第43章
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  “Ye-es,I’veaskedforit。”

  MrsBoultespokeinalow,eve~voiceforfiveminutes,verydistinctly,thattheremightbenomisunderstandinghermeaningWhenSamsonbrokethepillarsofGaza,hedidalittlething,andonenottobecomparedtothedeliberatepullingdownofawoman5homesteadaboutherownearsTherewasnoWisefemalefriendtoadviseMrs。

  Boulte,thesingularlycautiouswife,toholdherhandShestruckatBoulte’sheart,becauseherownwassickwithsuspicionofKurrell,andwornoutwiththelongstrainofwatchingalonethroughtheRainsTherewasnoplanorpurposeinherspeakingThesentencesmadethemselves;

  andBoultelistenedleaningagainstthedoor-postwithhishandsinhispocketsWhenallwasover,andMrsBoultebegantobreathethroughhernosebeforebreakingoutintotears,helaughedandstaredstraightinfrontofhimattheDosebrihills。

  “Isthatall?”besaid“Thanks,Ionlywantedtoknow,youknow。”

  “Whatareyougoingtodo?”saidthewoman,betweenhersobs。

  “Do!NothingWhatshouldIdo?KillKurrellorsendyouHome,orapplyforleavetogetadivorce?It’~

  20aWORKSOFRUDYARDKIPLING

  twodays’dokintoNarkarra。”Helaughedagainandwenton:“I’lltellyouwhatyoucando。

  YoucanaskKurrelltodinnerto-morrow-no,onThursday,thatwillallowyoutimetopack~andyoucanholtwithhimIgiveyoumywordIwon’tfollow。”

  Hetookuphishelmetandwentoutoftheroom,andMrsBoultesattillthemoonlightstreakedthefloor,thinkingandthinkingandthinkingShehaddoneherbestuponthespurofthemomenttopullthehousedown;butitwouldnotfallMoreover,shecouldnotunderstandherhusband,andshewasafraidThenthefollyofheruselesstruthfulnessstruckher,andshewasashamedtowritetoKurrell,say]ng:“IhavegonemadandtoldeverythingMyhusbandsaysthatIamfreetoelopewithyouGetaddkforThursday,andwewillflyafterdinner。”Therewasacold-bloodednessaboutthatprocedurewhichdidnotappealtoherSoshesatstillinherownhouseandthought。

  Atdinner-timeBoultecamebackfromhiswalk,whiteandwornandhaggard,andthewomanwastouchedathisdistressAstheeveningworeon,shemutteredsomeexpressionofsorrow,somethingapproachingtocontritionBoultecameoutofabrownstudyandsaid,“Oh,that!I

  wasn’tthinkingaboutthatBytheway,whatdoesKurrellsaytotheelopement?”

  “Ihaven’tseenhim。”saidMrsBoulte“GoodGod!isthatall?”

  ButBoultewasnotlistening,andhersentenceendedinagulp。

  ThenextdaybroughtnocomforttoMrsBoulte,forKurrelldidnotappear,andthenewlifethatshe,inthefiveminutes’madnessofthepreviousevening,hadhopedtobuildoutoftheruinsoftheold,seemedtobenonearer。

  Boulteatehisbreakfast,advisedhertoseeherArabponyfedintheveranda,andwentoutThemorningworethrough,andatmiddaythetensionbecameunendurableMrsBoultecouldnotcryShehadfinishedhercryinginthenight,andnowshedidnotwanttobeleftalonePerhapstheVansoythenwomanwouldtalktoher;and,sincetalkingopenstheheart,perhapstheremightbesomecomforttobefoundinhercompanyShewastheonlyotherwomanintheStation。

  InKasbimatherearenoregularcalling-hoursEveryonecandropinuponeveryoneelseatpleasureMrsBoulteputonabigteraihat,andwalkedacrosstotheVansoythen’shousetoborrow]astweek’sQueenThetwocompoundstouched,andin-steadofgoingupthedrive,shecrossedthroughthegapinthecactus-hedge,enteringthehousefromthebackAsshepassedthroughthedining-room,sheheard,behindthepurdahthatcloakedthedrawing-roomdoor,herhusband’svoice,saying-“ButonmyHonor!OnmySoulandHonor,Itellyoushedoesn’tcareformeShetoldmesolastnightIwouldhavetoldyouthenifVansuythenhadn’tbeenwithyouIfitisforhersakethatyou’llhavenothingtosaytome,youcanmakeyourmindeasyIt’sKurrell’

