“Ye-es,I’veaskedforit。”
  MrsBoultespokeinalow,eve~voiceforfiveminutes,verydistinctly,thattheremightbenomisunderstandinghermeaningWhenSamsonbrokethepillarsofGaza,hedidalittlething,andonenottobecomparedtothedeliberatepullingdownofawoman5homesteadaboutherownearsTherewasnoWisefemalefriendtoadviseMrs。
  Boulte,thesingularlycautiouswife,toholdherhandShestruckatBoulte’sheart,becauseherownwassickwithsuspicionofKurrell,andwornoutwiththelongstrainofwatchingalonethroughtheRainsTherewasnoplanorpurposeinherspeakingThesentencesmadethemselves;
  andBoultelistenedleaningagainstthedoor-postwithhishandsinhispocketsWhenallwasover,andMrsBoultebegantobreathethroughhernosebeforebreakingoutintotears,helaughedandstaredstraightinfrontofhimattheDosebrihills。
  “Isthatall?”besaid“Thanks,Ionlywantedtoknow,youknow。”
  “Whatareyougoingtodo?”saidthewoman,betweenhersobs。
  “Do!NothingWhatshouldIdo?KillKurrellorsendyouHome,orapplyforleavetogetadivorce?It’~
  20aWORKSOFRUDYARDKIPLING
  twodays’dokintoNarkarra。”Helaughedagainandwenton:“I’lltellyouwhatyoucando。
  YoucanaskKurrelltodinnerto-morrow-no,onThursday,thatwillallowyoutimetopack~andyoucanholtwithhimIgiveyoumywordIwon’tfollow。”
  Hetookuphishelmetandwentoutoftheroom,andMrsBoultesattillthemoonlightstreakedthefloor,thinkingandthinkingandthinkingShehaddoneherbestuponthespurofthemomenttopullthehousedown;butitwouldnotfallMoreover,shecouldnotunderstandherhusband,andshewasafraidThenthefollyofheruselesstruthfulnessstruckher,andshewasashamedtowritetoKurrell,say]ng:“IhavegonemadandtoldeverythingMyhusbandsaysthatIamfreetoelopewithyouGetaddkforThursday,andwewillflyafterdinner。”Therewasacold-bloodednessaboutthatprocedurewhichdidnotappealtoherSoshesatstillinherownhouseandthought。
  Atdinner-timeBoultecamebackfromhiswalk,whiteandwornandhaggard,andthewomanwastouchedathisdistressAstheeveningworeon,shemutteredsomeexpressionofsorrow,somethingapproachingtocontritionBoultecameoutofabrownstudyandsaid,“Oh,that!I
  wasn’tthinkingaboutthatBytheway,whatdoesKurrellsaytotheelopement?”
  “Ihaven’tseenhim。”saidMrsBoulte“GoodGod!isthatall?”
