"Sir？"
　　"The——I——er——Iamexpectinga——a——couplethisafternoon，"begantheProphet，speakingwithconsiderablehesitation，andstillgazing，inahypnotisedmanner，atthetelegram。
　　"Acouple，sir？"
　　"Exactly。Apair。"
　　"Apair，sir？Ofhorses，sir？"
　　"Horses！No——ofpeople，thatis，persons。"
　　"Apairofpersons，sir。Yes，sir。"
　　"Theyshouldarrivetowardsfiveo’clock。"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　"IfIshouldnotbehomebythattimeyouwillshowthemveryquietlyintomylibrary——notthedrawing—room。Mrs。Merilliaisnotatpresentequaltoreceivingordinaryguests。"
　　TheProphetmeantextraordinary，buthepreferredtoputittheotherway。
　　"Yes，sir。Whatname，sir？"
　　"Mr。andMrs。——thatis，MadameSagittarius。Thatwilldo。"
　　Gustavushastenedtotheservants’halltodiscussthesituation，whiletheProphetstoodre—readingthetelegramwithanexpressionofshattereddismay。NotforatleastfiveminutesdidherecoverhimselfsufficientlytorememberhisappointmentwithLadyEnid，and，whenatlengthhesetforthtoHillStreet，hewassopainfullypreoccupiedthathewalkedthreetimescompletelyroundthesquarebeforehediscoveredtheoutletintothatfashionablethoroughfare。
　　WhenhereachedthedarkgreenmansionofLadyEnid’sworthyfather，theMarquisofGlome，andhadappliedthebronzedemonthatservedasaknockerfourseparatetimestothedoor，hewasstillsolostinthoughtthathestartedviolentlyontheappearanceoftheScotchretainerattheportal，andbehavedforamomentasifhewereconsideringwhichoftwocoursesheshouldpursue：/i。e。/，whetherheshouldclamberfranticallyintotheseclusionofthearea，ortakeboldlytotheopenstreet。BeforehecoulddoeitherM’Allister，theretainer，hadmagnetisedhimintothehall，relievedhimofhishat——
　　almostwiththeseductiveadroitnessofaDruryLanethief——anddrawnhimdownatartanpassageintoaverysensible—lookingboudoir，inwhichLadyEnidwassittingbyawoodfirewithaverytallandlustyyoungman。
　　"Mr。HennesseyVivian！"
　　"What，Bob——youhere！"saidtheProphettothelustyyoungman，aftershakinghandsalittledistractedlywithLadyEnid。
　　"Yes，oldchap。ButI’mjustoff。Iknowyoutwowanttohaveaconfab，"returnedMr。RobertGreen，wringinghisoldschoolfriend’shand。"Niddy’sgivenmethechuck。AndanyhowI’mboundtolookinattheBathClubatfourtofencewithChickyBostock。"
　　Mr。Greenspokeinapowerfulbaritonevoice，rollinghisr’s，andshowinghislargeandsquarewhiteteethinaperpetualcheeryandevenboisteroussmile。Hewaswhatiscalledathoroughgoodfellow，springyinbodyandessentiallygayinsoul。Thathewasofaslightlybelatedtemperamentwillbereadilyunderstoodwhenwesaythathewasatthistimejustbeginningtowhistle，withfaircorrectness，"Ta—ra—ra—boom—
