead。
\"Youaresosilent，socold，myEm，\"hecried。\"Haveyounothingtosaytome？\"
Alittleshadeofwonderfilledhereyes。
\"Iwilldoeverythingyoutellme，\"shesaid。
\"Whatelsecouldshesay？Herideaoflovewasonlyservice。
\"Then，myownpreciousone，promisenevertokissthatfellowagain。I
cannotbearthatyoushouldloveanyonebutme。Youmustnot！Iwillnothaveit！IfeveryrelationIhadintheworldweretodietomorrow，I
wouldbequitehappyifIstillonlyhadyou！Mydarling，mylove，whyareyousocold？Promisemenottolovehimanymore。Ifyouaskedmetodoanythingforyou，Iwoulddoit，thoughitcostmylife。\"
Emputherhandverygravelyroundhisneck。
\"Iwillneverkisshim，\"shesaid，\"andIwilltrynottoloveanyoneelse。ButIdonotknowifIwillbeable。\"
\"Oh，mydarling，Ithinkofyouallnight，allday。Ithinkofnothingelse，love，nothingelse，\"hesaid，foldinghisarmsabouther。
Emwasalittleconsciencestricken；eventhatmorningshehadfoundtimetorememberthatinsixmonthshercousinwouldcomebackfromschool，andshehadthoughttoremindWaldoofthelozengesforhiscough，evenwhenshesawGregorycoming。
\"Idonotknowhowitis，\"shesaidhumbly，nestlingtohim，\"butIcannotloveyousomuchasyouloveme。PerhapsitisbecauseIamonlyawoman；
butIdoloveyouasmuchasIcan。\"
NowtheKaffermaidswerecomingfromthehuts。Hekissedheragain，eyesandmouthandhands，andlefther。
TantSanniewaswellsatisfiedwhentoldofthebetrothment。Sheherselfcontemplatedmarriagewithintheyearwithoneorotherofhernumerousvrijers，andshesuggestedthattheweddingsmighttakeplacetogether。
Emsettoworkbusilytoprepareherownhouseholdlinenandweddinggarments。Gregorywaswithherdaily，almosthourly，andthesixmonthswhichelapsedbeforeLyndall’sreturnpassed，ashefelicitouslyphrasedit，\"likeasummernight，whenyouaredreamingofsomeoneyoulove。\"
Lateoneevening，Gregorysatbyhislittlelove，turningthehandleofhermachineasshedrewherworkthroughit，andtheytalkedofthechangestheywouldmakewhentheBoer—womanwasgone，andthefarmbelongedtothemalone。Thereshouldbeanewroomhere，andakraalthere。Sotheychattedon。SuddenlyGregorydroppedthehandle，andimpressedaferventkissonthefathandthatguidedthelinen。
\"Youaresobeautiful，Em，\"saidthelover。\"ItcomesovermeinafloodsuddenlyhowIloveyou。\"
Emsmiled。
\"TantSanniesayswhenIamheragenoonewilllookatme；anditistrue。
Myhandsareasshortandbroadasaduck’sfoot，andmyforeheadissolow，andIhaven’tanynose。Ican’tbepretty。\"
Shelaughedsoftly。Itwassonicetothinkheshouldbesoblind。
\"Whenmycousincomestomorrowyouwillseeabeautifulwoman，Gregory，\"
sheaddedpresently。\"Sheislikealittlequeen：hershouldersaresoupright，andherheadlooksasthoughitoughttohavealittlecrownuponit。Youmustcometoseehertomorrowassoonasshecomes。Iamsureyouwillloveher。\"
\"OfcourseIshallcometoseeher，sincesheisyourcousin；butdoyouthinkIcouldeverthinkanywomanaslovelyasIthinkyou？\"
Hefixedhisseethingeyesuponher。
\"Youcouldnothelpseeingthatsheisprettier，\"saidEm，slippingherrighthandintohis；\"butyouwillneverbeabletolikeanyonesomuchasyoulikeme。\"
Afterward，whenshewishedherlovergoodnight，shestooduponthedoorsteptocallagreetingafterhim；andshewaited，asshealwaysdid，tillthebrownpony’shoofsbecameinaudiblebehindthekopje。
ThenshepassedthroughtheroomwhereTantSannielaysnoring，andthroughthelittleroomthatwasalldrapedinwhite，waitingforhercousin’sreturn，ontoherownroom。