  ButBoultewasnotlistening,andhersentenceendedinagulp。
  ThenextdaybroughtnocomforttoMrsBoulte,forKurrelldidnotappear,andthenewlifethatshe,inthefiveminutes’madnessofthepreviousevening,hadhopedtobuildoutoftheruinsoftheold,seemedtobenonearer。
  Boulteatehisbreakfast,advisedhertoseeherArabponyfedintheveranda,andwentoutThemorningworethrough,andatmiddaythetensionbecameunendurableMrsBoultecouldnotcryShehadfinishedhercryinginthenight,andnowshedidnotwanttobeleftalonePerhapstheVansoythenwomanwouldtalktoher;and,sincetalkingopenstheheart,perhapstheremightbesomecomforttobefoundinhercompanyShewastheonlyotherwomanintheStation。
  InKasbimatherearenoregularcalling-hoursEveryonecandropinuponeveryoneelseatpleasureMrsBoulteputonabigteraihat,andwalkedacrosstotheVansoythen’shousetoborrow]astweek’sQueenThetwocompoundstouched,andin-steadofgoingupthedrive,shecrossedthroughthegapinthecactus-hedge,enteringthehousefromthebackAsshepassedthroughthedining-room,sheheard,behindthepurdahthatcloakedthedrawing-roomdoor,herhusband’svoice,saying-“ButonmyHonor!OnmySoulandHonor,Itellyoushedoesn’tcareformeShetoldmesolastnightIwouldhavetoldyouthenifVansuythenhadn’tbeenwithyouIfitisforhersakethatyou’llhavenothingtosaytome,youcanmakeyourmindeasyIt’sKurrell’
  “What?”saidMrsVansoythen,withanhystericallittlelaugh。
  “Kurrell!Oh,itcan’tbeYoutwomusthavemadesomehorriblemistakePerhapsyou-youlostyourtemper,ormisunAWAYSIDECOMEDY
  209
  derstood,orsomethingThingscan’tbeaswrongasyousay。”
  MrsVansuythenhadshiftedherdefencetoavoidtheman’spleading,andwasdesperatelytryingtokeephimtoaside-issue。
  “Theremustbesomemistake。”sheinsisted,“anditcanbeallputrightagain。”
  Boultelaughedgrimly。
  “Itcan’tbeCaptainKurrell!Hetoldmethathehadnevertakentheleast-theleastinterestinyourwife,MrBoulteOh,dolisten!HesaidhehadnotHesworehehadnot。”saidMrs。
  Vansuythen。
  Thepurdahrustled,andthespeechwascutshortbytheentryofalittle,thinwomanwithbigringsroundhereyesMrsVansuytbenstoodupwithagasp。
  “Whatwasthatyousaid?”askedMrsBoulte“NevermindthatmanWhatdidTedsaytoyou?
  Whatdidhesaytoyou?Whatdidhesaytoyou?”
  MrsVansuythensatdownhelplesslyonthesofa,overbornebythetroubleofherquestioner。
  “Hesaid-Ican’trememberexactlywhathesaid-butIunderstoodhimtosay-thatis-But,really,MrsBoulte,isn’titratherastrangequestion?”
  “Willyoutellmewhathesaid?”repeatedMrsBoulteEvenatigerwillflybeforeabearrobbedofherwhelps,andMrsVansuythenwasonlyanordinarilygoodwomanShebeganinasortofdesperation:“Well,hesaidthathenevercaredforyouatall,and,ofcourse,therewasnottheleastreasonwhyheshouldhave,and-and-thatwasall。”
  “YousaidhesworehehadnotcaredformeWasthattrue?”
  “Yes。”saidMrsVansuythen,verysoftly。
  MrsBoultewaveredforaninstantwhereshestood,andthenfellforwardfainting。
  “WhatdidItellyou?”saidBoulte,asthoughtheconversationhadbeenunbroken“YoucanseeforyourselfShecaresforhim。”Thelightbegantobreakintohisdullmind,andhewenton-“Andh~whatwashesayingtoyou?”
  ButMrsVansuythen,withnoheartforexplanationsorimpassionedprotestations,waskneelingoverMrsBoulte。
  “Oh,youbrute!”shecried“Areallmenlikethis?Helpmetogetherintomyroom-andherfaceiscutagainstthetableOh,willyoubequiet,andhelpmetocarryher?Ihateyou,andIhateCaptainKurrellLiftherupcarefullyandnow-go!Goaway!”
  BoultecarriedhiswifeintoMrsVansuythen’sbedroomanddepartedbeforethestormofthatlady’swrathanddisgust,impenitentandburningwithjealousy。
  KurrellhadbeenmakinglovetoMrsVansuythen-woulddoVansuytbenasgreatawrongashehaddoneBoulte,whocaughthimselfconsideringwhetherMrsVansuythenwouldfaintifshediscoveredthatthemanshelovedhadforeswornher。
  Inthemiddleofthesemeditations,Kurrellcamecanteringalongtheroadandpulledupwithacheery,“Goodmornin’’BeenmashingMrsVansuythenasusual,eh?Badthingforasober,marriedman,thatWhatwillMr~Boultesay?”