  “What?”saidMrsVansoythen,withanhystericallittlelaugh。

  “Kurrell!Oh,itcan’tbeYoutwomusthavemadesomehorriblemistakePerhapsyou-youlostyourtemper,ormisunAWAYSIDECOMEDY

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  derstood,orsomethingThingscan’tbeaswrongasyousay。”

  MrsVansuythenhadshiftedherdefencetoavoidtheman’spleading,andwasdesperatelytryingtokeephimtoaside-issue。

  “Theremustbesomemistake。”sheinsisted,“anditcanbeallputrightagain。”

  Boultelaughedgrimly。

  “Itcan’tbeCaptainKurrell!Hetoldmethathehadnevertakentheleast-theleastinterestinyourwife,MrBoulteOh,dolisten!HesaidhehadnotHesworehehadnot。”saidMrs。

  Vansuythen。

  Thepurdahrustled,andthespeechwascutshortbytheentryofalittle,thinwomanwithbigringsroundhereyesMrsVansuytbenstoodupwithagasp。

  “Whatwasthatyousaid?”askedMrsBoulte“NevermindthatmanWhatdidTedsaytoyou?

  Whatdidhesaytoyou?Whatdidhesaytoyou?”

  MrsVansuythensatdownhelplesslyonthesofa,overbornebythetroubleofherquestioner。

  “Hesaid-Ican’trememberexactlywhathesaid-butIunderstoodhimtosay-thatis-But,really,MrsBoulte,isn’titratherastrangequestion?”

  “Willyoutellmewhathesaid?”repeatedMrsBoulteEvenatigerwillflybeforeabearrobbedofherwhelps,andMrsVansuythenwasonlyanordinarilygoodwomanShebeganinasortofdesperation:“Well,hesaidthathenevercaredforyouatall,and,ofcourse,therewasnottheleastreasonwhyheshouldhave,and-and-thatwasall。”

  “YousaidhesworehehadnotcaredformeWasthattrue?”

  “Yes。”saidMrsVansuythen,verysoftly。

  MrsBoultewaveredforaninstantwhereshestood,andthenfellforwardfainting。

  “WhatdidItellyou?”saidBoulte,asthoughtheconversationhadbeenunbroken“YoucanseeforyourselfShecaresforhim。”Thelightbegantobreakintohisdullmind,andhewenton-“Andh~whatwashesayingtoyou?”

  ButMrsVansuythen,withnoheartforexplanationsorimpassionedprotestations,waskneelingoverMrsBoulte。

  “Oh,youbrute!”shecried“Areallmenlikethis?Helpmetogetherintomyroom-andherfaceiscutagainstthetableOh,willyoubequiet,andhelpmetocarryher?Ihateyou,andIhateCaptainKurrellLiftherupcarefullyandnow-go!Goaway!”

  BoultecarriedhiswifeintoMrsVansuythen’sbedroomanddepartedbeforethestormofthatlady’swrathanddisgust,impenitentandburningwithjealousy。

  KurrellhadbeenmakinglovetoMrsVansuythen-woulddoVansuytbenasgreatawrongashehaddoneBoulte,whocaughthimselfconsideringwhetherMrsVansuythenwouldfaintifshediscoveredthatthemanshelovedhadforeswornher。

  Inthemiddleofthesemeditations,Kurrellcamecanteringalongtheroadandpulledupwithacheery,“Goodmornin’’BeenmashingMrsVansuythenasusual,eh?Badthingforasober,marriedman,thatWhatwillMr~Boultesay?”