Shewenttothechestofdrawerstoputawaytheworkshehadfinished，andsatdownonthefloorbeforethelowestdrawer。Initwerethethingsshewaspreparingforhermarriage。Pilesofwhitelinen，andsomeapronsandquilts；andinalittleboxinthecornerasprayoforange—blossomwhichshehadboughtfromasmouse。There，too，wasaringGregoryhadgivenher，andaveilhissisterhadsent，andtherewasalittlerolloffineembroideredworkwhichTranahadgivenher。ItwastoofineandgoodevenforGregory’swife——justrightforsomethingverysmallandsoft。Shewouldkeepit。Andshetoucheditgentlywithherforefinger，smiling；andthensheblushedandhiditfarbehindtheotherthings。Sheknewsowellallthatwasinthatdrawer，andyetsheturnedthemalloverasthoughshesawthemforthefirsttime，packedthemallout，andpackedthemallin，withoutonefoldorcrumple；andthensatdownandlookedatthem。
TomorroweveningwhenLyndallcameshewouldbringherhere，andshowitherall。Lyndallwouldsoliketoseeit——thelittlewreath，andthering，andthewhiteveil！Itwouldbesonice！ThenEmfelltoseeingpictures。
Lyndallshouldlivewiththemtillsheherselfgotmarriedsomeday。
EverydaywhenGregorycamehome，tiredfromhiswork，hewouldlookaboutandsay，\"Whereismywife？Hasnooneseenmywife？Wife，somecoffee！\"
andshewouldgivehimsome。
Em’slittlefacegrewverygraveatlast，andshekneltupandextendedherhandsoverthedraweroflinen。
\"Oh，God！\"shesaid，\"Iamsoglad！IdonotknowwhatIhavedonethatI
shouldbesoglad。Thankyou！\"
Chapter2。IV。Lyndall。
Shewasmorelikeaprincess，yes，farmorelikeaprincess，thantheladywhostillhungonthewallinTantSannie’sbedroom。SoEmthought。Sheleanedbackinthelittlearmchair；sheworeagreydressing—gown，andherlonghairwascombedoutandhungtotheground。Em，sittingbeforeher，lookedupwithmingledrespectandadmiration。
Lyndallwastiredafterherlongjourney，andhadcometoherroomearly。
Hereyesranoverthefamiliarobjects。Strangetogoawayforfouryears，andcomeback，andfindthatthecandlestandingonthedressing—tablestillcasttheshadowofanoldcrone’sheadinthecornerbeyondtheclothes—horse。Strangethatevenashadowshouldlastlongerthanaman！
Shelookedaboutamongtheoldfamiliarobjects；allwasthere，buttheoldselfwasgone。
\"Whatareyounoticing？\"askedEm。
\"Nothingandeverything。Ithoughtthewindowswerehigher。IfIwereyou，whenIgetthisplaceIshouldraisethewalls。Thereisnotroomtobreathehere。Onesuffocates。\"
\"Gregoryisgoingtomakemanyalterations，\"saidEm；anddrawingnearertothegreydressing—gownrespectfully。\"Doyoulikehim，Lyndall？Ishenothandsome？\"
\"Hemusthavebeenafinebaby，\"saidLyndall，lookingatthewhitedimitycurtainthathungabovethewindow。
Emwaspuzzled。
\"Therearesomemen，\"saidLyndall，\"whomyounevercanbelievewerebabiesatall；andothersyouneverseewithoutthinkinghowverynicetheymusthavelookedwhentheyworesocksandpinksashes。\"
Emremainedsilent；thenshesaidwithalittledignity，\"WhenyouknowhimyouwilllovehimasIdo。WhenIcompareotherpeoplewithhim，theyseemsoweakandlittle。Ourheartsaresocold，ourlovesaremixedupwithsomanyotherthings。Buthe——nooneisworthyofhislove。Iamnot。Itissogreatandpure。\"
\"Youneednotmakeyourselfunhappyonthatpoint——yourpoorreturnforhislove，mydear，\"saidLyndall。\"Aman’sloveisafireofolive—wood。Itleapshighereverymoment；itroars，itblazes，itshootsoutredflames；
