"Youmakemeafraid，"saidEm。"Come，letusgo，andIwillfillyourpail。"
"Iwantnomilk。Good—bye！YouwillnotseemeagaintillSaturday。"
Latethatnight，wheneveryoneelsehadgonetobed，theyellow—hairedlittlewomanstoodaloneinthekitchen。Shehadcometofillthekettleforthenextmorning’scoffee，andnowstoodbeforethefire。Thewarmreflectionlitthegraveold—womanishlittleface，thatwassounusuallythoughtfulthisevening。
"Betterthanalltheworld；betterthaneverything；helovesmebetterthaneverything！"Shesaidthewordsaloud，asiftheyweremoreeasytobelieveifshespokethemso。Shehadgivenoutsomuchloveinherlittlelife，andhadgotnoneofitbackwithinterest。Nowonesaid，"Iloveyoubetterthanalltheworld。"Onelovedherbetterthanshelovedhim。Howsuddenlyrichshewas。Shekeptclaspingandunclaspingherhands。Soabeggarfeelswhofallsasleeponthepavementwetandhungry，andwhowakesinapalace—hallwithservantsandlights，andafeastbeforehim。Ofcoursethebeggar’sisonlyadream，andhewakesfromit；andthiswasreal。
Gregoryhadsaidtoher，"IwillloveyouaslongasIlive。"Shesaidthewordsoverandovertoherselflikeasong。
"Iwillsendforhimtomorrow，andIwilltellhimhowIlovehimback，"
shesaid。
ButEmneedednottosendforhim。GregorydiscoveredonreachinghomethatJemima’sletterwasstillinhispocket。And，therefore，muchashedislikedtheappearanceofvacillationandweakness，hewasobligedtobeatthefarmhousebeforesunrisetopostit。
"IfIseeher，"Gregorysaid，"Ishallonlybowtoher。SheshallseethatIamaman，onewhokeepshisword。"
AstoJemima’sletter，hehadturneddownonecornerofthepage，andthenturneditback，leavingadeepcrease。Thatwouldshowthathewasneitheracceptednorrejected，butthatmatterswereinanintermediatecondition。
Itwasamorepoeticalwaythenputtingitinplainwords。
Gregorywasbarelyintimewithhisletter，forWaldowasstartingwhenhereachedthehomestead，andEmwasonthedoorsteptoseehimoff。Whenhehadgiventheletter，andWaldohadgone，Gregorybowedstifflyandpreparedtoremounthisownpony，butsomewhatslowly。Itwasstillearly；
noneoftheservantswereabout。Emcameupclosetohimandputherlittlehandsoftlyonhisarmashestoodbyhishorse。
"Idoloveyoubestofall，"shesaid。Shewasnotfrightenednow，howevermuchhekissedher。"IwishIwasbeautifulandnice，"sheadded，lookingupintohiseyesasheheldheragainsthisbreast。
"Mydarling，tomeyouaremorebeautifulthanallthewomenintheworld；
dearertomethaneverythingitholds。IfyouwereinhellIwouldgoafteryoutofindyouthere！Ifyouweredead，thoughmybodymoved，mysoulwouldbeunderthegroundwithyou。AlllifeasIpasswithyouinmyarmswillbeperfecttome。Itwillpass，passlikearayofsunshine。"
Emthoughthowbeautifulandgrandhisfacewasasshelookedupintoit。
Sheraisedherhandgentlyandputitonhisforehead。
"Youaresosilent，socold，myEm，"hecried。"Haveyounothingtosaytome？"
Alittleshadeofwonderfilledhereyes。
"Iwilldoeverythingyoutellme，"shesaid。
"Whatelsecouldshesay？Herideaoflovewasonlyservice。
"Then，myownpreciousone，promisenevertokissthatfellowagain。I
cannotbearthatyoushouldloveanyonebutme。Youmustnot！Iwillnothaveit！IfeveryrelationIhadintheworldweretodietomorrow，I
wouldbequitehappyifIstillonlyhadyou！Mydarling，mylove，whyareyousocold？Promisemenottolovehimanymore。Ifyouaskedmetodoanythingforyou，Iwoulddoit，thoughitcostmylife。"