  210
  WORKSOFRUDYARDKIPLING
  Boulteraisedhisheadandsaid,slowly,“Oh,youliar!”Kurrell’sfacechanged“What’sthat?”
  heasked,quickly。
  “Nothingmuch。”saidBoulte“Hasmywifetoldyouthatyoutwoarefreetogooffwheneveryouplease?ShehasbeengoodenoughtoexplainthesituationtomeYou’vebeenatruefriendtome,Kurrell-oldman-haven’tyou?”
  Kurrellgroaned,andtriedtoframesomesortofidioticsentenceaboutbeingwillingtogive“satisfaction。”Buthisinterestinthewomanwasdead,haddiedoutintheRains,and,mentally,hewasabusingherforheramazingindiscretionItwouldhavebeensoeasytohavebrokenoffthethinggentlyandbydegrees,andnowhewassaddledwith-Boulte’5voicerecalledhim。
  “’Idon’tthinkIshouldgetanysatisfactionfromkillingyou,andI’mprettysureyou’dgetnonefromkillingme。”
  Theninaqueruloustone,ludicrouslydisproportionedtohiswrongs,Boulteadded-“’Seemsratherapitythatyouhaven’tthedecencytokeeptothewoman,nowyou’vegotherYou’vebeenatruefriendtohertoo,haven’tyou?”
  KurrellstaredlongandgravelyThesituationwasgettingbeyondhim。
  “Whatdoyoumean?”hesaid。
  Boulteanswered,moretohimselfthanthequestioner:’MywifecameovertoMrsVansuythen’sjustnow;anditseemsyou’dbeentellingMrsVansuythenthatyou’dnevercaredforEmmaI
  supposeyoulied,asusualWhathadMrsVansuytbentodowithyou,oryouwithher?Trytospeakthetruthforonceinaway。”
  Kurrelltookthedoubleinsultwithoutwincing,andrepliedbyanotherquestion:“Goon。
  Whathappened?”
  “Emmafainted。”saidBoulte,simply。
  “But,lookhere,whathadyoubeensayingtoMrsVansuythen?”
  KurrelllaughedMrsBoultehad,withunbridledtongue,madehavocofhisplans;andhecouldatleastretaliatebyhurtingthemaninwhoseeyeshewashumiliatedandshowndishonorable。
  “Saidtoher?Whatdoesamantellalielikethatfor?IsupposeI
  saidprettymuchwhatyou’vesaid,unlessI’magooddealmistaken。”
  “Ispokethetruth。”saidBoulte,againmoretohimselfthanKurrell“EmmatoldmeshehatedmeShehasnorightinme。”
  “No!IsupposenotYou’reonlyherhusband,y’knowAndwhatdidMrsVansuythensayafteryouhadlaidyourdisengagedheartatherfeet?”
  Kurrellfeltalmostvirtuousasheputthequestion。
  “Idon’tthinkthatmatters。”Boultereplied;“anditdoesn’tconcernyou。”
  “Butitdoes!Itellyouitdoes“beganKurrell,shamelessly。
  ThesentencewascutbyaroaroflaughterfromBoulte’slips。
  Kurrellwassilentforaninstant,andthenhe,too,laughed-laughedlongandloudly,rockinginhissaddleItwasanunpleasantsound-themirthlessmirthofthesemenonthelong,whitelineoftheNarkarraRoadTherewerenostrangersinKashima,ortheymighthavethoughtthatcaptivitywithintheAWAYSIDECOMEDY
  211
  DosehrihillshaddrivenhalftheEuropeanpopulationmadThelaughter~ndedabruptly,andKurrellwasthefirsttospeak。
  “Well,whatareyougoingtodo?”