itthreatenstowrapyouroundanddevouryou——youwhostandbylikeanicicleintheglowofitsfiercewarmth。Youareself—reproachedatyourownchillinessandwantofreciprocity。Thenextday，whenyougotowarmyourhandsalittle，youfindafewashes！’Tisalongloveandcoolagainstashortloveandhot；men，atallevents，havenothingtocomplainof。\"
\"Youspeaksobecauseyoudonotknowmen，\"saidEm，instantlyassumingthedignityofsuperiorknowledgesouniversallyaffectedbyaffiancedandmarriedwomenindiscussingman’snaturewiththeiruncontractedsisters。
\"Youwillknowthemtoosomeday，andthenyouwillthinkdifferently，\"
saidEm，withthecondescendingmagnanimitywhichsuperiorknowledgecanalwaysaffordtoshowtoignorance。
Lyndall’slittlelipquiveredinamannerindicativeofintenseamusement。
Shetwirledamassiveringuponherforefinger——aringmoresuitableforthehandofaman，andnoticeableindesign——adiamondcrossletintogold，withtheinitials\"R。R。\"belowit。
\"Ah，Lyndall，\"Emcried，\"perhapsyouareengagedyourself——thatiswhyyousmile。Yes；Iamsureyouare。Lookatthisring！\"
Lyndalldrewthehandquicklyfromher。
\"Iamnotinsogreatahurrytoputmyneckbeneathanyman’sfoot；andI
donotsogreatlyadmirethecryingofbabies，\"shesaid，assheclosedhereyeshalfwearilyandleanedbackinthechair。\"Thereareotherwomengladofsuchwork。\"
Emfeltrebukedandashamed。HowcouldshetakeLyndallandshowherthewhitelinenandthewreath，andtheembroidery？Shewasquietforalittlewhile，andthenbegantotalkaboutTranaandtheoldfarm—servants，tillshesawhercompanionwasweary；thensheroseandleftherforthenight。
ButafterEmwasgoneLyndallsaton，watchingtheoldcrone’sfaceinthecorner，andwithawearylook，asthoughthewholeworld’sweightrestedonthesefrailyoungshoulders。
Thenextmorning，Waldo，startingoffbeforebreakfastwithabagofmealiesslungoverhisshouldertofeedtheostriches，heardalightstepbehindhim。
\"Waitforme；Iamcomingwithyou，\"saidLyndall，addingasshecameuptohim，\"ifIhadnotgonetolookforyouyesterdayyouwouldnothavecometogreetmetillnow。Doyounotlikemeanylonger，Waldo？\"
\"Yes——but——youarechanged。\"
Itwastheoldclumsy，hesitatingmodeofspeech。
\"Youlikethepinaforesbetter？\"shesaidquickly。Sheworeadressofasimplecottonfabric，butveryfashionablymade，andonherheadwasabroadwhitehat。ToWaldosheseemedsuperblyattired。Shesawit。\"Mydresshaschangedalittle，\"shesaid，\"andIalso；butnottoyou。Hangthebagoveryourothershoulder，thatImayseeyourface。Yousaysolittlethatifonedoesnotlookatyouyouareanuncomprehendedcipher。
Waldochangedthebag，andtheywalkedonsidebyside。\"Youhaveimproved，\"shesaid。\"DoyouknowthatIhavesometimeswishedtoseeyouwhileIwasaway；notoften，butstillsometimes。\"
Theywereatthegateofthefirstcampnow。Waldothrewoverabagofmealies，andtheywalkedonoverthedewyground。
\"Haveyoulearntmuch？\"heaskedhersimply，rememberinghowshehadoncesaid，\"WhenIcomebackagainIshallknoweverythingthatahumanbeingcan。\"
Shelaughed。
\"Areyouthinkingofmyoldboast？Yes；Ihavelearntsomething，thoughhardlywhatIexpected，andnotquitesomuch。Inthefirstplace，Ihavelearntthatoneofmyancestorsmusthavebeenaverygreatfool；fortheysaynothingcomesoutinamanbutoneofhisforefatherspossesseditbeforehim。Inthesecondplace，Ihavediscoveredthatofallcursedplacesunderthesun，wherethehungriestsoulcanhardlypickupafewgrainsofknowledge，agirls’boarding—schoolistheworst。Theyarecalledfinishingschools，andthenametellsaccuratelywhattheyare。
