\"Didyouseethemboth，Jorgenson？\"askedLingard。
\"Madeoutnobody。Toofar。Toodark。\"
AsamatteroffactJorgensonhadseennothing，aboutanhourbeforedaybreak，butthedistantglareoftorcheswhiletheloudshoutsofanexcitedmultitudehadreachedhimacrossthewateronlylikeafaintandtempestuousmurmur。Presentlythelightswentawayprocessionallythroughthegrovesoftreesintothearmedstockades。Thedistantglarevanishedinthefadingdarknessandthemurmursoftheinvisiblecrowdceasedsuddenlyasifcarriedoffbytheretreatingshadowofthenight。Daylightfollowedswiftly，disclosingtothesleeplessJorgensonthesolitudeoftheshoreandtheghostlyoutlinesofthefamiliarformsofgroupedtreesandscatteredhumanhabitations。Hehadwatchedthevariedcolourscomeoutinthedawn，thewidecultivatedSettlementofmanyshadesofgreen，framedfarawaybythefineblacklinesoftheforest—edgethatwasitslimitanditsprotection。
Mrs。Traversstoodagainsttherailasmotionlessasastatue。
Herfacehadlostallitsmobilityandhercheeksweredeadwhiteasifallthebloodinherbodyhadflowedbackintoherheartandhadremainedthere。Herverylipshadlosttheircolour。
Lingardcaughtholdofherarmroughly。
\"Don’t，Mrs。Travers。Whyareyouterrifyingyourselflikethis？
Ifyoudon’tbelievewhatIsaylistentomeaskingJorgenson……\"
\"Yes，askme，\"mumbledJorgensoninhiswhitemoustache。
\"Speakstraight，Jorgenson。Whatdoyouthink？Arethegentlemenalive？\"
\"Certainly，\"saidJorgensoninasortofdisappointedtoneasthoughhehadexpectedamuchmoredifficultquestion。
\"Istheirlifeinimmediatedanger？\"
\"Ofcoursenot，\"saidJorgenson。
Lingardturnedawayfromtheoracle。\"Youhaveheardhim，Mrs。
Travers。Youmaybelieveeverywordhesays。Thereisn’tathoughtorapurposeinthatSettlement，\"hecontinued，pointingatthedumbsolitudeofthelagoon，\"thatthismandoesn’tknowasiftheywerehisown。\"
\"Iknow。Askme，\"mutteredJorgenson，mechanically。
Mrs。Traverssaidnothingbutmadeaslightmovementandherwholerigidfigureswayeddangerously。LingardputhisarmfirmlyroundherwaistandshedidnotseemawareofittillaftershehadturnedherheadandfoundLingard’sfaceverynearherown。
Buthiseyesfullofconcernlookedsocloseintohersthatshewasobligedtoshutthemlikeawomanabouttofaint。
TheeffectthisproduceduponLingardwassuchthatshefeltthetighteningofhisarmandassheopenedhereyesagainsomeofthecolourreturnedtoherface。Shemetthedeepenedexpressionofhissolicitudewithalooksosteady，withagazethatinspiteofherselfwassoprofoundlyvividthatitsclearnessseemedtoLingardtothrowallhispastlifeintoshade。——\"I
don’tfeelfaint。Itisn’tthatatall，\"shedeclaredinaperfectlycalmvoice。ItseemedtoLingardascoldasice。
\"Verywell，\"heagreedwitharesignedsmile。\"Butyoujustcatchholdofthatrail，please，beforeIletyougo。\"She，too，forcedasmileonherlips。
\"Whatincredulity，\"sheremarked，andforatimemadenottheslightestmovement。Atlast，asifmakingaconcession，sherestedthetipsofherfingersontherail。Lingardgraduallyremovedhisarm。\"Andpraydon’tlookuponmeasaconventional’weakwoman’person，thedelicateladyofyourownconception，\"
shesaid，facingLingard，withherarmextendedtotherail。