　　de—ay，"todiscussthecharacterofBeckySharp，todwellupontheremarkablepromiseasavocalistshownbyMadameAdelinaPatti，andtowonderatthemarvellousresultssaidtobeaccomplishedbythetelephone。HehadalsoneverheardofChristianScience，andwastotallyunawarethatthereexistsinthemetropolisamodestandretiringbuildingcalled"TheImperialInstitute。"Nevertheless，hewasrepeatedlyspokenofbysubstantialpeopleasayoungmanofmanyparts，wasaleadingspiritinYeomanrycircles，andwasgreatlyregardedbytheProphetasatrustyfriendandstalwartupholderoftheBritishEmpire。Hehadrathertheappearanceofabulwark，andsomethingofthedemeanourofaflourishingyoungoaktree。
　　"Yes，Bob，you’vegottogo，"assentedLadyEnid，examiningtheProphet’sslightlydistortedcountenancewithfrank，andeveneager，curiosity。"Mr。VivianandIaregoingtotalkofmodernthings。"
　　"Iknow，ThackerayandPatti，andthree—volumenovels，andskirtdancing，andalltherestofit，"saidMr。Green，withunaffectedreverence。"Well，I’moff。Isay，Hen，popinattheBathonyourwayhomeandhaveawhiskeyandsoda。Ishalljustbeoutofthehotroomand——"
　　"I’msorry，Bob，"saidtheProphetwithalmostterriblesolemnity，thatIcan’t，that——infact——Iamunable。"
　　"What？Goingtothedentist？"
　　"Exactly——thatis，notatall。"
　　"Well，what’sup？Someintellectualbusiness，lectureonWalterScott，orDickens，oroneoftheotherJohnniesthataresopopularjustnow？"
　　"No。Ihavea——asmallgatheringathomethisafternoon。
　　"Allright。ThenI’llpoproundonyou——sayfiveo’clock。"
　　"No，Bob，no，Ican’tsaythat。I’mverysorry，butIcan’tpossiblysaythat。"
　　"Rightyouare。Toocleverforme，Is’pose。LookmeupattheTintackto—nightthen——anytimeafterten。"
　　"IfIcan，Bob，Iwill，"repliedtheProphet，withimpressiveuncertainty，"IsayifIcanIwilldoso。"
　　"Done！Ifyoucan’t，thenI’mnottoexpectyou。Thatit？"
　　"Thatisit——precisely。"
　　"Good—bye，Niddy，oldgirl。Keepyourpeckerup。Bytheway，ifyouwantarealgoodtuneforaCharitysing—song，arealrouser，try’NancyLee。’"
　　Hewasgone，hummingvigorouslythatnew—fangledfavourite。
　　"Sitdown，Mr。Vivian，"saidLadyEnid，lookingherrightsize。"We’vegotalottosaytooneanother。"
　　"Ihavetobehomeatfive，"repliedtheProphet，abstractedly。
　　LadyEnidbegintoappearatriflethin。
　　"Why？Howtiresome！Ididn’tthinkyoureallymeantit。"
　　"Itisvery，verytiresome。"
　　Hespokewithmarkeduneasiness，andremainedstandingwiththeairofoneinreadinessforthepunctualcallofthehangman。
　　"Whatisit？"continuedLadyEnid，withherusualinquisitiveness。
　　"Ihave，asIsaid，a——asmallgatheringathomeatthathour，"saidtheProphet，repeatinghisformulamorosely。
　　"Agathering——whatof？"
　　"People——persons，thatis。"
　　"What——aparty？"
　　"Twoparties，"repliedtheProphet，instinctivelygivingMr。
　　SagittariusandMadametheirundoubteddue。"Two。"
　　"Twopartiesatthesametime——andintheafternoon！Howveryodd！"
　　"Theywilllookveryodd，very——inBerkeleySquare，"respondedtheProphet，inatoneofconsiderabledejection。"Idon’tknow，I’msure，whatMr。FerdinandandGustavuswillthink。StillI’vegivenstrictordersthattheyaretobeletin。WhatelsecouldIdo？"
　　HegazedatLadyEnidinademandingmanner。
　　"WhatelsecouldIpossiblydounderthecircumstances？"herepeated。
　　"Sitdown，dearMr。Vivian，"sheanswered，withherpeculiarScotchlassieseductiveness，"andtellme，yoursincerefriend，whatthecircumstancesare。"