  Boultelookeduptheroad,andatthehills“Nothing。”saidhe,quietly;“what’stheuse?It’stooghastlyforanythingWemustlettheoldlifegoon。
  Icanonlycallyouahoundandaliar,andIcan’tgooncallingyounamesforeverBesideswhich,Idon’tfeelthatI’mmuchbetterWecan’tgetoutofthisplaceWhatistheretodo?”
  Kurrelllookedroundtherat-pitofKashimaandmadenoreply。
  Theinjuredhusbandtookupthewondroustale。
  “Rideon,andspeaktoEmmaifyouwanttoGodknowsIdon’tcarewhatyoudo。”
  HewalkedforwardandleftKurrellgazingblanklyafterhim。
  KurrelldidnotrideoneithertoseeMrsBoulteorMrsVansuythenHesatinhissaddleandthought,whilehisponygrazedbytheroadside。
  ThewhirofapproachingwheelsrousedhimMrsVansuythenwasdrivinghomeMrsBoulte,whiteandwan,withacutonherforehead。
  “Stop,please。”saidMrsBoulte“IwanttospeaktoTed。”
  MrsVansuythenobeyed,butasMrsBoulteleanedforward,puttingherhanduponthesplash-hoardofthedog-cart,Kurrel]spoke。
  “I’veseenyourhusband,MrsBoulte。
  TherewasnonecessityforanyfurtherexplanationTheman’seyeswerefixed,notuponMrs。
  Boulte,buthercompanionMrsBoultesawthelook。
  “Speaktohim!”shepleaded,turningtothewomanatherside。
  “Oh,speaktohim!TellhimwhatyoutoldmejustnowTellhimyouhatehimTellhimyouhatehim!”
  Shebentforwardandweptbitterly,whilethesais,impassive,wentforwardtoholdthehorse。
  MrsVansuythenturnedscarletanddroppedthereinsShewishedtobenopartytosuchunholyexplanations。
  “I’venothingtodowithit。”shebegan,coldly;butMrsBoulte’ssobsovercameher,andsheaddressedherselftotheman“Idon’tknowwhatIamtosay,CaptainKurrellIdon’tknowwhatIcancallyouIthinkyou’ve-you’vebehavedabominably,andshehascutherforeheadterriblyagainstthetable。”
  “Itdoesn’thurtItisn’tanything。”saidMrsBoultefeebly“Thatdoesn’tmatterTellhimwhatyoutoldmeSayyoudon’tcareforhimOh,Ted,~von’tyoubelieveher?”
  “MrsBoultehasmademeunderstandthatyouwere-thatyouwerefondofheronceuponatime。”wentonMrsVansuythen。
  “Well!”saidKurrellbrutally“ItseemstomethatMrsBoultehadbetterbefondofherownhusbandfirst。”
  “Stop!”saidMrsVansuythen“HearmefirstIdon’tcare-Idon’twanttoknowanythingaboutyouandMrsBoulte;butIwantyoutoknowthatIhateyou,thatI
  thinkyouareacur,andthatI’llnever,neverspeaktoyouagainOh,Idon’tdaretosaywhatI
  thinkofyou,you-man!”
  ~outhlIorderedtheHawleyBoy,as’aevaluedmypatronage,nottocallThefirstpersonI
  stumbleover-literallystumbleover-inherpoky,dark,jittledrawing-roomis,ofcourse,theflawleyBoyShekeptuswaitingtenrninutes,andthenemergedasthough~hehadbeentippedoutofthedirtyrIothesbasketYouknowmyway,dear,whenIamallputoutIwasSuperior,crrrushinglySuperior!’LiftedmyeyestoHeaven,andhadheardofnothing-’droppedmyeyesonthecarpetand’reallydidn’tknow’-’playedwitnmycardcaseand’supposedso。’TheHawleyBoygiggledlikeagirl,andIhadtofreezehimwithscowlsbetweenthesentences。”
  “Andshe?”