\"Makethateffortpleaseagainstyourownconceptionofwhatawomanlikemeshouldbe。Iamperhapsasstrongasyouare，CaptainLingard。Imeanitliterally。Inmybody。\"——\"Don’tyouthinkIhaveseenthatlongago？\"sheheardhisdeepvoiceprotesting。——\"Andastomycourage，\"Mrs。Traverscontinued，herexpressioncharminglyundecidedbetweenfrownsandsmiles；
\"didn’tItellyouonlyafewhoursago，onlylastevening，thatIwasnotcapableofthinkingmyselfintoafright；youremember，whenyouwerebeggingmetotrysomethingofthekind。Don’timaginethatIwouldhavebeenashamedtotry。ButIcouldn’thavedoneit。No。Notevenforthesakeofsomebodyelse’skingdom。Doyouunderstandme？\"
\"Godknows，\"saidtheattentiveLingardafteratime，withanunexpectedsigh。\"Youpeopleseemtobemadeofanotherstuff。\"
\"Whathasputthatabsurdnotionintoyourhead？\"
\"Ididn’tmeanbetterorworse。AndIwouldn’tsayitisn’tgoodstuffeither。WhatImeanttosayisthatit’sdifferent。Onefeelsit。Andhereweare。\"
\"Yes，hereweare，\"repeatedMrs。Travers。\"Andastothismomentofemotion，whatprovokeditisnotaconcernforanybodyoranythingoutsidemyself。Ifeltnoterror。Icannotevenfixmyfearsuponanydistinctimage。YouthinkIamshamelesslyheartlessintellingyouthis。\"
Lingardmadenosign。Itdidn’toccurtohimtomakeasign。HesimplyhungonMrs。Travers’wordsasitwereonlyforthesakeofthesound。——\"Iamsimplyfrankwithyou，\"shecontinued。\"WhatdoIknowofsavagery，violence，murder？Ihaveneverseenadeadbodyinmylife。Thelight，thesilence，themysteriousemptinessofthisplacehavesuddenlyaffectedmyimagination，Isuppose。
Whatisthemeaningofthiswonderfulpeaceinwhichwestand——youandIalone？\"
Lingardshookhishead。Hesawthenarrowgleamofthewoman’steethbetweenthepartedlipsofhersmile，asifalltheardourofherconvictionhadbeendissolvedattheendofherspeechintowistfulrecognitionoftheirpartnershipbeforethingsoutsidetheirknowledge。Andhewaswarmedbysomethingalittlehelplessinthatsmile。WithinthreefeetofthemtheshadeofJorgenson，verygauntandneat，staredintospace。
\"Yes。Youarestrong，\"saidLingard。\"Butawholelongnightsittinginasmallboat！Iwonderyouarenottoostifftostand。\"
\"Iamnotstiffintheleast，\"sheinterrupted，stillsmiling。\"I
amreallyaverystrongwoman，\"sheadded，earnestly。\"Whateverhappensyoumayreckononthatfact。\"
Lingardgaveheranadmiringglance。ButtheshadeofJorgenson，perhapscatchinginitsremotenessthesoundofthewordwoman，wassuddenlymovedtobeginscoldingwithallthelibertyofaghost，inaflowofpassionlessindignation。
\"Woman！That’swhatIsay。That’sjustaboutthelasttouch——thatyou，TomLingard，red—eyedTom，KingTom，andallthosefinenames，thatyoushouldleaveyourweaponstwentymilesbehindyou，yourmen，yourguns，yourbrigthatisyourstrength，andcomealongherewithyourmouthfulloffight，bare—handedandwithawomanintow。——Well——well！\"
\"Don’tforget，Jorgenson，thattheladyhearsyou，\"remonstratedLingardinavexedtone……\"Hedoesn’tmeantoberude，\"heremarkedtoMrs。Traversquiteloud，asifindeedJorgensonwerebutanimmaterialandfeelinglessillusion。\"Hehasforgotten。\"
\"Thewomanisnotintheleastoffended。Iaskfornothingbetterthantobetakenonthatfooting。\"
