"See，"shesaid，"see，itislikethat——whatwegive。Itislikethat。"Andshetossedtheearthaway。
　　"Itdoesnotseemlikethattothoseothers。"
　　"No，thankGod，itdoesnot。Buttoone’sselfitisthemereluxuryofself—indulgence，andtherealisationofitsometimestemptsonetobeevenatriflemorbid。Don’tyousee，"asuddenthrillinhervoicestartledhim，"theyareontheroadsideeverywhereallovertheworld。"
　　"Yes。Allovertheworld。"
　　"OncewhenIwasachildoftenIreadamagazinearticleaboutthesufferingmillionsandthemonstrouslyrich，whowereobviouslytoblameforeverystarvedsobandcry。Italmostdrovemeoutofmychildishsenses。Iwenttomyfatherandthrewmyselfintohisarmsinaviolentfitofcrying。Iclungtohimandsobbedout，`Letusgiveitallaway；letusgiveitallawayandbelikeotherpeople！’"
　　"Whatdidhesay？"
　　"Hesaidwecouldneverbequitelikeotherpeople。Wehadacertainloadtocarryalongthehighway。Itwasthethingthewholeworldwantedandwhichweourselveswantedasmuchastherest，andwecouldnotsanelythrowitaway。ItwasmyfirstlessoninpoliticaleconomyandIabhorredit。I
　　wasapassionatechildandbeatfuriouslyagainstthestonewallsenclosingpresentsuffering。Itwashorribletoknowthattheycouldnotbetorndown。Icriedout，`WhenIseeanyonewhoismiserablebytheroadsideIshallstopandgivehimeverythinghewants——everything！’Iwastenyearsold，andthoughtitcouldbedone。"
　　"Butyoustopbytheroadsideevennow。"
　　"Yes。Thatonecando。"
　　"Youaretwostrongcreaturesandyoudraweachother，"
　　Penzancehadsaid。"Perhapsyoudreweachotheracrossseas。
　　Whoknows？"
　　ComingtoWestWaysonachanceerrandhehad，asitwere，foundherawaitinghimonthethreshold。Onherpartshehadcertainlynotanticipatedseeinghimthere，but——whenoneridesfarafieldinthesunthereareroadstowardswhichoneturnsasifansweringasummoningcall，andasherhorsehadobeyedacertaintouchofthereinatacertainpointhercheekhadfeltmomentarilyhot。
　　Untillater，whenthe"picking"hadfairlybegun，thekilnswouldnotbeatwork；buttherewassomeinterestevennowingoingoverthegroundforthefirsttime。
　　"Ihaveneverbeeninsideanoasthouse，"shesaid；"Bolterisgoingtoshowmehis，andexplaintechnicalities。"
　　"MayIcomewithyou？"heasked。
　　Therewasachangeinhim。Somethinghadlightedinhiseyessincethedaybefore，whenhehadtoldherhisstoryofRedGodwyn。Shewonderedwhatitwas。Theywenttogetherovertheplace，escortedbyBolter。Theylookedintothegreatcircularovens，onwhosefloorsthehopswouldbelaidfordrying，theymountedladder—likestepstotheupperroomwhere，whendried，thesamehopswouldlieinsoft，lightpiles，untilpushedwithwoodenshovelsintothelong"pokes"
　　tobepressedandpackedintoasolidmarketablemass。Bolterwasallowedtoexplainthetechnicalities，butitwasplainthatMountDunstanwasfamiliarwithallofthem，anditwashewho，withasentencehereandthere，gaveherthecolourofthings。
　　"Whenitisbeingdonethereisnearlyalwaysoutsideatouchofthesharpsweetnessofearlyautumn，"hesaid"Thesunslantingthroughthelittlewindowfallsonthepaleyellowheaps，andthereisapungentscentofhopsintheairwhichisratherintoxicating。"
　　"Iamcominglatertoseetheentireprocess，"sheanswered。
