Sheltonwalkedhome，lettingthespringwindintohim。ItwasSaturday，andhepassedmanysilentcouples。Ineverylittlepatchofshadowhecouldseetwoformsstandingorsittingclosetogether，andintheirpresenceWordstheImpostorsseemedtoholdtheirtongues。Thewindrustledthebuds；thestars，onemomentbrightasdiamonds，vanishedthenext。Inthelowerstreetsalargepartoftheworldwasundertheinfluenceofdrink，butbythisSheltonwasfarfrombeingtroubled。ItseemedbetterthanDrama，thandressing-
baggedmen，unruffledwomen，andpaddedpointsofview，betterthantheimmaculatesolidityofhisfriend\'spossessions。
\"So，\"hereflected，\"it\'srightforeveryreason，social，religious，andconvenient，toinflictone\'ssocietywhereit\'snotdesired。
Thereareobviouslyadvantagesaboutthemarriedstate；charmingtofeelrespectablewhileyou\'reactinginawaythatinanyotherwalkoflifewouldbringonyoucontempt。IfoldHalidomeshowedthathewastiredofme，andIcontinuedtovisithim，he\'dthinkmeabitofacad；butifhiswifeweretotellhimshecouldn\'tstandhim，he\'dstillconsiderhimselfaperfectgentlemanifhepersistedingivinghertheburdenofhissociety；andhehasthecheektobringreligionintoit——areligionthatsays，\'Dountoothers!\'\"
ButinthishewasunjusttoHalidome，forgettinghowimpossibleitwasforhimtobelievethatawomancouldnotstandhim。Hereachedhisrooms，and，themorefreelytoenjoytheclearlamplight，thesoft，gustybreeze，andwaningturmoilofthestreets，waitedamomentbeforeentering。