\"Forgotnothing！\"mumbledJorgensonwithasortofghostlyassertivenessandasitwereforhisownsatisfaction。\"What’stheworldcomingto？\"
\"ItwasIwhoinsistedoncomingwithCaptainLingard，\"saidMrs。
Travers，treatingJorgensontoafascinatingsweetnessoftone。
\"That’swhatIsay！Whatistheworldcomingto？Hasn’tKingTomamindofhisown？Whathascomeoverhim？He’smad！Leavinghisbrigwithahundredandtwentybornandbredpiratesoftheworstkindintwoprausontheothersideofasandbank。Didyouinsistonthat，too？Hasheputhimselfinthehandsofastrangewoman？\"
Jorgensonseemedtobeaskingthosequestionsofhimself。Mrs。
Traversobservedtheemptystare，theself—communingvoice，hisunearthlylackofanimation。Somehowitmadeitveryeasytospeakthewholetruthtohim。
\"No，\"shesaid，\"itisIwhoamaltogetherinhishands。\"
NobodywouldhaveguessedthatJorgensonhadheardasinglewordofthatemphaticdeclarationifhehadnotaddressedhimselftoLingardwiththequestionneithermorenorlessabstractedthanallhisotherspeeches。
\"Whythendidyoubringheralong？\"
\"Youdon’tunderstand。Itwasonlyrightandproper。Oneofthegentlemenisthelady’shusband。\"
\"Oh，yes，\"mutteredJorgenson。\"Who’stheother？\"
\"Youhavebeentold。Afriend。\"
\"PoorMr。d’Alcacer，\"saidMrs。Travers。\"Whatbadluckforhimtohaveacceptedourinvitation。Butheisreallyamereacquaintance。\"
\"Ihardlynoticedhim，\"observedLingard，gloomily。\"HewastalkingtoyouoverthebackofyourchairwhenIcameaboardtheyachtasifhehadbeenaverygoodfriend。\"
\"Wealwaysunderstoodeachotherverywell，\"saidMrs。Travers，pickingupfromtherailthelongglassthatwaslyingthere。\"I
alwayslikedhim，thefranknessofhismind，andhisgreatloyalty。\"
\"Whatdidhedo？\"askedLingard。
\"Heloved，\"saidMrs。Travers，lightly。\"Butthat’sanoldstory。\"Sheraisedtheglasstohereyes，onearmextendedfullytosustainthelongtube，andLingardforgotd’Alcacerinadmiringthefirmnessofherposeandtheabsolutesteadinessoftheheavyglass。Shewasasfirmasarockafterallthoseemotionsandallthatfatigue。
Mrs。Traversdirectedtheglassinstinctivelytowardtheentranceofthelagoon。Thesmoothwaterthereshonelikeapieceofsilverinthedarkframeoftheforest。Ablackspecksweptacrossthefieldofhervision。Itwassometimebeforeshecouldfinditagainandthenshesaw，apparentlysonearastobewithinreachofthevoice，asmallcanoewithtwopeopleinit。
Shesawthewetpaddlesrisinganddippingwithaflashinthesunlight。ShemadeoutplainlythefaceofImmada，whoseemedtobelookingstraightintothebigendofthetelescope。Thechiefandhissister，afterrestingunderthebankforacoupleofhoursinthemiddleofthenight，hadenteredthelagoonandweremakingstraightforthehulk。Theywerealreadynearenoughtobeperfectlydistinguishabletothenakedeyeiftherehadbeenanybodyonboardtoglancethatway。Butnobodywaseventhinkingofthem。TheymightnothaveexistedexceptperhapsinthememoryofoldJorgenson。Butthatwasmostlybusywithallthemysterioussecretsofhislatetomb。
Mrs。Traversloweredtheglasssuddenly。Lingardcameoutfromasortoftranceandsaid：
\"Mr。d’Alcacer。Loved！Whyshouldn’the？\"