　　Itwasamerematterofseeingcommonthingstogetherandexchangingcommonspeechconcerningthem，buteachwassostronglyconsciousoftheotherthatnosentencecouldseemwhollyimpersonal。Therearetimeswhenthewholeworldispersonaltoamoodwhoseintensityseemsareasonforallthings。Wordsareofsmallmomentwhenthemeresoundofavoicemakesanunreasonablejoy"Therewasthattouchofsharpautumnsweetnessintheairyesterdaymorning，"shesaid。"Andthechapletsofbrionyberriesthatlookasiftheyhadbeenthrownoverthehedgesarebeginningtochangetoscarlethereandthere。Thewildrose—hawsarereddening，andsoaretheclustersofberriesonthethorntreesandbushes。"
　　"Therearemillionsofthem，"MountDunstansaid，"andinafewweeks’timetheywilllooklikebunchesofcrimsoncoral。Whenthesunshinesonthemtheywillbewonderfultosee。"
　　Whatwasthereinsuchspeechesasthesetodrawanytwonearerandnearertoeachotherastheywalkedsidebyside——
　　tofillthemorningairwithanintensityoflife，toseemtocausetheworldtodropawayandbecomeasnothing？AstheyhadbeenisolatedduringtheirwaltzinthecrowdedballroomatDunholmCastle，sotheywereisolatednow。Whentheystoodinthenarrowgreengrovesofthehopgarden，talkingsimplyoftheplacingofthebinsandthestrippingandmeasuringofthevines，theremighthavebeennohumanthingwithinahundredmiles——withinathousand。Forthefirsttimehisheightandstrengthconveyedtoheranimpressionofphysicalbeauty。Hiswalkandbearinggaveherpleasure。
　　Whenheturnedhisred—browneyesuponhersuddenlyshewasconsciousthatshelikedtheircolour，theirshape，thepowerofthelookinthem。Onhispart，he——forthetwentiethtime——
　　foundhimselfnewlymovedbythedowernaturehadbestowedonher。Hadtheworldeverheldbeforeawomancreaturesomuchtobelongedfor？——abnormalwealth，NewYorkandFifthAvenuenotwithstanding，amancouldonlythinkoffoldingarmsroundherandwhisperinginherlovelyear——follies，oaths，prayers，gratitude。
　　AndyetastheywentabouttogethertherewasgrowinginBettyVanderpoel’smindacertainrealisation。Itgrewinspiteoftherecognitionofthechangeinhim——thenewthinglightedinhiseyes。Whatsoeverhefelt——ifhefeltanything——
　　hewouldneverallowhimselfspeech。Howcouldhe？Inhisplaceshecouldnotspeakherself。Becausehewasthestrongthingwhichdrewherthoughts，hewouldnotcometoanywomanonlytocastatherfeetaburdenwhich，inthenatureofthings，shemusttakeup。AndsuddenlyshecomprehendedthatthemereobstinateBritoninhim——evenapartfromgreaterthings——hadanimmenseattractionforher。Asshelikednowthered—browncolourofhiseyesandsawbeautyinhisruggedfeatures，soshelikedhisBritishstubbornnessandthepridewhichwouldnotbebeaten。
　　"Itistheunconquerablething，whichleadsthemintheirbattlesandmakesthembearanyhorrorratherthangivein。
　　Theyhavetakenhalftheworldwithit；theyarelikebulldogsandlions，"shethought。"And——andIamgloryinginit。"
　　"Doyouknow，"saidMountDunstan，"thatsometimesyousuddenlyflingoutthemostmagnificentflagofcolour——asifsomesplendidflameofthoughthadsentupablaze？"
　　"Ihopeitisnotahabit，"sheanswered。"Whenonehasasplendidflareofthoughtoneshouldbemodestaboutit。"