Emputherhandverygravelyroundhisneck。
"Iwillneverkisshim，"shesaid，"andIwilltrynottoloveanyoneelse。ButIdonotknowifIwillbeable。"
"Oh，mydarling，Ithinkofyouallnight，allday。Ithinkofnothingelse，love，nothingelse，"hesaid，foldinghisarmsabouther。
Emwasalittleconsciencestricken；eventhatmorningshehadfoundtimetorememberthatinsixmonthshercousinwouldcomebackfromschool，andshehadthoughttoremindWaldoofthelozengesforhiscough，evenwhenshesawGregorycoming。
"Idonotknowhowitis，"shesaidhumbly，nestlingtohim，"butIcannotloveyousomuchasyouloveme。PerhapsitisbecauseIamonlyawoman；
butIdoloveyouasmuchasIcan。"
NowtheKaffermaidswerecomingfromthehuts。Hekissedheragain，eyesandmouthandhands，andlefther。
TantSanniewaswellsatisfiedwhentoldofthebetrothment。Sheherselfcontemplatedmarriagewithintheyearwithoneorotherofhernumerousvrijers，andshesuggestedthattheweddingsmighttakeplacetogether。
Emsettoworkbusilytoprepareherownhouseholdlinenandweddinggarments。Gregorywaswithherdaily，almosthourly，andthesixmonthswhichelapsedbeforeLyndall’sreturnpassed，ashefelicitouslyphrasedit，"likeasummernight，whenyouaredreamingofsomeoneyoulove。"
Lateoneevening，Gregorysatbyhislittlelove，turningthehandleofhermachineasshedrewherworkthroughit，andtheytalkedofthechangestheywouldmakewhentheBoer—womanwasgone，andthefarmbelongedtothemalone。Thereshouldbeanewroomhere，andakraalthere。Sotheychattedon。SuddenlyGregorydroppedthehandle，andimpressedaferventkissonthefathandthatguidedthelinen。
"Youaresobeautiful，Em，"saidthelover。"ItcomesovermeinafloodsuddenlyhowIloveyou。"
Emsmiled。
"TantSanniesayswhenIamheragenoonewilllookatme；anditistrue。
Myhandsareasshortandbroadasaduck’sfoot，andmyforeheadissolow，andIhaven’tanynose。Ican’tbepretty。"
Shelaughedsoftly。Itwassonicetothinkheshouldbesoblind。
"Whenmycousincomestomorrowyouwillseeabeautifulwoman，Gregory，"
sheaddedpresently。"Sheislikealittlequeen：hershouldersaresoupright，andherheadlooksasthoughitoughttohavealittlecrownuponit。Youmustcometoseehertomorrowassoonasshecomes。Iamsureyouwillloveher。"
"OfcourseIshallcometoseeher，sincesheisyourcousin；butdoyouthinkIcouldeverthinkanywomanaslovelyasIthinkyou？"
Hefixedhisseethingeyesuponher。
"Youcouldnothelpseeingthatsheisprettier，"saidEm，slippingherrighthandintohis；"butyouwillneverbeabletolikeanyonesomuchasyoulikeme。"
Afterward，whenshewishedherlovergoodnight，shestooduponthedoorsteptocallagreetingafterhim；andshewaited，asshealwaysdid，tillthebrownpony’shoofsbecameinaudiblebehindthekopje。
ThenshepassedthroughtheroomwhereTantSannielaysnoring，andthroughthelittleroomthatwasalldrapedinwhite，waitingforhercousin’sreturn，ontoherownroom。