  “Shesatinaheapontheedgeofacouch,andmanagedtoconveytheimpressionthatshewassufferingfromstomach-ache,attheveryleastItwasallIcoulddonottoaskafterhersymptomsWhenIroseshegruntedjust~keabuffalointhewater-toolazytomove。”
  “Areyoucertain?’-“AmIblind,Polly?Laziness,sheerl。~iness,nothingelse-orhergarmentswereonlyconstructedforsittingdownin。
  Istayedforaquarterofanhourtryingtopenetratethegloom,toguesswhathersurroundingswerelike,whileshestuckouthertongue。”
  “Lu-cy!’~
  “Well-I’llwithdrawthetongue,thoughI’msureifshedidn’tdoitwhenIwasintheroom,shedidtheminuteIwasoutsideAtanyrate,shel~yinalumpandgruntedAsktheHawleyBoy,dearIbel~evcthegruntswerem~antforsentencesbutshespokesoindistinctlythatIcan’tsweartoit。”
  “Youareincorrigible,simply。”
  “Iamnot!Treatmecivilly,givemepeacewithhonor,don’tputtheonlyavailableseatfacingthewindow,andachildmayeatjaminmylapbeforeChurchButIresentbeinggruntedat。
  Wouldn’tyou?DoyousupposethatshecommunicatesherviewsonlifeandlovetoTheDancingMasterinasetofmodulated’Grmphs’?”
  “YouattachtoomuchimportancetoTheDancingMaster。”
  “Hecameaswewent,andTheDowdgrewalmostcordialatthesightofhimHesmiledgreasily,andmovedaboutthatdarkeneddog-kennelinasuspiciouslyfamiliarway。”
  “Don’tbeuncharitableAnysinbutthatI’llforgive。”
  “ListentothevoiceofHistoryIamonlydescribingwhatIsaw。
  Heentered,theheaponthesofarevivedslightly,andtheHawleyBoyandIcameawaytogetherHeisdisillusionea,butI
  feltitmydutytolecturehimseverelyforgoingthereAndthat’sall。”
  “NowforPity’ssakeleavethewretchedcreatureandTheDancingMasteraloneTheyneverdidyouanyharm。”
  “Noharm?Todressasanexampleandastumbling-blockforhalfSimla,andthentofindthisPersonwhoisdressedbythehandofGod-notthatIwishtodisparageHimforamoment,butyouknowthetikkadhurziewayHeattiresthoseliliesofthefield-thisPersondrawstheeyesofmen-andsomeofthemnicemen?It’salmostenough~omakeonedi~cardclothingItoldtheHawleyBoyso。”
  “IwanttospeaktoTed。”moanedMrsBoulte,butthedog-cartrattledon,andKurrellwasleftontheroad,shamed,andboilingwithwrathagainstMrsBoulte。
  HewaitedtillMrsVansuythenwasdrivingbacktoherownhouse,and,shebeingfreedfromtheembarrassmentofMrsBoulte’spresence,learnedforthesecondtimeheropinionofhimselfandhisactions。
  Intheevenings,itwasthewontofallKashimatomeetattheplatformontheNarkarraRoad,todrinktea,anddiscussthetrivialitiesofthedayMajorVansuythenandhiswifefoundthemselvesaloneatthegathering-placeforalmostthefirsttimeintheirremembrance;andthecheeryMajor,intheteethofhiswife’sremarkablyreasonablesuggestionthattherestoftheStationmightbesick,insistedupondrivingroundtothetwobungalowsandunearthingthepopulation。
  “Sittinginthetwilight!”saidhe,withgreatindignationtotheBoultesThat’llneverdo!Hangitall,we’reonefamilyhere!Youmustcomeout,andsomustKurrellI’llmakehimbringhisbanjo。”SogreatisthepowerofhonestsimplicityandagooddigestionoverguiltyconsciencesthatallKashimadidturnout,evendowntothebanjo;andtheMajorembracedthecompanyinoneexpansivegrinAshegrinned,MrsVansuythenraisedhereyesforaninstantandlookedatallKashimaHermeaningwasclearMajorVansuythenwouldneverknowanythingHewastobetheoutsiderinthathappyfamilywhosecagewastheDosehrihills。