　　Whatwasthereworthrecordinginthewholehourtheyspenttogether？Outwardlytherehadonlybeenachancemeetingandamerepassingby。Buteachleftsomethingwiththeotherandeachlearnedsomething；andtherecordmadewasdeep。
　　Atlastshewasonherhorseagain，ontheroadoutsidethewhitegate。
　　"Thismorninghasbeensomuchtothegood，"hesaid。"I
　　hadthoughtthatperhapswemightscarcelymeetagainthisyear。Ishallbecomeabsorbedinhopsandyouwillnodoubtgoaway。YouwillmakevisitsorgototheRiviera——ortoNewYorkforthewinter？"
　　"Idonotknowyet。ButatleastIshallstaytowatchthethorntreesloadthemselveswithcoral。"Toherselfshewassaying："Hemeanstokeepaway。Ishallnotseehim。"
　　AssherodeoffMountDunstanstoodforafewmoments，notmovingfromhisplace。Atashortdistancefromthefarmhousegateasidelaneopeneduponthehighway，andasshecanteredinitsdirectionahorsemanturnedinfromit——
　　amanwhowasyoungandwelldressedandwhosatwellaspiritedanimal。HecameoutupontheroadalmostfacetofacewithMissVanderpoel，andfromwherehestoodMountDunstancouldseehisdelightedsmileasheliftedhishatinsalute。ItwasLordWestholt，andwhatmorenaturalthanthatafteranexchangeofgreetingsthetwoshouldridetogetherontheirway！Fornearlythreemilestheirhomewardroadwouldbethesame。
　　Butinabreath’sspaceMountDunstanrealisedacertaintruth——asimple，elementalthing。Alltheexaltationofthemorningswoopedandfellasabirdseemstoswoopandfallthroughspace。Itwasalloveranddonewith，andheunderstoodit。Hisnormalawakeninginthemorning，thephysicalandmentalelationofthefirstclearhours，thespringofhisfootashehadtrodtheroad，hadallhadbutonemeaning。
　　Insomeoccultwaythehypnotictalkofthenightbeforehadformeditselfintoareality，fantasticandunreasoningasithadbeen。Someinsistentinnerconsciousnesshadseizeduponandbelieveditinspiteofhimandhadsetallhiswakingbeingintunetoit。Thatwastheexplanationofhisunduespiritsandhope。IfPenzancehadspokenatruthhewouldhavehadanatural，sanerighttofeelallthisandmore。Butthetruthwasthathe，inhisguise——wasoneofthosewhoare"ontheroadsideeverywhere——allovertheworld。"Poeticallyfigurativeasthethingsounded，itwasprosaicfact。
　　So，stillhearingthedistantsoundsofthehoofsbeatingincheerfuldiminuendoontheroadway，heturnedaboutandwentbacktotalktoBolter。
　　CHAPTERXXXVII
　　CLOSEDCORRIDORS
　　Tospendone’sdaysperforceinanenormoushousealoneisathinglikelytoplayunholytrickswithaman’smindandleadittogloomyworkings。Toknowtheexistenceofahundredorsoofcloseddoorsshutonthedarknessofunoccupiedrooms；
　　tobeconsciousofflightsofunmountedstairs，ofstretchesofuntroddencorridors，ofunendingwalls，fromwhichthepicturedeyesoflongdeadmenandwomenstare，asifseeingthingswhichhumaneyesbeholdnot——isaneerieandunwholesomething。MountDunstansleptinalargefour—postbedinachamberinwhichhemighthavediedorbeenmurderedascoreoftimeswithoutbeingabletocommunicatewiththeremoteservants’quartersbelowstairs，wherelaytheonemanandonewomanwhoattendedhim。Whenhecamelatetohisroomandpreparedforsleepbythelightoftwoflickeringcandlesthesilenceofthedeadintombswasabouthim；butitwasonlyamoreprofoundandinsistentthingthanthesilenceoftheday，becauseitwasthesilenceofthenight，whichisapresence。