Shewenttothechestofdrawerstoputawaytheworkshehadfinished，andsatdownonthefloorbeforethelowestdrawer。Initwerethethingsshewaspreparingforhermarriage。Pilesofwhitelinen，andsomeapronsandquilts；andinalittleboxinthecornerasprayoforange—blossomwhichshehadboughtfromasmouse。There，too，wasaringGregoryhadgivenher，andaveilhissisterhadsent，andtherewasalittlerolloffineembroideredworkwhichTranahadgivenher。ItwastoofineandgoodevenforGregory’swife——justrightforsomethingverysmallandsoft。Shewouldkeepit。Andshetoucheditgentlywithherforefinger，smiling；andthensheblushedandhiditfarbehindtheotherthings。Sheknewsowellallthatwasinthatdrawer，andyetsheturnedthemalloverasthoughshesawthemforthefirsttime，packedthemallout，andpackedthemallin，withoutonefoldorcrumple；andthensatdownandlookedatthem。
TomorroweveningwhenLyndallcameshewouldbringherhere，andshowitherall。Lyndallwouldsoliketoseeit——thelittlewreath，andthering，andthewhiteveil！Itwouldbesonice！ThenEmfelltoseeingpictures。
Lyndallshouldlivewiththemtillsheherselfgotmarriedsomeday。
EverydaywhenGregorycamehome，tiredfromhiswork，hewouldlookaboutandsay，"Whereismywife？Hasnooneseenmywife？Wife，somecoffee！"
andshewouldgivehimsome。
Em’slittlefacegrewverygraveatlast，andshekneltupandextendedherhandsoverthedraweroflinen。
"Oh，God！"shesaid，"Iamsoglad！IdonotknowwhatIhavedonethatI
shouldbesoglad。Thankyou！"
Chapter2。IV。Lyndall。
Shewasmorelikeaprincess，yes，farmorelikeaprincess，thantheladywhostillhungonthewallinTantSannie’sbedroom。SoEmthought。Sheleanedbackinthelittlearmchair；sheworeagreydressing—gown，andherlonghairwascombedoutandhungtotheground。Em，sittingbeforeher，lookedupwithmingledrespectandadmiration。
Lyndallwastiredafterherlongjourney，andhadcometoherroomearly。
Hereyesranoverthefamiliarobjects。Strangetogoawayforfouryears，andcomeback，andfindthatthecandlestandingonthedressing—tablestillcasttheshadowofanoldcrone’sheadinthecornerbeyondtheclothes—horse。Strangethatevenashadowshouldlastlongerthanaman！
Shelookedaboutamongtheoldfamiliarobjects；allwasthere，buttheoldselfwasgone。
"Whatareyounoticing？"askedEm。
"Nothingandeverything。Ithoughtthewindowswerehigher。IfIwereyou，whenIgetthisplaceIshouldraisethewalls。Thereisnotroomtobreathehere。Onesuffocates。"
"Gregoryisgoingtomakemanyalterations，"saidEm；anddrawingnearertothegreydressing—gownrespectfully。"Doyoulikehim，Lyndall？Ishenothandsome？"
"Hemusthavebeenafinebaby，"saidLyndall，lookingatthewhitedimitycurtainthathungabovethewindow。
Emwaspuzzled。
"Therearesomemen，"saidLyndall，"whomyounevercanbelievewerebabiesatall；andothersyouneverseewithoutthinkinghowverynicetheymusthavelookedwhentheyworesocksandpinksashes。"
Emremainedsilent；thenshesaidwithalittledignity，"WhenyouknowhimyouwilllovehimasIdo。WhenIcompareotherpeoplewithhim，theyseemsoweakandlittle。Ourheartsaresocold，ourlovesaremixedupwithsomanyotherthings。Buthe——nooneisworthyofhislove。Iamnot。Itissogreatandpure。"
"Youneednotmakeyourselfunhappyonthatpoint——yourpoorreturnforhislove，mydear，"saidLyndall。"Aman’sloveisafireofolive—wood。Itleapshighereverymoment；itroars，itblazes，itshootsoutredflames；
itthreatenstowrapyouroundanddevouryou——youwhostandbylikeanicicleintheglowofitsfiercewarmth。Youareself—reproachedatyourownchillinessandwantofreciprocity。Thenextday，whenyougotowarmyourhandsalittle，youfindafewashes！’Tisalongloveandcoolagainstashortloveandhot；men，atallevents，havenothingtocomplainof。"