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  WORKSOFRUDYARDKIPLING

  Boulteraisedhisheadandsaid,slowly,“Oh,youliar!”Kurrell’sfacechanged“What’sthat?”

  heasked,quickly。

  “Nothingmuch。”saidBoulte“Hasmywifetoldyouthatyoutwoarefreetogooffwheneveryouplease?ShehasbeengoodenoughtoexplainthesituationtomeYou’vebeenatruefriendtome,Kurrell-oldman-haven’tyou?”

  Kurrellgroaned,andtriedtoframesomesortofidioticsentenceaboutbeingwillingtogive“satisfaction。”Buthisinterestinthewomanwasdead,haddiedoutintheRains,and,mentally,hewasabusingherforheramazingindiscretionItwouldhavebeensoeasytohavebrokenoffthethinggentlyandbydegrees,andnowhewassaddledwith-Boulte’5voicerecalledhim。

  “’Idon’tthinkIshouldgetanysatisfactionfromkillingyou,andI’mprettysureyou’dgetnonefromkillingme。”

  Theninaqueruloustone,ludicrouslydisproportionedtohiswrongs,Boulteadded-“’Seemsratherapitythatyouhaven’tthedecencytokeeptothewoman,nowyou’vegotherYou’vebeenatruefriendtohertoo,haven’tyou?”

  KurrellstaredlongandgravelyThesituationwasgettingbeyondhim。

  “Whatdoyoumean?”hesaid。

  Boulteanswered,moretohimselfthanthequestioner:’MywifecameovertoMrsVansuythen’sjustnow;anditseemsyou’dbeentellingMrsVansuythenthatyou’dnevercaredforEmmaI

  supposeyoulied,asusualWhathadMrsVansuytbentodowithyou,oryouwithher?Trytospeakthetruthforonceinaway。”

  Kurrelltookthedoubleinsultwithoutwincing,andrepliedbyanotherquestion:“Goon。

  Whathappened?”

  “Emmafainted。”saidBoulte,simply。

  “But,lookhere,whathadyoubeensayingtoMrsVansuythen?”

  KurrelllaughedMrsBoultehad,withunbridledtongue,madehavocofhisplans;andhecouldatleastretaliatebyhurtingthemaninwhoseeyeshewashumiliatedandshowndishonorable。

  “Saidtoher?Whatdoesamantellalielikethatfor?IsupposeI

  saidprettymuchwhatyou’vesaid,unlessI’magooddealmistaken。”

  “Ispokethetruth。”saidBoulte,againmoretohimselfthanKurrell“EmmatoldmeshehatedmeShehasnorightinme。”

  “No!IsupposenotYou’reonlyherhusband,y’knowAndwhatdidMrsVansuythensayafteryouhadlaidyourdisengagedheartatherfeet?”

  Kurrellfeltalmostvirtuousasheputthequestion。

  “Idon’tthinkthatmatters。”Boultereplied;“anditdoesn’tconcernyou。”

  “Butitdoes!Itellyouitdoes“beganKurrell,shamelessly。

  ThesentencewascutbyaroaroflaughterfromBoulte’slips。

  Kurrellwassilentforaninstant,andthenhe,too,laughed-laughedlongandloudly,rockinginhissaddleItwasanunpleasantsound-themirthlessmirthofthesemenonthelong,whitelineoftheNarkarraRoadTherewerenostrangersinKashima,ortheymighthavethoughtthatcaptivitywithintheAWAYSIDECOMEDY

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  DosehrihillshaddrivenhalftheEuropeanpopulationmadThelaughter~ndedabruptly,andKurrellwasthefirsttospeak。

  “Well,whatareyougoingtodo?”

  Boultelookeduptheroad,andatthehills“Nothing。”saidhe,quietly;“what’stheuse?It’stooghastlyforanythingWemustlettheoldlifegoon。

  Icanonlycallyouahoundandaliar,andIcan’tgooncallingyounamesforeverBesideswhich,Idon’tfeelthatI’mmuchbetterWecan’tgetoutofthisplaceWhatistheretodo?”