　　Unluckilyhercuriosityhadledhertooverdopersuasion。Thatcooinginterpolationof"yoursincerefriend"——toostronglyhoneyed——suddenlyrecalledtheProphettothefactthatLadyEnidwasnot，andcouldneverbe，hisconfidanteinthematterthatobsessedhim。Hethereforesatdown，butwithanabruptairofindefinitesocialliveliness，andexclaimed，notunlikeMr。RobertGreen，——
　　"Well，andhowarethingsgoingwithyou，dearLadyEnid？"
　　Shejumpedunderthetransitionasunderawhip。
　　"Me！But——thesepartiesyouweretellingmeabout？"
　　ButtheProphetrememberedhisoath。Hewasastrictlyhonourablelittleman，andneversworecarelessly。
　　"Parties！"hesaid。"YouandIaretoooldfriendstowasteourlifeinchatteringaboutsuchLondonnonsense。"
　　"Thenwe’lltalkofyesterday，"saidLadyEnid，veryfirmly。
　　TheProphetlookedratherblank。
　　"Yes，"sherepeated。"Yesterday。I’veguessedyoursecret。"
　　"Whichone？"hecried，muchstartled。
　　"Which？"shesaidreproachfully。"Oh，Mr。Vivian——andIthoughtyoutrustedinme。"
　　TheProphetwassilent。Thethirddaughteroftheclergymanhadoftenmadethatremarktohimwhentheywerenearlyengaged。Itrecalledbygonememories。
　　"That’swhatIthought，"sheaddedwithpressure。
　　"I’msorry，"theProphetmurmured，ratherobstinately。
　　"Ialwaysthink，"shecontinued，withdeliberateexpansiveness，"thatnearlyallthemiseriesoftheworldcomeaboutfrompeoplenottrustingin——inpeople。"
　　"Orfrompeopletrustinginthewrongpeople。Whichisit？"saidtheProphet，notwithoutslyness。
　　Shebegantolookthin，butcheckedherself。
　　"Tellme，"shesaid，"whydidyoustopmeyesterdaywhenIwasbeginningtosaytoSirTiglaththatIwassureMalkielwasamanandnotasyndicate？"
　　"DidIstopyou？"saidtheProphet，artlessly。
　　"Yes，withyoureyes。"
　　"Because——becauseIwassure——thatis，certainyoucouldn’tbesure。"
　　"Howcouldyoubecertain？"
　　"How？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Well，howisonecertainofanything？"saidtheProphet，ratherfeebly。
　　"HowareyoucertainthatI’mMissMinervaPartridge？"
　　"Becauseyoutoldmesoyourself，becauseI’veseenyoucomeintoJellybrand’sforyourletters，because——"
　　"Haven’tIseenMalkielcomeintoJellybrand’sforhis？"
　　ThisunexpectedretortthrewtheProphetuponhisbeamends。Butherememberedhisoatheveninthatveryawkwardposition。
　　"DoeshegotoJellybrand’s？"heexclaimed，withawildattemptafterastonishment。"Buthe’sacompany——SirTiglathsaidso。"
　　"Andwhatdidyoureyessayyesterday？"
　　"Ihadacoldinmyeyesyesterday，"saidtheProphet。"Theywereveryweak。Theywere——theywereaching。"
　　LadyEnidwassilentforamoment。Duringthatmomentshewasconferringwithherfeminineinstinct。WhatitsaidtohermustbeguessedbythemannerinwhichsheoncemoreenteredintoconversationwiththeProphet。
　　"Mr。Vivian，"shesaid，withacompletechangeofdemeanourtogirlishgenialityandimpulsiveness，"I’mgoingtoconfideinyou。I’mgoingtothrownmyselfuponyourmercy。"