Theyfinisheverythingbutimbecilityandweakness，andthattheycultivate。Theyarenicelyadaptedmachinesforexperimentingonthequestion，’Intohowlittlespaceahumansoulcanbecrushed？’Ihaveseensomesoulssocompressedthattheywouldhavefittedintoasmallthimble，andfoundroomtomovethere——wideroom。Awomanwhohasbeenformanyyearsinoneofthoseplacescarriesthemarkofthebeastonhertillshedies，thoughshemayexpandalittleafterward，whenshebreathesinthefreeworld。\"
\"Wereyoumiserable？\"heasked，lookingatherwithquickanxiety。
\"I？——no。Iamnevermiserableandneverhappy。IwishIwere。ButI
shouldhaverunawayfromtheplaceonthefourthday，andhiredmyselftothefirstBoer—womanwhosefarmIcameto，tomakefireunderhersoap—pot，ifIhadtoliveastherestofthedrovedid。Canyouformanidea，Waldo，ofwhatitmustbetobeshutupwithcacklingoldwomen，whoarewithoutknowledgeoflife，withoutloveofthebeautiful，withoutstrength，tohaveyoursoulculturedbythem？Itissuffocationonlytobreathetheairtheybreathe；butImadethemgivemeroom。ItoldthemIshouldleave，andtheyknewIcamethereonmyownaccount；sotheygavemeabedroomwithoutthecompanionshipofoneofthosethingsthatwerehavingtheirbrainsslowlydilutedandsqueezedoutofthem。Ididnotlearnmusic，becauseIhadnotalent；andwhenthedrovemadecushions，andhideousflowersthattheroseslaughat，andafootstoolinsixweeksthatamachinewouldhavemadebetterinfiveminutes，Iwenttomyroom。WiththemoneysavedfromsuchworkIboughtbooksandnewspapers，andatnightIsatup。Iread，andepitomizedwhatIread；andIfoundtimetowritesomeplays，andfindouthowharditistomakeyourthoughtslookanythingbutimbecilefoolswhenyoupaintthemwithinkandpaper。IntheholidaysIlearntagreatdealmore。Imadeacquaintances，sawafewplacesandmanypeople，andsomedifferentwaysofliving，whichismorethananybookscanshowone。Onthewhole，Iamnotdissatisfiedwithmyfouryears。IhavenotlearntwhatIexpected；butIhavelearntsomethingelse。Whathaveyoubeendoing？\"
\"Nothing。\"
\"Thatisnotpossible。Ishallfindoutbyandby。\"
Theystillsteppedonsidebysideoverthedewybushes。Thensuddenlysheturnedonhim。
\"Don’tyouwishyouwereawoman，Waldo？\"
\"No，\"heansweredreadily。
Shelaughed。
\"Ithoughtnot。Evenyouaretooworldly—wiseforthat。Inevermetamanwhodid。Thisisaprettyring，\"shesaid，holdingoutherlittlehand，thatthemorningsunmightmakethediamondssparkle。\"Worthfiftypoundsatleast。Iwillgiveittothefirstmanwhotellsmehewouldliketobeawoman。TheremightbeoneonRobbinIsland（lunaticsattheCapearesenttoRobbinIsland）whowouldwinitperhaps，butIdoubtiteventhere。
Itisdelightfultobeawoman；buteverymanthankstheLorddevoutlythatheisn’tone。\"
Shedrewherhattoonesidetokeepthesunoutofhereyesasshewalked。
Waldolookedathersointentlythathestumbledoverthebushes。Yes，thiswashislittleLyndallwhohadwornthecheckpinafores；hesawitnow，andhewalkedcloserbesideher。Theyreachedthenextcamp。
\"Letuswaitatthiscampandwatchthebirds，\"shesaid，asanostrichhencameboundingtowardthemwithvelvetywingsoutstretched，whilefarawayoverthebushestheheadofthecockwasvisibleashesatbroodingontheeggs。
Lyndallfoldedherarmsonthegatebar，andWaldothrewhisemptybagonthewallandleanedbesideher。