  Kurrelllookedroundtherat-pitofKashimaandmadenoreply。

  Theinjuredhusbandtookupthewondroustale。

  “Rideon,andspeaktoEmmaifyouwanttoGodknowsIdon’tcarewhatyoudo。”

  HewalkedforwardandleftKurrellgazingblanklyafterhim。

  KurrelldidnotrideoneithertoseeMrsBoulteorMrsVansuythenHesatinhissaddleandthought,whilehisponygrazedbytheroadside。

  ThewhirofapproachingwheelsrousedhimMrsVansuythenwasdrivinghomeMrsBoulte,whiteandwan,withacutonherforehead。

  “Stop,please。”saidMrsBoulte“IwanttospeaktoTed。”

  MrsVansuythenobeyed,butasMrsBoulteleanedforward,puttingherhanduponthesplash-hoardofthedog-cart,Kurrel]spoke。

  “I’veseenyourhusband,MrsBoulte。

  TherewasnonecessityforanyfurtherexplanationTheman’seyeswerefixed,notuponMrs。

  Boulte,buthercompanionMrsBoultesawthelook。

  “Speaktohim!”shepleaded,turningtothewomanatherside。

  “Oh,speaktohim!TellhimwhatyoutoldmejustnowTellhimyouhatehimTellhimyouhatehim!”

  Shebentforwardandweptbitterly,whilethesais,impassive,wentforwardtoholdthehorse。

  MrsVansuythenturnedscarletanddroppedthereinsShewishedtobenopartytosuchunholyexplanations。

  “I’venothingtodowithit。”shebegan,coldly;butMrsBoulte’ssobsovercameher,andsheaddressedherselftotheman“Idon’tknowwhatIamtosay,CaptainKurrellIdon’tknowwhatIcancallyouIthinkyou’ve-you’vebehavedabominably,andshehascutherforeheadterriblyagainstthetable。”

  “Itdoesn’thurtItisn’tanything。”saidMrsBoultefeebly“Thatdoesn’tmatterTellhimwhatyoutoldmeSayyoudon’tcareforhimOh,Ted,~von’tyoubelieveher?”

  “MrsBoultehasmademeunderstandthatyouwere-thatyouwerefondofheronceuponatime。”wentonMrsVansuythen。

  “Well!”saidKurrellbrutally“ItseemstomethatMrsBoultehadbetterbefondofherownhusbandfirst。”

  “Stop!”saidMrsVansuythen“HearmefirstIdon’tcare-Idon’twanttoknowanythingaboutyouandMrsBoulte;butIwantyoutoknowthatIhateyou,thatI

  thinkyouareacur,andthatI’llnever,neverspeaktoyouagainOh,Idon’tdaretosaywhatI

  thinkofyou,you-man!”

  ~outhlIorderedtheHawleyBoy,as’aevaluedmypatronage,nottocallThefirstpersonI

  stumbleover-literallystumbleover-inherpoky,dark,jittledrawing-roomis,ofcourse,theflawleyBoyShekeptuswaitingtenrninutes,andthenemergedasthough~hehadbeentippedoutofthedirtyrIothesbasketYouknowmyway,dear,whenIamallputoutIwasSuperior,crrrushinglySuperior!’LiftedmyeyestoHeaven,andhadheardofnothing-’droppedmyeyesonthecarpetand’reallydidn’tknow’-’playedwitnmycardcaseand’supposedso。’TheHawleyBoygiggledlikeagirl,andIhadtofreezehimwithscowlsbetweenthesentences。”

  “Andshe?”

  “Shesatinaheapontheedgeofacouch,andmanagedtoconveytheimpressionthatshewassufferingfromstomach-ache,attheveryleastItwasallIcoulddonottoaskafterhersymptomsWhenIroseshegruntedjust~keabuffalointhewater-toolazytomove。”

  “Areyoucertain?’-“AmIblind,Polly?Laziness,sheerl。~iness,nothingelse-orhergarmentswereonlyconstructedforsittingdownin。

  Istayedforaquarterofanhourtryingtopenetratethegloom,toguesswhathersurroundingswerelike,whileshestuckouthertongue。”