　　TheProphetblinkedwithamazement，likeamartyrwhosuddenlyfindshimselfsnatchedfromtherackandlaiduponaplushdivanwithasatincushionunderhishead。
　　"I’mgoingtotrustyou，"LadyEnidwenton，emphasisingthetwopronouns。
　　"Manythanks，"saidtheProphet，unoriginally。
　　ShewassittingonasquarepieceoffurniturewhichtheMarquisofGlomecalledan"Aberdeenlean—to。"Shenowspreadherselfoutuponitintheeasyattitudeofonewhoisabouttoconverseintimatelyforsomecenturies，andproceeded。
　　"Idaresayyouknow，Mr。Vivian，thatpeoplealwayscallmeaverysensiblesortofgirl。"
　　TheProphetrememberedhisgrandmother’sremarkaboutLadyEnid。
　　"Iknowtheydo，"heassented，tryingnottothinkoffiveo’clock。
　　"Whatdotheymeanbythat，Mr。Vivian？"
　　"Ibegyourpardon？"
　　"Isaywhatdotheymeanbyasensiblesortofgirl？"
　　"Why，Isuppose——"
　　"I’mgoingtotellyou，"sheinterruptedhim。"Theymeanasortofgirlwholikesfreshair，washesherfacewithyellowsoap，sportsdogskingloves，drivesinanopencartinpreferencetoashutbrougham，enjoysacoldtubandWhyteMelville’snovels，laughsatghostsandcriesover’Misunderstood，’considerstheBishopofLondonadeityandtheAlbertMemorialagemofart，wouldwearaneatRoyalfringeinhergrave，andastrawhatandshirtontheJudgmentDayifshewereinthecountryforit——walkswiththeguns，sings’Home，SweetHome’intheeveningafterdinnertoherbald—headedfather，thinksthe/DailyMail/anintellectualpaper，theRoyalAcademyanupliftinginstitution，theBritishofficerademi—godwithaheartofgoldinabodyofsteel，andtheroadfromCalaistoParisthewaytoheaven。That’swhattheymeanbyasensiblesortofgirl，isn’tit？"
　　"Idaresayitis，"saidtheProphet，endeavouringnottofeelasifheweresittingwithadozenortwoofverypractisedstumporators。
　　"Yes，andthat’swhattheythinkIam。"
　　"Andaren’tyou？"inquiredtheProphet。
　　LadyEniddrewherselfupontheAberdeenlean—to。
　　"No，"shesaiddecisively，"I’mnot。I’maMissMinervaPartridge。"
　　"Well，butwhatisthat？"askedtheProphet，withalltheairofamaninquiringaboutsomesavagerace。
　　"That’sthesecret——"
　　"Oh，Ibegyourpardon！"
　　"ThatI’mgoingtotellyounow，becauseItrustyou——"
　　Againthepronounswereemphasised，andtheProphetthoughthowdifficultitwouldbetokeephisoath。
　　"AndbecauseIknownowthatyou’resillytoo。"
　　TheProphetjumped，thoughnotforjoy。
　　"I’vebeenMissMinervaPartridgefor——waitamoment，Imustlook。"
　　Shegotup，wenttoawritingtable，openedadrawerinit，andtookoutalargeredbookandturneditsleaves。
　　"Mydiary，"sheexplained。"It’sfoolishtokeepone，isn’tit？"
　　HerintonationsoobviouslycalledforanaffirmativethattheProphetfeltconstrainedtoreply，——
　　"Veryfoolishindeed。"
　　Shesmiledwithpleasure。
　　"I’msogladyouthinkso。Ah——exactlyayearandahalf。"
　　"You’vebeenMissMinervaPartridge？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Solongasthat？"
　　"Yes，indeed。Mr。Vivian，duringthattimeIhavebeenleadingadoublelife。"
　　TheProphetrememberedtheotherdoublelifebesidethebordersoftheRiverMouse，andbegantowonderifhewereacquaintedwithanyhumanbeingwholedasingleone。