\"Ilikethesebirds，\"shesaid；\"theyshareeachother’swork，andarecompanions。Doyoutakeaninterestinthepositionofwomen，Waldo？\"
\"No。\"
\"Ithoughtnot。Noonedoes，unlesstheyareinneedofasubjectuponwhichtoshowtheirwit。Andasforyou，fromofoldyoucanseenothingthatisnotseparatedfromyoubyafewmillionsofmiles，andstrewedoverwithmystery。IfwomenweretheinhabitantsofJupiter，ofwhomyouhadhappenedtohearsomething，youwouldporeoverusandourconditionnightandday；butbecausewearebeforeyoureyesyouneverlookatus。Youcarenothingthatthisisraggedandugly，\"shesaid，puttingherlittlefingeronhissleeve；\"butyoustrivemightilytomakeanimaginaryleafonanoldstickbeautiful。I’msorryyoudon’tcareforthepositionofwomen；Ishouldhavelikedustobefriends；anditistheonlythingaboutwhichIthinkmuchorfeelmuch——if，indeed，Ihaveanyfeelingaboutanything，\"sheadded，flippantly，readjustingherdaintylittlearms。
\"WhenIwasababy，Ifancymyparentsleftmeoutinthefrostonenight，andIgotnippedinternally——itfeelsso！\"
\"Ihaveonlyafewoldthoughts，\"hesaid，\"andIthinkthemoverandoveragain；alwaysbeginningwhereIleftoff。Inevergetanyfurther。Iamwearyofthem。\"
\"Likeanoldhenthatsitsonitseggsmonthaftermonthandtheynevercomeout？\"shesaidquickly。\"Iamsopressedinuponbynewthingsthat，lesttheyshouldtriponeanotherup，Ihavetokeepforcingthemback。Myheadswingssometimes。Butthisonethoughtstands，nevergoes——ifImightbutbeoneoftheseborninthefuture；then，perhaps，tobebornawomanwillnotbetobebornbranded。\"
Waldolookedather。Itwashardtosaywhethershewereinearnestormocking。
\"Iknowitisfoolish。Wisdomneverkicksattheironwallsitcan’tbringdown，\"shesaid。\"Butwearecursed。Waldo，borncursedfromthetimeourmothersbringusintotheworldtilltheshroudsareputonus。DonotlookatmeasthoughIweretalkingnonsense。Everythinghastwosides——
theoutsidethatisridiculous，andtheinsidethatissolemn。\"
\"Iamnotlaughing，\"saidtheboy，sedatelyenough；\"butwhatcursesyou？\"
Hethoughtshewouldnotreplytohim，shewaitedsolong。
\"Itisnotwhatisdonetous，butwhatismadeofus，\"shesaidatlast，\"thatwrongsus。Nomancanbereallyinjuredbutbywhatmodifieshimself。Weallentertheworldlittleplasticbeings，withsomuchnaturalforce，perhaps，butfortherest——blank；andtheworldtellsuswhatwearetobe，andshapesusbytheendsitsetsbeforeus。Toyouitsays——\"Work；\"andtousitsays——\"Seem！\"Toyouitsays——Asyouapproximatetoman’shighestidealofGod，asyourarmisstrongandyourknowledgegreat，andthepowertolabouriswithyou，soyoushallgainallthathumanheartdesires。Tousitsays——Strengthshallnothelpyou，norknowledge，norlabour。Youshallgainwhatmengain，butbyothermeans。
Andsotheworldmakesmenandwomen。
\"Lookatthislittlechinofmine，Waldo，withthedimpleinit。Itisbutasmallpartofmyperson；butthoughIhadaknowledgeofallthingsunderthesun，andthewisdomtouseit，andthedeeplovingheartofanangel，itwouldnotsteadmethroughlifelikethislittlechin。Icanwinmoneywithit，Icanwinlove；Icanwinpowerwithit，Icanwinfame。Whatwouldknowledgehelpme？Thelessawomanhasinherheadthelightersheisforclimbing。Ionceheardanoldmansay，thatheneversawintellecthelpawomansomuchasaprettyankle；anditwasthetruth。Theybegintoshapeustoourcursedend，\"shesaid，withherlipsdrawnintolookasthoughtheysmiled，\"whenwearetinythingsinshoesandsocks。