Heusedtotellhimselfwithsecretsmilesatthefactthatatcertaintimesthefantasywashalfbelievable——thattherewerethingswhichwalkedaboutsoftlyatnight——thingswhichdidnotwanttobedead。Hehimselfhadpickedthemoutfromamongthepicturesinthegallery——pretty，light，petulantwomen；adventurous—eyed，full—blooded，eagermen。Histheorywasthattheyhatedtheirstonecoffins，andfoughttheirwaybackthroughthegreymiststotrytotalkandmakeloveandtobeseenofwarmthingswhichwerealive。Butitwasnottobedone，becausetheyhadnobodiesandnovoices，andwhentheybeatuponcloseddoorstheywouldnotopen。Stilltheycameback——cameback。Andsometimestherewasarustleandasweepthroughtheairinapassage，oracreak，orasenseofwaitingwhichwasalmostasound。
　　"PerhapssomeofthemhavegonewhentheyhavebeenasIam，"hehadsaidoneblacknight，whenhehadsatinhisroomstaringatthefloor。"IfamanwasdraggedoutwhenhehadnotLIVEDaday，hewouldcomebackIshouldcomebackif——God！AmanCOULDnotbedraggedaway——likeTHIS！"
　　Andtositaloneandthinkofitwasanawfulandalonelything——alonelything。
　　Butlonelinesswasnothingnew，onlythatinthesemonthshishadstrangelyintensifieditself。This，thoughhewasnotawareofit，wasbecausethesoulandbodywhichwerethecompletingpartsofhimwerewithinreach——andwithoutit。
　　Whenhewentdowntobreakfasthesatsinglyathistable，roundwhichtwentypeoplemighthavelaughedandtalked。
　　Betweenthedining—roomandthelibraryhespenthisdayswhenhewasnotoutofdoors。Sincehecouldnotaffordservants，themanyotherroomsmustbekeptclosed。Itwasaghastlyandmelancholythingtomake，ashemustsometimes，asortofprecautionaryvisittothestateapartments。HewasthelastMountDunstan，andhewouldneverseethemopenedagainforuse，butsolongashelivedundertheroofhemightbyprevisioncheck，inameasure，thetoorapidencroachmentsofdecay。Tohavealeakstoppedhere，anaildrivenorasupportputthere，seemeddecentthingstodo。
　　"WhomamIdoingitfor？"hesaidtoMr。Penzance。"I
　　amdoingitformyself——becauseIcannothelpit。TheplaceseemstomelikesomegorgeousoldwarriorcometotheendofhisdaysIthasstoodthewarofthingsforcenturyaftercentury——thewarofthings。ItisgoingnowIamallthatislefttoit。ItisallIhave。SoIpatchitupwhenIcanaffordit，withacrutchorasplintandabandage。"
　　LateintheafternoonofthedayonwhichMissVanderpoelrodeawayfromWestWayswithLordWestholt，astealthyanddarklypurplecloudrose，liftingitsominousbulkagainstachrysopraseandpinkhorizon。Itwasthekindofcloudwhichspeaksofbutonethingtothosewhowatchclouds，orevencasuallyconsiderthem。SoLadyAnstruthersfeltsomesurprisewhenshesawSirNigelmounthishorsebeforethestonestepsandrideaway，asitwere，intotheveryheartofthecomingstorm。
　　"Nigelwillbecaughtintherain，"shesaidtohersister。
　　"Iwonderwhyhegoesoutnow。Itwouldbebettertowaituntilto—morrow。"
　　ButSirNigeldidnotthinkso。Hehadcalculatedmatterswithsomenicety。HewasnotexactlyonsuchtermswithMountDunstanaswouldmakeacasualcallseemanentirelynaturalthing，andhewishedtodropinuponhimforacasualcallandinanunpremeditatedmanner。HemeanttoreachtheMountaboutthetimethestormbroke，underwhichcircumstancenothingcouldbearmorelightlyanairofbeingunpremeditatedthantotakerefugeinachancepassing。
