\"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？\"