　　"Manypeopledothat，"heremarkedratheraimlessly。
　　LadyEnidlookedvexed。
　　"IdidnotsayIhadamonopolyofthecommodity，"sherejoined，evidentlywishingthatshehad。
　　"Oh，no，"saidtheProphet，makingthingsworse；"onemeetspeoplewholivedoubleliveseveryday，Imightalmostsayeveryhour。"
　　Theclockhadjuststruckfour，andhehadbeguntothinkoffive。LadyEnid’spleasantplumpnessbeganrapidlytodisappear。
　　"Ican’tsayIdo，"shesaidsharply，feelingthatmostofthegiltwasbeingstrippedoffhersin。
　　ShestoppedinsuchobviousdissatisfactionthattheProphet，vaguelyawarethathehadmadesomemistake，said，——
　　"Pleasegoon。Iamsointerested。Whyhaveyouledadoublelifeforthelastweekandahalf？"
　　"Yearandahalf，Isaid。"
　　"Imeanyearandahalf。"
　　Heforcedhismobilefeaturestoassumeafixedexpressionofgreedy，thoughrathertooconstant，curiosity。LadyEnidbrightenedup。
　　"Mr。Vivian，"shesaid，"manygirlsarebornsensible—lookingwithoutwishingit。"
　　"Aretheyreally？Itneveroccurredtome。"
　　"Suchthingsveryseldomdooccurtomen。Nowthatplacesthesegirlsinaverypainfulposition。IwasplacedinthispositionassoonasI
　　wasborn，oratleastassoonasIbegantolooklikeanythingatall。
　　Forbabiesreallydon’t。"
　　"That’sverytrue，"assentedtheProphet，withmorefervour。
　　"Peoplecontinuallysaidtome，’Whatanicesensiblegirlyouare’；
　　or——’OnealwaysfeelsyourCommonsense’；or——’There’snothingfoolishaboutyou，Enid，thankHeaven！’TheChieftainrelieduponmethoroughly。Sodidthetenants。Sodideverybody。Youcanunderstandthatitbecameverytrying？"
　　"Ofcourse，ofcourse。"
　　"It’ssomethingtodowiththeshapeofmyeyebrows，thecolourofmyhair，thewayIsmileandthatsortofthing。"
　　"Nodoubtitis。"
　　"Mr。Vivian，I’lltellyounow，thatI’veneverfeltsensibleinallmylife。"
　　"Really！"ejaculatedtheProphet，stillfirmlyholdingallhisfeaturestogetherinanunyieldingexpressionoffixedcuriosity。
　　"Neveronce，howevergreattheprovocation。Andinmyfamily，withtheChieftain，theprovocationyoucanunderstandisexceptionallygreat。"
　　TheMarquisofGlome，whowastheheadofaclancalled"TheMacArdells，"wasalwaysnamedtheChieftainbyhisrelationsandfriends。
　　"Ifeltsureitmustbe，"saidtheProphet，decisively。
　　"Neverthelessitissoextremelydifficult，ifnotimpossible，nottotrytobewhatpeopletakeyouforthatIwasinaperpetualconditionofactingsensibly，againstmytruenature。"
　　"Howverytrying！"murmuredtheProphet，mechanically。
　　"Itwas，Mr。Vivian。Itoftenmademefellquiteill。NobodybutyouknowshowIhavesuffered。"
　　"AndwhydoIknow？"inquiredtheProphet。
　　"BecauseIrealisedyesterdaythatyoumustbealmostassillybynatureasIam。"
　　"Yesterday——why？When？"
　　"WhenyousaidtoSirTiglaththatyoucouldprophesy。"
　　TheProphetstiffened。Shelaughedalmostaffectionately。
　　"Soabsurd！ButIwasvexedwhenyousaidyou’dgiveitup。Youmustn’tdothat，oryou’llbeflyinginthefaceofyourownfolly。"
　　ShedrewtheAberdeenlean—to，whichraneasilyonEdinburghcastors，alittlenearertohim，andcontinued。