  “You’resingingvillainouslyoutoftune,Kurrell。”saidtheMajor,truthfully“Passmethatbanjo。”
  Andhesanginexcruciating-wisetillthestarscameoutandallKashimawenttodinner。
  ThatwasthebeginningoftheNewLifeofKashima-thelifethatMrsBoultemadewhenhertonguewasloosenedinthetwilight。
  MrsVansuythenhasnevertoldtheMajor;andsincebeinsistsuponkeepingupaburdensomegeniality,shehasbeencompelledtobreakhervowofnotspeakingtoKurrellThisspeech,whichmustofnecessitypreservethesemblanceofpolitenessandinterest,servesadmirablytokeepalivetheflameofjealousyanddullhatredinBoulte’sbosom,asitawakensthesamepassionsinhiswife’sheartMrsBoultehatesMrsVansuythenbecauseshehastakenTedfromher,and,insomecuriousfashion,hatesherbecauseMrs。
  Vansuythen-andherethewife’seyesseefarmoreclearlythanthehusband’s-detestsTedAndTed-thatgallantcaptainandhonorableman-knowsnowthatitispossibletohateawomanonceloved,tothevergeofwishingtosilenceherforeverwithblows。
  Aboveall,isheshockedthatMrsBoultecannotseetheerrorofherways。
  Boulteandhegoouttiger-shootingtogetherinallfriendship。
  Boultehasputtheirrelationshiponamostsatisfactoryfooting。
  “You’reablackguard。”hesaystoKurrell,“andI’velostanyself-respectImayeverhavehad;butwhenyou’reASECOND-RATEWOMAN
  223
  literyousawherwalkingwithTheDancingMaster-anhourlateryoumetherhereattheLibrary。”
  “StillwithTheDancingMaster,remember。”
  “StillwithTheDancingMaster,Iadmit,butwhyonthestrengthofthatshouldyouimagine“-“I
  imaginenothingIhavenoimaginationIamonlyconvincedthatTheDancingMasterisattractedtoTheDowdbecauseheisobjectionableineverywayandsheineveryotherIfIknowthemanasyouhavedescribedhim,heholdshiswifeinslaveryatpresent。”
  “Sheistwentyyearsyoungerthanhe。”
  “Poorwretch!And,intheend,afterkehasposedandswaggeredandlied-hehasamouthunderthatraggedmoustachesimplymadeforlies-hewillberewardedaccordingtohismerits。”
  “Iwonderwhatthosereallyare。”saidMrsMallowe。
  ButMrsHauksbee,herfaceclosetoheshelfofthenewbooks,washummingsoftly:“WhatshallhehavewhokilledtheDeer!”Shewasaladyofunfetteredspeech。
  Onemonthlater,sheannouncedherotentionofcallinguponMrs。
  DelvilleBothMrsHauksbeeandMrsMallowewereinmorningwrappers,andtherewasagreatpeaceintheland。
  “IshouldgoasIwas。”saidMrsMallowe“Itwouldbeadelicatecomplimenttoherstyle。”
  MrsHauksbeestudiedherselfintheglass。
  “Assumingforamomentthatsheeverdarkenedthesedoors,I
  shouldputonthisrobe,afteralltheothers,toshowherwhatamorningwrapperoughttobeItmightenlivenherAsitis,Ishallgointhedove-colored-sweetemblemofyouthandinnocenc~andshallputonmynewgloves。”
  “Ifyoureallyaregoing,dirtytanwouldbetoogood;andyouknowthatdove-colorspotswiththerain。”
  “IcarenotImaymakeherenviousAtleastIshalltry,thoughonecannotexpectverymuchfromawomanwhoputsalacetuckerintoherhabit。”
  “JustHeavens!Whendidshedothat?”