  “Lu-cy!’~

  “Well-I’llwithdrawthetongue,thoughI’msureifshedidn’tdoitwhenIwasintheroom,shedidtheminuteIwasoutsideAtanyrate,shel~yinalumpandgruntedAsktheHawleyBoy,dearIbel~evcthegruntswerem~antforsentencesbutshespokesoindistinctlythatIcan’tsweartoit。”

  “Youareincorrigible,simply。”

  “Iamnot!Treatmecivilly,givemepeacewithhonor,don’tputtheonlyavailableseatfacingthewindow,andachildmayeatjaminmylapbeforeChurchButIresentbeinggruntedat。

  Wouldn’tyou?DoyousupposethatshecommunicatesherviewsonlifeandlovetoTheDancingMasterinasetofmodulated’Grmphs’?”

  “YouattachtoomuchimportancetoTheDancingMaster。”

  “Hecameaswewent,andTheDowdgrewalmostcordialatthesightofhimHesmiledgreasily,andmovedaboutthatdarkeneddog-kennelinasuspiciouslyfamiliarway。”

  “Don’tbeuncharitableAnysinbutthatI’llforgive。”

  “ListentothevoiceofHistoryIamonlydescribingwhatIsaw。

  Heentered,theheaponthesofarevivedslightly,andtheHawleyBoyandIcameawaytogetherHeisdisillusionea,butI

  feltitmydutytolecturehimseverelyforgoingthereAndthat’sall。”

  “NowforPity’ssakeleavethewretchedcreatureandTheDancingMasteraloneTheyneverdidyouanyharm。”

  “Noharm?Todressasanexampleandastumbling-blockforhalfSimla,andthentofindthisPersonwhoisdressedbythehandofGod-notthatIwishtodisparageHimforamoment,butyouknowthetikkadhurziewayHeattiresthoseliliesofthefield-thisPersondrawstheeyesofmen-andsomeofthemnicemen?It’salmostenough~omakeonedi~cardclothingItoldtheHawleyBoyso。”

  “IwanttospeaktoTed。”moanedMrsBoulte,butthedog-cartrattledon,andKurrellwasleftontheroad,shamed,andboilingwithwrathagainstMrsBoulte。

  HewaitedtillMrsVansuythenwasdrivingbacktoherownhouse,and,shebeingfreedfromtheembarrassmentofMrsBoulte’spresence,learnedforthesecondtimeheropinionofhimselfandhisactions。

  Intheevenings,itwasthewontofallKashimatomeetattheplatformontheNarkarraRoad,todrinktea,anddiscussthetrivialitiesofthedayMajorVansuythenandhiswifefoundthemselvesaloneatthegathering-placeforalmostthefirsttimeintheirremembrance;andthecheeryMajor,intheteethofhiswife’sremarkablyreasonablesuggestionthattherestoftheStationmightbesick,insistedupondrivingroundtothetwobungalowsandunearthingthepopulation。

  “Sittinginthetwilight!”saidhe,withgreatindignationtotheBoultesThat’llneverdo!Hangitall,we’reonefamilyhere!Youmustcomeout,andsomustKurrellI’llmakehimbringhisbanjo。”SogreatisthepowerofhonestsimplicityandagooddigestionoverguiltyconsciencesthatallKashimadidturnout,evendowntothebanjo;andtheMajorembracedthecompanyinoneexpansivegrinAshegrinned,MrsVansuythenraisedhereyesforaninstantandlookedatallKashimaHermeaningwasclearMajorVansuythenwouldneverknowanythingHewastobetheoutsiderinthathappyfamilywhosecagewastheDosehrihills。

  “You’resingingvillainouslyoutoftune,Kurrell。”saidtheMajor,truthfully“Passmethatbanjo。”

  Andhesanginexcruciating-wisetillthestarscameoutandallKashimawenttodinner。

  ThatwasthebeginningoftheNewLifeofKashima-thelifethatMrsBoultemadewhenhertonguewasloosenedinthetwilight。

  MrsVansuythenhasnevertoldtheMajor;andsincebeinsistsuponkeepingupaburdensomegeniality,shehasbeencompelledtobreakhervowofnotspeakingtoKurrellThisspeech,whichmustofnecessitypreservethesemblanceofpolitenessandinterest,servesadmirablytokeepalivetheflameofjealousyanddullhatredinBoulte’sbosom,asitawakensthesamepassionsinhiswife’sheartMrsBoultehatesMrsVansuythenbecauseshehastakenTedfromher,and,insomecuriousfashion,hatesherbecauseMrs。