"Youspeaksobecauseyoudonotknowmen，"saidEm，instantlyassumingthedignityofsuperiorknowledgesouniversallyaffectedbyaffiancedandmarriedwomenindiscussingman’snaturewiththeiruncontractedsisters。
"Youwillknowthemtoosomeday，andthenyouwillthinkdifferently，"
saidEm，withthecondescendingmagnanimitywhichsuperiorknowledgecanalwaysaffordtoshowtoignorance。
Lyndall’slittlelipquiveredinamannerindicativeofintenseamusement。
Shetwirledamassiveringuponherforefinger——aringmoresuitableforthehandofaman，andnoticeableindesign——adiamondcrossletintogold，withtheinitials"R。R。"belowit。
"Ah，Lyndall，"Emcried，"perhapsyouareengagedyourself——thatiswhyyousmile。Yes；Iamsureyouare。Lookatthisring！"
Lyndalldrewthehandquicklyfromher。
"Iamnotinsogreatahurrytoputmyneckbeneathanyman’sfoot；andI
donotsogreatlyadmirethecryingofbabies，"shesaid，assheclosedhereyeshalfwearilyandleanedbackinthechair。"Thereareotherwomengladofsuchwork。"
Emfeltrebukedandashamed。HowcouldshetakeLyndallandshowherthewhitelinenandthewreath，andtheembroidery？Shewasquietforalittlewhile，andthenbegantotalkaboutTranaandtheoldfarm—servants，tillshesawhercompanionwasweary；thensheroseandleftherforthenight。
ButafterEmwasgoneLyndallsaton，watchingtheoldcrone’sfaceinthecorner，andwithawearylook，asthoughthewholeworld’sweightrestedonthesefrailyoungshoulders。
Thenextmorning，Waldo，startingoffbeforebreakfastwithabagofmealiesslungoverhisshouldertofeedtheostriches，heardalightstepbehindhim。
"Waitforme；Iamcomingwithyou，"saidLyndall，addingasshecameuptohim，"ifIhadnotgonetolookforyouyesterdayyouwouldnothavecometogreetmetillnow。Doyounotlikemeanylonger，Waldo？"
"Yes——but——youarechanged。"
Itwastheoldclumsy，hesitatingmodeofspeech。
"Youlikethepinaforesbetter？"shesaidquickly。Sheworeadressofasimplecottonfabric，butveryfashionablymade，andonherheadwasabroadwhitehat。ToWaldosheseemedsuperblyattired。Shesawit。"Mydresshaschangedalittle，"shesaid，"andIalso；butnottoyou。Hangthebagoveryourothershoulder，thatImayseeyourface。Yousaysolittlethatifonedoesnotlookatyouyouareanuncomprehendedcipher。
Waldochangedthebag，andtheywalkedonsidebyside。"Youhaveimproved，"shesaid。"DoyouknowthatIhavesometimeswishedtoseeyouwhileIwasaway；notoften，butstillsometimes。"
Theywereatthegateofthefirstcampnow。Waldothrewoverabagofmealies，andtheywalkedonoverthedewyground。
"Haveyoulearntmuch？"heaskedhersimply，rememberinghowshehadoncesaid，"WhenIcomebackagainIshallknoweverythingthatahumanbeingcan。"
Shelaughed。
"Areyouthinkingofmyoldboast？Yes；Ihavelearntsomething，thoughhardlywhatIexpected，andnotquitesomuch。Inthefirstplace，Ihavelearntthatoneofmyancestorsmusthavebeenaverygreatfool；fortheysaynothingcomesoutinamanbutoneofhisforefatherspossesseditbeforehim。Inthesecondplace，Ihavediscoveredthatofallcursedplacesunderthesun，wherethehungriestsoulcanhardlypickupafewgrainsofknowledge，agirls’boarding—schoolistheworst。Theyarecalledfinishingschools，andthenametellsaccuratelywhattheyare。