Mrs。TraverslookedfranklyintoLingard’sgloomyeyes。\"Itisn’tthatalone，ofcourse，\"shesaid。\"Firstofallheknewhowtoloveandthen……Youdon’tknowhowartificialandbarrencertainkindsoflifecanbe。ButMr。d’Alcacer’slifewasnotthat。Hisdevotionwasworthhaving。\"
\"Youseemtoknowalotabouthim，’\"saidLingard，enviously。
\"Whydoyousmile？\"Shecontinuedtosmileathimforalittlewhile。Thelongbrasstubeoverhershouldershonelikegoldagainstthepalefairnessofherbarehead。——\"Atathought，\"sheanswered，preservingthelowtoneoftheconversationintowhichtheyhadfallenasiftheirwordscouldhavedisturbedtheself—absorptionofCaptainH。C。Jorgenson。\"AtthethoughtthatforallmylongacquaintancewithMr。d’AlcacerIdon’tknowhalfasmuchabouthimasIknowaboutyou。\"
\"Ah，that’simpossible，\"contradictedLingard。\"SpaniardornoSpaniard，heisoneofyourkind。\"
\"Tarredwiththesamebrush，\"murmuredMrs。Travers，withonlyahalf—amusedirony。ButLingardcontinued：
\"Hewastryingtomakeitupbetweenmeandyourhusband，wasn’the？Iwastooangrytopaymuchattention，butIlikedhimwellenough。Whatpleasedmemostwasthewayinwhichhegaveitup。
Thatwasdonelikeagentleman。DoyouunderstandwhatImean，Mrs。Travers？\"
\"Iquiteunderstand。\"
\"Yes，youwould，\"hecommented，simply。\"ButjustthenIwastooangrytotalktoanybody。AndsoIclearedoutonboardmyownshipandstayedthere，notknowingwhattodoandwishingyouallatthebottomofthesea。Don’tmistakeme，Mrs。Travers；it’syou，thepeopleaft，thatIwishedatthebottomofthesea。I
hadnothingagainstthepoordevilsonboard，Theywouldhavetrustedmequickenough。SoIfumedtheretill——till……\"
\"Tillnineo’clockoralittleafter，\"suggestedMrs。Travers，impenetrably。
\"No。TillIrememberedyou，\"saidLingardwiththeutmostinnocence。
\"Doyoumeantosaythatyouforgotmyexistencesocompletelytillthen？Youhadspokentomeonboardtheyacht，youknow。\"
\"DidI？IthoughtIdid。WhatdidIsay？\"
\"Youtoldmenottotouchaduskyprincess，\"answeredMrs。
Traverswithashortlaugh。Thenwithavisiblechangeofmoodasifshehadsuddenlyoutofalightheartbeenrecalledtothesenseofthetruesituation：\"ButindeedImeantnoharmtothisfigureofyourdream。And，lookoverthere。Sheispursuingyou。\"
Lingardglancedtowardthenorthshoreandsuppressedanexclamationofremorse。ForthesecondtimehediscoveredthathehadforgottentheexistenceofHassimandImmada。ThecanoewasnownearenoughforitsoccupantstodistinguishplainlytheheadsofthreepeopleabovethelowbulwarkoftheEmma。Immadaletherpaddletrailsuddenlyinthewater，withtheexclamation，\"Iseethewhitewomanthere。\"Herbrotherlookedoverhisshoulderandthecanoefloated，arrestedasifbythesuddenpowerofaspell。——\"Theyarenodreamtome，\"mutteredLingard，sturdily。Mrs。Traversturnedabruptlyawaytolookatthefurthershore。Itwasstillandemptytothenakedeyeandseemedtoquiverinthesunshinelikeanimmensepaintedcurtainloweredupontheunknown。
\"Here’sRajahHassimcoming，Jorgenson。Ihadanideahewouldperhapsstayoutside。\"Mrs。TraversheardLingard’svoiceatherbackandtheansweringgruntofJorgenson。Sheraiseddeliberatelythelongglasstohereye，pointingitattheshore。