　　"AtleastIfeltobligedtoseekanoutlet。Icouldnotstiflemyrealselfforever，andyetIcouldnotbecomfortablysillywiththosewhowereabsolutelyconvincedofmypermanentgoodsense。Itriedtobeseveraltimes。
　　"Didn’tyousucceed？"
　　"Notonce。"
　　"Tch！Tch！"
　　"SoatlastIwasdriventothedoublelife。"
　　"Thenyourcoachmanknows？"
　　"MacSpillan！No！Itookacab——afour—wheeler——atthecorneroftheSquare，andthenameofMinervaPartridge。It’sasillyname，isn’tit？"
　　Sheaskedthequestionwithearnestanxiety。
　　"Quiteidiotic，"saidtheProphet，reassuringly。
　　"Ifeltquitesureitwas，"shecried，obviouslycomforted。"Becauseitcametomesoinevitably。Iwassoperfectlynatural——andalone——whenI
　　inventedit。Noonehelpedme。"
　　"Iassureyou，"reiteratedtheProphet，"thereisnodoubtthenameisabsolutelyandentirelyidiotic。"
　　"Thankyou，dearMr。Vivian！Whatapleasureitistotalktoyou！
　　UnderthisnameIhave，forayearandahalf，ledanidioticlife，suchalifeasreallysuitsme，suchalifeasisincompleteaccordwithmytruenature。Oh，thejoyofit！Thesenseoffreedom！IfonlyallothersillygirlswholooksensiblelikemehadthecouragetodowhatIhavedone！"
　　"Itisapity！"saidtheProphet，inassent，beginningtobegenuinelymovedbytheobvioussincerityofthishumanbeing’sbenttowardsfolly。"Butwhathaveyoudoneduringthisyearandahalfoftruthandfreedom？"
　　"Morefoolishthingsthanmanycrowdintoalifetime，"shecriedecstatically。"Itwouldtakemedaystotellyouofhalfofthem！"
　　"Oh，thenyoumustn’t，"saidtheProphet，glancingfurtivelyattheclock。"Hadyoucomeouttobesillyyesterdayafternoon？"
　　"Yes，Ihad——tobesilliereventhanusual。Andifithadn’tbeenforSirTiglathcatchingsightofmeintheavenue，andthen——Mr。
　　Sagittariusandyoubeingintheparlour——"
　　Shestopped。
　　"Bytheway，"shesaid，inherusualtoneofbreezycommonsense，"wereyoulivingadoublelifeintheparlour？"
　　"I！"saidtheProphet。"Oh，no，notatall。Ineverdoanythingofthatkind。"
　　"Sure？"
　　"Quitecertain。"
　　"You’renotgoingto？"
　　"Certainlynot。Nothingwouldinduceme。"
　　Shelookedathim，asifunconvinced，raisingherdark，sensibleeyebrows。
　　"AllJellybrand’sclientsdo，"shesaid。"AndI’mcertainMr。
　　Sagittarius——"
　　"Iassureyou，"saidtheProphet，withtheheavyearnestnessofabsoluteinsincerity，"Mr。SagittariusisthemostsinglelivedmanI
　　evermet，theverymost。ButwhydidSirTiglath，thatis，whydidyou——？"
　　"Trytoavoidhim？Well——"
　　Forthefirsttimeshehesitated，andbegantolookslightlyconfused。
　　"Well，"sherepeated，"SirTiglathisaverystrange，peculiaroldman。"
　　TheProphetthoughtthatiftheyounglibrarianhadbeenpresenthewouldhaveeliminatedthesecondadjective。
　　"Peculiar！Yes，heis。Hisappearance，hismanner——"
　　"Oh，Idon’tmeanthat。"
　　"No？"
　　"No。Lotsofelderlymenhavepurplefaces，turnedlegsandroaringvoices。Youmustknowthat。SirTiglathispeculiarinthisway——heisquiteelderlyandyethe’snotintheleastlittlebitsilly。"
　　"Oh！"
　　"He’sathoroughlysensibleoldman，theonlyoneIevermet。"
