"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。"