ShedistinguishedplainlynowthecoloursintheflutterofthestreamersabovethebrownroofsofthelargeSettlement，thestirofpalmgroves，theblackshadowsinlandandthedazzlingwhitebeachofcoralsandallablazeinitsformidablemystery。Shesweptthewholerangeoftheviewandwasgoingtolowertheglasswhenfrombehindthemassiveangleofthestockadetheresteppedoutintothebrilliantimmobilityofthelandscapeamaninalongwhitegownandwithanenormousblackturbansurmountingadarkface。Slowandgravehepacedthebeachominouslyinthesunshine，anenigmaticalfigureinanOrientaltalewithsomethingweirdandmenacinginitssuddenemergenceandlonelyprogress。
WithaninvoluntarygaspMrs。Traversloweredtheglass。Allatoncebehindherbacksheheardalowmusicalvoicebeginningtopouroutincomprehensiblewordsinatoneofpassionatepleading。
HassimandImmadahadcomeonboardandhadapproachedLingard。
Yes！Itwasintolerabletofeelthatthisflowofsoftspeechwhichhadnomeaningforhercouldmakeitswaystraightintothatman’sheart。
PARTV。THEPOINTOFHONOURANDTHEPOINTOFPASSION
I
\"MayIcomein？\"
\"Yes，\"saidavoicewithin。\"Thedoorisopen。\"Ithadawoodenlatch。Mr。Traverslifteditwhilethevoiceofhiswifecontinuedasheentered。\"DidyouimagineIhadlockedmyselfin？
Didyoueverknowmelockmyselfin？\"
Mr。Traversclosedthedoorbehindhim。\"No，ithasnevercometothat，\"hesaidinatonethatwasnotconciliatory。Inthatplacewhichwasaroominawoodenhutandhadasquareopeningwithoutglassbutwithahalf—closedshutterhecouldnotdistinguishhiswifeverywellatonce。Shewassittinginanarmchairandwhathecouldseebestwasherfairhairalllooseoverthebackofthechair。Therewasamomentofsilence。Themeasuredfootstepsoftwomenpacingathwartthequarter—deckofthedeadshipEmmacommandedbythederelictshadeofJorgensoncouldbeheardoutside。
Jorgenson，ontakinguphisdeadcommand，hadahouseofthinboardsbuiltontheafterdeckforhisownaccommodationandthatofLingardduringhisflyingvisitstotheShoreofRefuge。A
narrowpassagedivideditintwoandLingard’ssidewasfurnishedwithacampbedstead，aroughdesk，andarattanarmchair。OnoneofhisvisitsLingardhadbroughtwithhimablackseaman’schestandleftitthere。Apartfromtheseobjectsandasmalllooking—glassworthabouthalfacrownandnailedtothewalltherewasnothingelseintherewhatever。WhatwasonJorgenson’ssideofthedeckhousenoonehadseen，butfromexternalevidenceonecouldinfertheexistenceofasetofrazors。
Theerectionofthatprimitivedeckhousewasamatterofproprietyratherthanofnecessity。Itwasproperthatthewhitemenshouldhaveaplacetothemselvesonboard，butLingardwasperfectlyaccuratewhenhetoldMrs。Traversthathehadneversleptthereonce。Hispracticewastosleepondeck。AstoJorgenson，ifhedidsleepatallhesleptverylittle。ItmighthavebeensaidthathehauntedratherthancommandedtheEmma。
Hiswhiteformflittedhereandthereinthenightorstoodforhours，silent，contemplatingthesombreglimmerofthelagoon。
Mr。Travers’eyesaccustomedgraduallytotheduskoftheplacecouldnowdistinguishmoreofhiswife’spersonthanthegreatmassofhoney—colouredhair。Hesawherface，thedarkeyebrowsandhereyesthatseemedprofoundlyblackinthehalflight。Hesaid：
\"Youcouldn’thavedonesohere。Thereisneitherlocknorbolt。\"
\"Isn’tthere？Ididn’tnotice。Iwouldknowhowtoprotectmyselfwithoutlocksandbolts。\"