Theyfinisheverythingbutimbecilityandweakness，andthattheycultivate。Theyarenicelyadaptedmachinesforexperimentingonthequestion，’Intohowlittlespaceahumansoulcanbecrushed？’Ihaveseensomesoulssocompressedthattheywouldhavefittedintoasmallthimble，andfoundroomtomovethere——wideroom。Awomanwhohasbeenformanyyearsinoneofthoseplacescarriesthemarkofthebeastonhertillshedies，thoughshemayexpandalittleafterward，whenshebreathesinthefreeworld。"
"Wereyoumiserable？"heasked，lookingatherwithquickanxiety。
"I？——no。Iamnevermiserableandneverhappy。IwishIwere。ButI
shouldhaverunawayfromtheplaceonthefourthday，andhiredmyselftothefirstBoer—womanwhosefarmIcameto，tomakefireunderhersoap—pot，ifIhadtoliveastherestofthedrovedid。Canyouformanidea，Waldo，ofwhatitmustbetobeshutupwithcacklingoldwomen，whoarewithoutknowledgeoflife，withoutloveofthebeautiful，withoutstrength，tohaveyoursoulculturedbythem？Itissuffocationonlytobreathetheairtheybreathe；butImadethemgivemeroom。ItoldthemIshouldleave，andtheyknewIcamethereonmyownaccount；sotheygavemeabedroomwithoutthecompanionshipofoneofthosethingsthatwerehavingtheirbrainsslowlydilutedandsqueezedoutofthem。Ididnotlearnmusic，becauseIhadnotalent；andwhenthedrovemadecushions，andhideousflowersthattheroseslaughat，andafootstoolinsixweeksthatamachinewouldhavemadebetterinfiveminutes，Iwenttomyroom。WiththemoneysavedfromsuchworkIboughtbooksandnewspapers，andatnightIsatup。Iread，andepitomizedwhatIread；andIfoundtimetowritesomeplays，andfindouthowharditistomakeyourthoughtslookanythingbutimbecilefoolswhenyoupaintthemwithinkandpaper。IntheholidaysIlearntagreatdealmore。Imadeacquaintances，sawafewplacesandmanypeople，andsomedifferentwaysofliving，whichismorethananybookscanshowone。Onthewhole，Iamnotdissatisfiedwithmyfouryears。IhavenotlearntwhatIexpected；butIhavelearntsomethingelse。Whathaveyoubeendoing？"
"Nothing。"
"Thatisnotpossible。Ishallfindoutbyandby。"
Theystillsteppedonsidebysideoverthedewybushes。Thensuddenlysheturnedonhim。
"Don’tyouwishyouwereawoman，Waldo？"
"No，"heansweredreadily。
Shelaughed。
"Ithoughtnot。Evenyouaretooworldly—wiseforthat。Inevermetamanwhodid。Thisisaprettyring，"shesaid，holdingoutherlittlehand，thatthemorningsunmightmakethediamondssparkle。"Worthfiftypoundsatleast。Iwillgiveittothefirstmanwhotellsmehewouldliketobeawoman。TheremightbeoneonRobbinIsland（lunaticsattheCapearesenttoRobbinIsland）whowouldwinitperhaps，butIdoubtiteventhere。
Itisdelightfultobeawoman；buteverymanthankstheLorddevoutlythatheisn’tone。"
Shedrewherhattoonesidetokeepthesunoutofhereyesasshewalked。
Waldolookedathersointentlythathestumbledoverthebushes。Yes，thiswashislittleLyndallwhohadwornthecheckpinafores；hesawitnow，andhewalkedcloserbesideher。Theyreachedthenextcamp。
"Letuswaitatthiscampandwatchthebirds，"shesaid，asanostrichhencameboundingtowardthemwithvelvetywingsoutstretched，whilefarawayoverthebushestheheadofthecockwasvisibleashesatbroodingontheeggs。
Lyndallfoldedherarmsonthegatebar，andWaldothrewhisemptybagonthewallandleanedbesideher。
"Ilikethesebirds，"shesaid；"theyshareeachother’swork，andarecompanions。Doyoutakeaninterestinthepositionofwomen，Waldo？"
"No。"