  “Yesterday-ridingwithTheDancingMasterImetthematthebackofJakko,andtherainhadmadethelaceliedownTocompletetheeffect,shewaswearinganuncleanteraiwiththeelasticunderherchinIfeltalmosttoowellcontenttotakethetroubletodespiseher。”
  “TheHawleyBoywasridingwithyouWhatdidhethink?”
  “Doesaboyevernoticethesethings?ShouldIlikehimifhedid?
  Hestaredintherudestway,andjustwhenIthoughthehadseentheelastic,hesaid,’There’ssomethingverytakingaboutthatface。’IrebukedhimonthespotIdon’tapproveofboysbeingtakenbyfaces。”
  “OtherthanyourownIshouldn’tbeintheleastsurprisediftheHawleyBoyimmediatelywenttocall。”
  “IforbadehimLetherbesatisfiedwithTheDancingMaster,andhiswifewhenshecomesup。
  I’mrathercurioustoseeMrsBentandtheDelvillewomantogether。”
  MrsHauksheedepartedand,attheendofanhour,returnedslightlyflushed。
  “ThereisnolimittothetreacheryofTHEHILLOFILLUSION
  213
  withme,IcanfeelcertainthatyouarenotwithMrsVansuythen,ormakingEmmamiserable。”
  KurrellenduresanythingthatBoultemaysaytohimSometimestheyareawayforthreedaystogether,andthentheMajorinsistsuponhiswifegoingovertositwithMrs,Boulte;althoughMrsVansuythenhasrepeatedlydedaredthatsheprefersherhusband’scompanytoanyintheworldFromthewayinwhichsheclingstohim,shewouldcertainlyseemtobespeakingthetruth。
  Butofcourse,astheMajorsays,“inalittleStationwemustallbefriendly。”
  TheHillofIllusionWhatrenderedvaintheirdeepdesire?
  AGod,aGodtheirseveranceruled,AndbadebetweentheirshorestobeTheunplumbed,salt,estrangingsea-
  MatthewArnold。
  HETellyour’hampanisnottohurryso,dearTheyforgetI’mfreshfromthePlains。
  SHESureproofthatIhavenotbeengoingoutwithanyoneYes,theyareanuntrainedcrew。
  Wheredowego?
  HEAsusual-totheworld’sendNo,Jakko。
  SHEHaveyourponyledafteryou,thenIt’salongound。
  HEAndforthelasttime,thankHeaven!
  SHEDoyoumeanthatstill?Ididn’tdaretowritetoyouaboutit-allthesemonths。
  HEMeanit!I’vebeenshapingmyaffairstothatendsinceAutumnWhatmakesyouspeakasthoughithadoccurredtoyouforthefirsttime?
  SHEI!Oh!Idon’tknowI’vehadlongenoughtothink,too。
  HEAndyou’vechangedyourmind?
  SHENoYououghttoknowthatI
  amamiracleofconstancyWhatareyour-arrangements?
  HEOurs,Sweetheart,please。
  SHEOurs,beitthenMypoorboy,howthepricklyheathasmarkedyourforehead!Haveyouevertriedsulphateofcopperinwater?
  HEIt’llgoawayinadayortwauphereThearrangementsaresimpleenoughTongaintheearlymorning-reachKalkaattwelve-Umballaatseven-down,straightbynighttrain,toBombay,andthenthesteamerofthe21stforRomeThat’smyideaTheContinentandSweden-aten-weekhoneymoon。
  SHESsh!Don’ttalkofitinthatwayItmakesmeafraidGuy,howlonghavewetwobeeninsane?
  HESeve~monthsandfourteendays,Iforgettheoddhoursexactly,butI’llthink。
  SHEIonlywantedtoseeifyourememberedWhoarethosetwoontheBlessingtonRoad?
  HEEabreyandthePennerwomanWhatdotheymattertous?
  Tellmeeverythingthatyou’vebeendoingandsayingandthinking222