\"Iamgladtohearit，\"saidMr。Traversinasullentoneandfellsilentagainsurveyingthewomaninthechair。\"Indulgingyourtasteforfancydress，\"hewentonwithfaintirony。
Mrs。Traversclaspedherhandsbehindherhead。Thewidesleevesslippingbackbaredherarmstohershoulders。ShewaswearingaMalaythincottonjacket，cutlowintheneckwithoutacollarandfastenedwithwroughtsilverclaspsfromthethroatdownward。
Shehadreplacedheryachtingskirtbyabluechecksarongembroideredwiththreadsofgold。Mr。Travers’eyestravellingslowlydownattachedthemselvestothegleaminginstepofanagitatedfootfromwhichhungalightleathersandal。
\"IhadnoclotheswithmebutwhatIstoodin，\"saidMrs。
Travers。\"Ifoundmyyachtingcostumetooheavy。Itwasintolerable。IwassoakedindewwhenIarrived。Sowhenthesethingswereproducedformyinspection……\"
\"Byenchantment，\"mutteredMr。Traversinatonetooheavyforsarcasm。
\"No。Outofthatchest。Thereareveryfinestuffsthere。\"
\"Nodoubt，\"saidMr。Travers。\"Themanwouldn’tbeaboveplunderingthenatives……\"Hesatdownheavilyonthechest。
\"Amostappropriatecostumeforthisfarce，\"hecontinued。\"Butdoyoumeantowearitinopendaylightaboutthedecks？\"
\"IndeedIdo，\"saidMrs。Travers。\"D’Alcacerhasseenmealreadyandhedidn’tseemshocked。\"
\"Youshould，\"saidMr。Travers，\"trytogetyourselfpresentedwithsomebanglesforyouranklessothatyoumayjingleasyouwalk。\"
\"Banglesarenotnecessities，\"saidMrs。Traversinawearytoneandwiththefixedupwardlookofapersonunwillingtorelinquishherdream。Mr。Traversdroppedthesubjecttoask：
\"Andhowlongisthisfarcegoingtolast？\"
Mrs。Traversunclaspedherhands，loweredherglance，andchangedherwholeposeinamoment。
\"Whatdoyoumeanbyfarce？Whatfarce？\"
\"Theonewhichisbeingplayedatmyexpense。\"
\"Youbelievethat？\"
\"Notonlybelieve。Ifeeldeeplythatitisso。Atmyexpense。
It’samostsinisterthing，\"Mr。Traverspursued，stillwithdowncasteyesandinanunforgivingtone。\"ImusttellyouthatwhenIsawyouinthatcourtyardinacrowdofnativesandleaningonthatman’sarm，itgavemequiteashock。\"
\"DidI，too，looksinister？\"saidMrs。Travers，turningherheadslightlytowardherhusband。\"AndyetIassureyouthatIwasglad，profoundlyglad，toseeyousafefromdangerforatimeatleast。Togaintimeiseverything……\"
\"Iaskmyself，\"Mr。Traversmeditatedaloud，\"wasIeverindanger？AmIsafenow？Idon’tknow。Ican’ttell。No！Allthisseemsanabominablefarce。\"
Therewasthatinhistonewhichmadehiswifecontinuetolookathimwithawakenedinterest。Itwasobviousthathesufferedfromadistresswhichwasnottheeffectoffear；andMrs。
Travers’faceexpressedrealconcerntillheaddedinafreezingmanner：\"Thequestion，however，isastoyourdiscretion。\"
Sheleanedbackagaininthechairandletherhandsrestquietlyinherlap。\"Wouldyouhavepreferredmetoremainoutside，intheyacht，inthenearneighbourhoodofthesewildmenwhocapturedyou？Ordoyouthinkthatthey，too，weregotuptocarryonafarce？\"
\"Mostdecidedly。\"Mr。Traversraisedhishead，thoughofcoursenothisvoice。\"Yououghttohaveremainedintheyachtamongstwhitemen，yourservants，thesailing—master，thecrewwhosedutyitwasto……Whowouldhavebeenreadytodieforyou。\"