"Ithoughtnot。Noonedoes，unlesstheyareinneedofasubjectuponwhichtoshowtheirwit。Andasforyou，fromofoldyoucanseenothingthatisnotseparatedfromyoubyafewmillionsofmiles，andstrewedoverwithmystery。IfwomenweretheinhabitantsofJupiter，ofwhomyouhadhappenedtohearsomething，youwouldporeoverusandourconditionnightandday；butbecausewearebeforeyoureyesyouneverlookatus。Youcarenothingthatthisisraggedandugly，"shesaid，puttingherlittlefingeronhissleeve；"butyoustrivemightilytomakeanimaginaryleafonanoldstickbeautiful。I’msorryyoudon’tcareforthepositionofwomen；Ishouldhavelikedustobefriends；anditistheonlythingaboutwhichIthinkmuchorfeelmuch——if，indeed，Ihaveanyfeelingaboutanything，"sheadded，flippantly，readjustingherdaintylittlearms。
"WhenIwasababy，Ifancymyparentsleftmeoutinthefrostonenight，andIgotnippedinternally——itfeelsso！"
"Ihaveonlyafewoldthoughts，"hesaid，"andIthinkthemoverandoveragain；alwaysbeginningwhereIleftoff。Inevergetanyfurther。Iamwearyofthem。"
"Likeanoldhenthatsitsonitseggsmonthaftermonthandtheynevercomeout？"shesaidquickly。"Iamsopressedinuponbynewthingsthat，lesttheyshouldtriponeanotherup，Ihavetokeepforcingthemback。Myheadswingssometimes。Butthisonethoughtstands，nevergoes——ifImightbutbeoneoftheseborninthefuture；then，perhaps，tobebornawomanwillnotbetobebornbranded。"
Waldolookedather。Itwashardtosaywhethershewereinearnestormocking。
"Iknowitisfoolish。Wisdomneverkicksattheironwallsitcan’tbringdown，"shesaid。"Butwearecursed。Waldo，borncursedfromthetimeourmothersbringusintotheworldtilltheshroudsareputonus。DonotlookatmeasthoughIweretalkingnonsense。Everythinghastwosides——
theoutsidethatisridiculous，andtheinsidethatissolemn。"
"Iamnotlaughing，"saidtheboy，sedatelyenough；"butwhatcursesyou？"
Hethoughtshewouldnotreplytohim，shewaitedsolong。
"Itisnotwhatisdonetous，butwhatismadeofus，"shesaidatlast，"thatwrongsus。Nomancanbereallyinjuredbutbywhatmodifieshimself。Weallentertheworldlittleplasticbeings，withsomuchnaturalforce，perhaps，butfortherest——blank；andtheworldtellsuswhatwearetobe，andshapesusbytheendsitsetsbeforeus。Toyouitsays——"Work；"andtousitsays——"Seem！"Toyouitsays——Asyouapproximatetoman’shighestidealofGod，asyourarmisstrongandyourknowledgegreat，andthepowertolabouriswithyou，soyoushallgainallthathumanheartdesires。Tousitsays——Strengthshallnothelpyou，norknowledge，norlabour。Youshallgainwhatmengain，butbyothermeans。
Andsotheworldmakesmenandwomen。
"Lookatthislittlechinofmine，Waldo，withthedimpleinit。Itisbutasmallpartofmyperson；butthoughIhadaknowledgeofallthingsunderthesun，andthewisdomtouseit，andthedeeplovingheartofanangel，itwouldnotsteadmethroughlifelikethislittlechin。Icanwinmoneywithit，Icanwinlove；Icanwinpowerwithit，Icanwinfame。Whatwouldknowledgehelpme？Thelessawomanhasinherheadthelightersheisforclimbing。Ionceheardanoldmansay，thatheneversawintellecthelpawomansomuchasaprettyankle；anditwasthetruth。Theybegintoshapeustoourcursedend，"shesaid，withherlipsdrawnintolookasthoughtheysmiled，"whenwearetinythingsinshoesandsocks。Wesitwithourlittlefeetdrawnupunderusinthewindow，andlookoutattheboysintheirhappyplay。