　　"Yourfather？"
　　"TheChieftaincanbeveryfoolishattimes。That’swhyhe’salwaysreliedsoonme。"
　　Shegavethisprooftriumphantly。TheProphetfeltboundtoacceptit。
　　"SirTiglathisreally，asanoldman，whateverybodythinksIam，asayoungwoman。D’yousee？"
　　"Youmean？"
　　"Theoppositeofme。Andinthiswaytoo。WhileIhidemysillinessundermyeyebrows，andhair，andsmile，andmanner，hehideshissensiblenessunderhis。Whenpeoplemeetmetheyalwaysthink——whatacommon—senseyoungwoman！Whentheymeethimtheyalwaysthink——whatapreposterousoldman！"
　　"Well，butthen，"criedtheProphet，struckbyasuddenidea，"ifthatisso，howcanyouliveadoublelifeasMissMinervaPartridge？Youcan’tchangeyoureyebrowswithyourname！"
　　"Ah，youdon’tknowwomen！"shemurmured。"No，butyouseeIbeginatonce。"
　　"Begin？"
　　"Beingsilly。AllthepeoplewhoknowmeasMissPartridgeknowI’manabsurdpersoninspiteofmylooks。I’veprovedittothembymyactions。I’vebegunatoncebeforetheycouldhavetimetojudgebymyappearance。I’vetoldtheminstantlythatI’maChristianScientist，andabelieverinthevalueoftight—lacingandinghosts，ananti—
　　vaccinator，aFabian，amemberof’TheMasculineClub，’a’spirit，’afriendofMahatmas，anintimateofthe’RationalDress’set——youknow，whowearthingslikehalfinflatedballoonsinPiccadilly——avegetarian，afollowerofMrs。Besant，adrinkerofhopbittersandZozophine，aJacobite，ahateroffalsehairandofallcollectiveactiontostampouthydrophobia，astamp—collector，anengageroflady—
　　helpsinsteadofservants，anamateurreciterandskirtdancer，anownerofalockofPaderewski’shair——tornfreshfromtheheadpersonallyataconcert——anadmirerofGeorgeBernardShawasathinkerbutahaterofhimasahumourist，arationalistandreaderof/Punch/，anatheistandtable—turner，afriendofallwhothinkthatwomendon’tdesiretobeslaves，ahomoeopathistandSandowite，anenemyofbabies——asifallwomendidn抰worshipthem！——aloverofcats——asifallwomendidn’thateoneanother！——a——"
　　"One——onemoment！"gaspedtheProphetatthisjuncture。"Manyoftheseviewsaresurelyinopposition，indirectoppositiontoeachother。"
　　"Idaresay。Thatdoesn’tmatterintheleasttoarealsillywomansuchasIam。"
　　"Andthenyousaidthatyouprovedbyyouractionsinstantlythat——"
　　"SoIdid。Icaughtupahappydoginthestreet，criedoveritsagony，unmuzzleditandallowedittoadditslittlecontributiontothejoyoflifebymanglingapassingarchdeacon。Isatonthefloorandhandledsnakes。Iworemyhairpartedononesideandsmokedacigaretteinachiffongown。IrefusedfoodinapublicrestaurantbecauseithadbeencookedbyaFrenchman。I——"
　　"Enough！Enough！"criedtheProphet。"Iunderstand。YouforcedMissPartridge’sacquaintancestobelieveinMissPartridge’sfolly。Butwhoweretheseacquaintances？"
　　"Itwouldtakemehourstotellyou。Firsttherewas——"
　　"Ireallyhavetogoatfive。"
　　"ThenI’llfinishaboutSirTiglath。He’sanutterlysensibleoldman，andsoisdifferentfromallotheroldmen，foryouknowhumanfollyincreasesenormouslywithage。Isn’tthatlovely？Now，Mr。Vivian，SirTiglathadmiresme。"