　　MountDunstanwasinthelibrary。Hehadsatsmokinghispipewhilehewatchedthepurplecloudrollupandspreaditself，blottingoutthechrysopraseandpinkandblue，andwhenthebranchesofthetreesbegantotossabouthehadlookedonwithpleasureastherushofbigraindropscamedownandpeltedthings。Itwasafinestorm，andthereweresomeimposingclapsofthunderandjaggedflashesoflightning。Asonesplendidrattleshooktheairhewassurprisedtohearasummonsatthegreathalldoor。Whoonearthcouldbeturningupatthistime？HismanReeveannouncedthearrivalafewmomentslater，anditwasSirNigelAnstruthers。Hehad，heexplained，beenridingthroughthevillagewhenthedelugedescended，andithadoccurredtohimtoturninattheparkgatesandaskatemporaryshelter。MountDunstanreceivedhimwithsufficientcourtesy。Hisappearancewasnotathingtorejoiceover，butitcouldbeendured。Whiskyandsodaandasmokewouldservetopassthehour，ifthestormlastedsolong。
　　Conversationwasnottheeasiestthingintheworldunderthecircumstances，butSirNigelledthewaysteadilyafterhehadtakenhisseatandacceptedthehospitalitiesoffered。
　　Whataplaceitwas——this！Hehadbeenstruckforthehundredthtimewiththeimpressivenessofthemassofit，thesweepoftheparkandthesplendidgroupingofthetimber，ashehadriddenuptheavenue。Therewasnootherplacelikeitinthecounty。WasthereanotherlikeitinEngland？
　　"Notinitscase，Ihope，"MountDunstansaid。
　　Therewereafewsecondsofsilence。Therainpoureddowninsplashingsheetsandwassweptinrattlinggustsagainstthewindowpanes。
　　"Whattheplaceneedsis——anheiress，"Anstruthersobservedinthetoneofapracticalman。"IbelieveIhaveheardthatyourviewsofthingsaresuchthatsheshouldpreferablyNOT
　　beanAmerican。"
　　MountDunstandidnotsmile，thoughheslightlyshowedhisteeth。
　　"WhenIamdriventothewall，"heanswered，"Imaynotbefastidiousastonationality。"
　　NigelAnstruthers’mannerwasnotabadone。Hechosethattoneofcasualopennesswhich，whileitdoesnotwhollycommititself，mayberegardedassuggestiveoftheamiablehalfconfidenceofspeechesmadeas"mantoman。"
　　"MyownopportunityofstudyingthegenusAmericanheiresswithinmyowngatesisafirst—classone。Ifindthatitknowswhatitwantsandthatitsintentionistogetit。"Ashortlaughbrokefromhimasheflickedtheashfromhiscigarontothesmallbronzereceptacleathiselbow。"Itisnotmanyyearssinceitwouldhavebeendifficultforagirltobefrankenoughtosay，`WhenImarryIshallasksomethinginexchangeforwhatIhavetogive。’"
　　"Therearenotmanywhohaveasmuchtogive，"saidMountDunstancoolly。
　　"True，"withaslightshrug。"Youarethinkingthatmenaregladenoughtotakeagirllikethat——evenonewhohasnotashapelikeDiana’sandeyeslikethesea。Yes，byGeorge，"
　　softly，andnarrowinghislids，"sheISahandsomecreature。"
　　MountDunstandidnotattempttorefutethestatement，andAnstrutherslaughedlowagain。
　　"Itisanassetsheknowsthevalueofquiteclearly。Thatistheinterestingpartofit。Shehasinheritedthefar—seeingcommercialmind。Shedoesnotobjecttoadmittingit。Sheeducatedherselfindelightfulcoldbloodthatshemightbepreparedforthelargestprizeappearinguponthehorizon。Sheheldthingsinviewwhenshewasachildatschool，andobviouslyattackedherFrench，German，andItalianconjugationswithatwelve—year—oldeyeonthefuture。"