Wesitwithourlittlefeetdrawnupunderusinthewindow，andlookoutattheboysintheirhappyplay。Wewanttogo。Thenalovinghandislaidonus：’Littleone，youcannotgo，’theysay，’yourlittlefacewillburn，andyournicewhitedressbespoiled。’Wefeelitmustbeforourgood，itissolovinglysaid：butwecannotunderstand；andwekneelstillwithonelittlecheekwistfullypressedagainstthepane。Afterwardswegoandthreadbluebeads，andmakeastringforourneck；andwegoandstandbeforetheglass。Weseethecomplexionwewerenottospoil，andthewhitefrock，andwelookintoourowngreateyes。Thenthecursebeginstoactonus。Itfinishesitsworkwhenwearegrownwomen，whonomorelookoutwistfullyatamorehealthylife；wearecontented。WefitoursphereasaChinesewoman’sfootfitshershoe，exactly，asthoughGodhadmadeboth——andyetheknowsnothingofeither。Insomeofustheshapingofourendhasbeenquitecompleted。Thepartswearenottousehavebeenquiteatrophied，andhaveevendroppedoff；butinothers，andwearenotlesstobepitied，theyhavebeenweakenedandleft。Wewearthebandages，butourlimbshavenotgrowntothem；weknowthatwearecompressed，andchafeagainstthem。
\"Butwhatdoesithelp？Alittlebitterness，alittlelongingwhenweareyoung，alittlefutilesearchingforwork，alittlepassionatestrivingforroomfortheexerciseofourpowers，——andthenwegowiththedrove。A
womanmustmarchwithherregiment。Intheendshemustbetroddendownorgowithit；andifsheiswiseshegoes。
\"Iseeinyourgreateyeswhatyouarethinking，\"shesaid，glancingathim；\"IalwaysknowwhatthepersonIamtalkingtoisthinkingof。HowisthiswomanwhomakessuchafussworseoffthanI？Iwillshowyoubyaverylittleexample。Westandhereatthisgatethismorning，bothpoor，bothyoung，bothfriendless；thereisnotmuchtochoosebetweenus。Letusturnawayjustasweare，tomakeourwayinlife。Thiseveningyouwillcometoafarmer’shouse。Thefarmer，albeityoucomealoneonfoot，willgiveyouapipeoftobaccoandacupofcoffeeandabed。Ifhehasnodamtobuildandnochildtoteach，tomorrowyoucangoonyourway，withafriendlygreetingofthehand。I，ifIcometothesameplacetonight，willhavestrangequestionsaskedme，strangeglancescastonme。
TheBoer—wifewillshakeherheadandgivemefoodtoeatwiththeKaffers，andarighttosleepwiththedogs。Thatwouldbethefirststepinourprogress——averylittleone，buteverysteptotheendwouldrepeatit。Wewereequalsoncewhenwelaynew—bornbabesonournurses’knees。Wewillbeequalsagainwhentheytieupourjawsforthelastsleep！\"
Waldolookedinwonderatthelittlequiveringface；itwasaglimpseintoaworldofpassionandfeelingwhollynewtohim。
\"Markyou，\"shesaid，\"wehavealwaysthisadvantageoveryou——wecanatanytimestepintoeaseandcompetence，whereyoumustlabourpatientlyforit。Alittleweeping，alittlewheedling，alittleself—degradation，alittlecarefuluseofouradvantages，andthensomemanwillsay：\"Come，bemywife！\"Withgoodlooksandyouthmarriageiseasytoattain。Therearemenenough；butawomanwhohassoldherself，evenforaringandanewname，needholdherskirtasidefornocreatureinthestreet。Theybothearntheirbreadinoneway。Marriageforloveisthebeautifulestexternalsymboloftheunionofsouls；marriagewithoutitistheuncleanliesttrafficthatdefilestheworld。\"Sheranherlittlefingersavagelyalongthetopmostbar，shakingoffthedozenlittledewdropsthatstillhungthere。\"Andtheytelluswehavemen’schivalrousattention！\"