Wewanttogo。Thenalovinghandislaidonus：’Littleone，youcannotgo，’theysay，’yourlittlefacewillburn，andyournicewhitedressbespoiled。’Wefeelitmustbeforourgood，itissolovinglysaid：butwecannotunderstand；andwekneelstillwithonelittlecheekwistfullypressedagainstthepane。Afterwardswegoandthreadbluebeads，andmakeastringforourneck；andwegoandstandbeforetheglass。Weseethecomplexionwewerenottospoil，andthewhitefrock，andwelookintoourowngreateyes。Thenthecursebeginstoactonus。Itfinishesitsworkwhenwearegrownwomen，whonomorelookoutwistfullyatamorehealthylife；wearecontented。WefitoursphereasaChinesewoman’sfootfitshershoe，exactly，asthoughGodhadmadeboth——andyetheknowsnothingofeither。Insomeofustheshapingofourendhasbeenquitecompleted。Thepartswearenottousehavebeenquiteatrophied，andhaveevendroppedoff；butinothers，andwearenotlesstobepitied，theyhavebeenweakenedandleft。Wewearthebandages，butourlimbshavenotgrowntothem；weknowthatwearecompressed，andchafeagainstthem。
"Butwhatdoesithelp？Alittlebitterness，alittlelongingwhenweareyoung，alittlefutilesearchingforwork，alittlepassionatestrivingforroomfortheexerciseofourpowers，——andthenwegowiththedrove。A
womanmustmarchwithherregiment。Intheendshemustbetroddendownorgowithit；andifsheiswiseshegoes。
"Iseeinyourgreateyeswhatyouarethinking，"shesaid，glancingathim；"IalwaysknowwhatthepersonIamtalkingtoisthinkingof。HowisthiswomanwhomakessuchafussworseoffthanI？Iwillshowyoubyaverylittleexample。Westandhereatthisgatethismorning，bothpoor，bothyoung，bothfriendless；thereisnotmuchtochoosebetweenus。Letusturnawayjustasweare，tomakeourwayinlife。Thiseveningyouwillcometoafarmer’shouse。Thefarmer，albeityoucomealoneonfoot，willgiveyouapipeoftobaccoandacupofcoffeeandabed。Ifhehasnodamtobuildandnochildtoteach，tomorrowyoucangoonyourway，withafriendlygreetingofthehand。I，ifIcometothesameplacetonight，willhavestrangequestionsaskedme，strangeglancescastonme。
TheBoer—wifewillshakeherheadandgivemefoodtoeatwiththeKaffers，andarighttosleepwiththedogs。Thatwouldbethefirststepinourprogress——averylittleone，buteverysteptotheendwouldrepeatit。Wewereequalsoncewhenwelaynew—bornbabesonournurses’knees。Wewillbeequalsagainwhentheytieupourjawsforthelastsleep！"
Waldolookedinwonderatthelittlequiveringface；itwasaglimpseintoaworldofpassionandfeelingwhollynewtohim。
"Markyou，"shesaid，"wehavealwaysthisadvantageoveryou——wecanatanytimestepintoeaseandcompetence，whereyoumustlabourpatientlyforit。Alittleweeping，alittlewheedling，alittleself—degradation，alittlecarefuluseofouradvantages，andthensomemanwillsay："Come，bemywife！"Withgoodlooksandyouthmarriageiseasytoattain。Therearemenenough；butawomanwhohassoldherself，evenforaringandanewname，needholdherskirtasidefornocreatureinthestreet。Theybothearntheirbreadinoneway。Marriageforloveisthebeautifulestexternalsymboloftheunionofsouls；marriagewithoutitistheuncleanliesttrafficthatdefilestheworld。"Sheranherlittlefingersavagelyalongthetopmostbar，shakingoffthedozenlittledewdropsthatstillhungthere。"Andtheytelluswehavemen’schivalrousattention！"