　　MountDunstanleaningbackcarelesslyinhischair，laughed——
　　asitseemed——withhim。Internallyhewassayingthatthemanwasaliarwhomightalwaysbetrustedtolie，butheknewwithshamedfurythattheliesweredoingsomethingtohissoul——rollingdarkvapoursoverit——stinginghim，draggingawayprops，andmakinghimfeeltheyhadbeenfoolishthingstoleanon。Thiscanalwaysbedonewithamaninlovewhohasslightfoundationforhope。Forsomemysteriousandoccultreasoncivilisationhaselectedtotreatthestrangeandgreatpassionasifitwereanunholyandindecentthing，whosedominionoverhimpropersocialtrainingpreventsanymanfromadmittingopenly。Inpassingthroughitscruelestphaseshemustbearhimselfasifhewereimmune，andthisbeingthecustom，hemaybecalledupontoenduremuchwithoutthereliefofstrikingoutwithmanlyblows。Anenemyguessinghiscaseandpossessingtheinfernalgiftwhosejoyistodisheartenanddohurtwithcourteousdespitefulness，mayplantapoisonedarrowhereandtherewithneatnessandfinetouch，whilehisboundvictimcan，withdecency，neitherstart，norutterbravehowls，norguardhimself，butmustsitstillandlisten，hospitablysupplyingsmokeanddrinkandbeingcarefulnottomakeanassofhimself。
　　ThereforeMountDunstanpushedthecigarsnearertohisvisitorandwavedhishandhospitablytowardsthewhiskyandsoda。Therewasnoreason，infact，whyAnstruthers——oranyoneindeed，butPenzance，shouldsuspectthathehadbecomesomewhatmadinsecret。Theman’stalkwasmarkedmerelybythelightlydisparagingmalicewhichwasrarelytobemissedfromanyspeechofhiswhichtouchedonothers。Yetitmighthavebeenathingarrangedbeforehand，tosuggestadroitlyeitherliesortruthwhichwouldmakeamanseeeverysickeninglygoodreasonforfeelingthatinthiscontesthedidnotcountforamanatall。
　　"Ithasallbeenprettyobvious，"saidSirNigel。"Thereisasortofcynicismintheopennessofthesiege。Myimpressionisthatalmosteveryyoungsterwhohasmetherhastakenashot。TommyAlanbyscramblingupfromhiskneesinoneoftherose—gardenswasasatisfyingsight。Hismuch—talked—of—
　　passionforJaneLithcomwastemporarilyinabeyance。"
　　Therainswirledinatorrentagainstthewindow，andcasuallyglancingoutsideatthetossinggardenshewenton。
　　"Sheisenjoyingherself。Whynot？Shehasthespiritofthehuntress。Idon’tthinkshetalksnonsenseaboutfriendshiptothecaptivesofherbowandspear。Sheknowsshecanalwaysgetwhatshewants。AgirllikethatMUSThaveanarroganceofmind。Andsheisnotayoungsaint。SheisoneofthewomenbornwithTHELOOKinhereyes。IownIshouldnotliketobeintheplaceofanyprimevalpoorbrutewhoreallywentmadoverher——andcountedhermillionsassomuchdirt。"
　　MountDunstanansweredwithashrugofhisbigshoulders：
　　"Apparentlyhewouldseemasremotefromthereasonofto—dayasthemenwholivedonthelandwhenHengistandHorsacame——orwhenCaesarlandedatDeal。"
　　"Hewouldseemasremotetoher，"withashrugalso。
　　"Ishouldnotliketocontendthathispointofviewwouldnotinterestherorthatshewouldparticularlydiscouragehim。Hereyeswouldcallhim——withoutmaliceorintention，nodoubt，butyourearlyBritonceorlorearlwouldbeaswellunderstoodbyher。YourNewYorkbeautywhohaslivedinthemarketplaceknowsprincipallythepricesofthings。"