\"Iwonderwhytheyshouldhave——andwhyIshouldhaveaskedthemforthatsacrifice。However，Ihavenodoubttheywouldhavedied。Orwouldyouhavepreferredmetotakeupmyquartersonboardthatman’sbrig？Wewereallfairlysafethere。TherealreasonwhyIinsistedoncominginherewastobenearertoyou——toseeformyselfwhatcouldbeorwasbeingdone……ButreallyifyouwantmetoexplainmymotivesthenImayjustaswellsaynothing。Icouldn’tremainoutsidefordayswithoutnews，inastateofhorribledoubt。Wecouldn’teventellwhetheryouandd’Alcacerwerestillalivetillwearrivedhere。Youmighthavebeenactuallymurderedonthesandbank，afterRajahHassimandthatgirlhadgoneaway；orkilledwhilegoinguptheriver。AndIwantedtoknowatonce，assoonaspossible。Itwasamatterofimpulse。IwentoffinwhatIstoodinwithoutdelayingamoment。\"
\"Yes，\"saidMr。Travers。\"Andwithouteventhinkingofhavingafewthingsputupformeinabag。Nodoubtyouwereinastateofexcitement。Unlessyoutooksuchatragicviewthatitseemedtoyouhardlyworthwhiletobotheraboutmyclothes。\"
\"Itwasabsolutelytheimpulseofthemoment。Icouldhavedonenothingelse。Won’tyougivemecreditforit？\"
Mr。Traversraisedhiseyesagaintohiswife’sface。Hesawitcalm，herattitudereposeful。Tillthenhistonehadbeenresentful，dull，withoutsarcasm。Butnowhebecameslightlypompous。
\"No。Asamatteroffact，asamatterofexperience，Ican’tcredityouwiththepossessionoffeelingsappropriatetoyourorigin，socialposition，andtheideasoftheclasstowhichyoubelong。Itwastheheaviestdisappointmentofmylife。IhadmadeupmymindnottomentionitaslongasIlived。This，however，seemsanoccasionwhichyouhaveprovokedyourself。Itisn’tatallasolemnoccasion。Idon’tlookuponitassolemnatall。
It’sverydisagreeableandhumiliating。Butithaspresenteditself。Youhavenevertakenaseriousinterestintheactivitiesofmylifewhichofcourseareitsdistinctionanditsvalue。AndwhyyoushouldbecarriedawaysuddenlybyafeelingtowardthemeremanIdon’tunderstand。\"
\"Thereforeyoudon’tapprove，\"Mrs。Traverscommentedinaneventone。\"ButIassureyou，youmaysafely。Myfeelingwasofthemostconventionalnature，exactlyasifthewholeworldwerelookingon。Afterall，wearehusbandandwife。It’seminentlyfittingthatIshouldbeconcernedaboutyourfate。Eventhemanyoudistrustanddislikesomuch（thewarmestfeeling，letmetellyou，thatIeversawyoudisplay）eventhatmanfoundmyconductperfectlyproper。Hisownword。Proper。Soeminentlyproperthatitaltogethersilencedhisobjections。\"
Mr。Traversshifteduneasilyonhisseat。
\"It’smybelief，Edith，thatifyouhadbeenamanyouwouldhaveledamostirregularlife。Youwouldhavebeenafrankadventurer。Imeanmorally。Ithasbeenagreatgrieftome。Youhaveascorninyoufortheserioussideoflife，fortheideasandtheambitionsofthesocialspheretowhichyoubelong。\"
Hestoppedbecausehiswifehadclaspedagainherhandsbehindherheadandwasnolongerlookingathim。
\"It’sperfectlyobvious，\"hebeganagain。\"Wehavebeenlivingamongstmostdistinguishedmenandwomenandyourattitudetothemhasbeenalwaysso——sonegative！Youwouldneverrecognizetheimportanceofachievements，ofacquiredpositions。Idon’trememberyoueveradmiringfranklyanypoliticalorsocialsuccess。Iaskmyselfwhatafterallyoucouldpossiblyhaveexpectedfromlife。\"