　　Hewasnotillpleasedwithhimself。Hewasputtingitwellandgettingratherevenwithher。Ifthisfellowwithhisshutmouthhadasorespothiddenanywherehewasgivinghim"tothink。"Andhewouldfindhimselfthinking，while，whatsoeverhethought，hewouldbeobligedtocontinuetokeephisuglymouthshut。ThegreatideawastosaythingsWITHOUT
　　sayingthem，tosetyourhearer’smindtosayingthemforyou。
　　"Whatstrikesonemostisasortofcommercialbrillianceinher，"takinguphisthreadagainafterasmilinglyreflectivepause。"Itquiteexhilaratesonebyitsnovelty。There’sspiceinit。WeEnglishhavenotalook—inwhenwearedealingwithAmericans，andyetFrancecallsusanationofshop—
　　keepers。Myimpressionisthattheirwomentakelittleinventoriesofeveryhousetheyenter，ofeverymantheymeet。I
　　heardheroncespeakingtomywifeaboutthisplace，asifshehadlivedinit。Shespokeoftheclosedwindowsandthestateofthegardens——ofbrokenfountainsandfallenarches。Sheevidentlydeploredthedeteriorationofthingswhichrepresentedcapital。ShehasinventoriedDunholm，nodoubt。ThatwillgiveWestholtachance。Butshewilldonothinguntilafterhernextyear’sseasoninLondon——thatI’dswear。Ilookforwardtonextyear。Itwillbeworthwatching。Shehasbeentrainingmywife。AsisterwhohasmarriedanEnglishmanandhasatleastspentsomeyearsofherlifeinEnglandhasacertainestablishedair。Whensheispresentedoneknowsshewillbeasensation。Afterthat————"hehesitatedamoment，smilingnottoopleasantly。
　　"Afterthat，"saidMountDunstan，"theDeluge。"
　　"Exactly。TheDelugewhichusuallysweepsgirlsofftheirfeet——butitwillnotsweepheroffhers。Shewillstandquitefirminthefloodandlosesightofnothingofimportancewhichfloatspast。"
　　MountDunstantookhimup。Hewassickofhearingthefellow’svoice。
　　"Therewillbeagoodmanythings，"hesaid；"therewillbegreatpersonagesandsmallones，pompsandvanities，glitteringthingsandheavyones。"
　　"Whensheseeswhatshewants，"saidAnstruthers，"shewillholdoutherhand，knowingitwillcometoher。Thethingswhichdrownwillnotdisturbher。Ioncemadetheblunderofsuggestingthatshemightneedprotectionagainsttheimportunate——asifshehadbeenanEnglishgirl。Itwasanidioticthingtodo。"
　　"Because？"MountDunstanforthemomenthadlosthishead。Anstruthershadmaddeninglypaused。
　　"Sheansweredthatifitbecamenecessaryshemightperhapsbeabletoprotectherself。Shewasascoolandfrankasaboy。Noairpinceaboutit——merelyconsciousnessofbeingabletoputthingsintheirrightplaces。Madeameremalerelativefeellikeafool。"
　　"WhenAREthingsintheirrightplaces？"Tohiscreditbeitspoken，MountDunstanmanagedtosayitasifinthemereputtingtogetherofidlewords。Whatmanlikestoberemindedofhisrightplace！Nomanwantstobeputinhisrightplace。
　　Thereisalwaysanotherplacewhichseemsmoredesirable。
　　"Sheknows——ifweothersdonot。IsupposemyrightplaceisatStornham，conductingmyselfasthebrother—in—lawofafairAmericanshould。Isupposeyoursishere——shutupamongyourclosedcorridorsandlockeddoors。Theremustbealotoftheminahouselikethis。Don’tyousometimesfeelittoolargeforyou？"