  Vansuythen-andherethewife’seyesseefarmoreclearlythanthehusband’s-detestsTedAndTed-thatgallantcaptainandhonorableman-knowsnowthatitispossibletohateawomanonceloved,tothevergeofwishingtosilenceherforeverwithblows。

  Aboveall,isheshockedthatMrsBoultecannotseetheerrorofherways。

  Boulteandhegoouttiger-shootingtogetherinallfriendship。

  Boultehasputtheirrelationshiponamostsatisfactoryfooting。

  “You’reablackguard。”hesaystoKurrell,“andI’velostanyself-respectImayeverhavehad;butwhenyou’reASECOND-RATEWOMAN

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  literyousawherwalkingwithTheDancingMaster-anhourlateryoumetherhereattheLibrary。”

  “StillwithTheDancingMaster,remember。”

  “StillwithTheDancingMaster,Iadmit,butwhyonthestrengthofthatshouldyouimagine“-“I

  imaginenothingIhavenoimaginationIamonlyconvincedthatTheDancingMasterisattractedtoTheDowdbecauseheisobjectionableineverywayandsheineveryotherIfIknowthemanasyouhavedescribedhim,heholdshiswifeinslaveryatpresent。”

  “Sheistwentyyearsyoungerthanhe。”

  “Poorwretch!And,intheend,afterkehasposedandswaggeredandlied-hehasamouthunderthatraggedmoustachesimplymadeforlies-hewillberewardedaccordingtohismerits。”

  “Iwonderwhatthosereallyare。”saidMrsMallowe。

  ButMrsHauksbee,herfaceclosetoheshelfofthenewbooks,washummingsoftly:“WhatshallhehavewhokilledtheDeer!”Shewasaladyofunfetteredspeech。

  Onemonthlater,sheannouncedherotentionofcallinguponMrs。

  DelvilleBothMrsHauksbeeandMrsMallowewereinmorningwrappers,andtherewasagreatpeaceintheland。

  “IshouldgoasIwas。”saidMrsMallowe“Itwouldbeadelicatecomplimenttoherstyle。”

  MrsHauksbeestudiedherselfintheglass。

  “Assumingforamomentthatsheeverdarkenedthesedoors,I

  shouldputonthisrobe,afteralltheothers,toshowherwhatamorningwrapperoughttobeItmightenlivenherAsitis,Ishallgointhedove-colored-sweetemblemofyouthandinnocenc~andshallputonmynewgloves。”

  “Ifyoureallyaregoing,dirtytanwouldbetoogood;andyouknowthatdove-colorspotswiththerain。”

  “IcarenotImaymakeherenviousAtleastIshalltry,thoughonecannotexpectverymuchfromawomanwhoputsalacetuckerintoherhabit。”

  “JustHeavens!Whendidshedothat?”

  “Yesterday-ridingwithTheDancingMasterImetthematthebackofJakko,andtherainhadmadethelaceliedownTocompletetheeffect,shewaswearinganuncleanteraiwiththeelasticunderherchinIfeltalmosttoowellcontenttotakethetroubletodespiseher。”

  “TheHawleyBoywasridingwithyouWhatdidhethink?”

  “Doesaboyevernoticethesethings?ShouldIlikehimifhedid?

  Hestaredintherudestway,andjustwhenIthoughthehadseentheelastic,hesaid,’There’ssomethingverytakingaboutthatface。’IrebukedhimonthespotIdon’tapproveofboysbeingtakenbyfaces。”

  “OtherthanyourownIshouldn’tbeintheleastsurprisediftheHawleyBoyimmediatelywenttocall。”

  “IforbadehimLetherbesatisfiedwithTheDancingMaster,andhiswifewhenshecomesup。

  I’mrathercurioustoseeMrsBentandtheDelvillewomantogether。”

  MrsHauksheedepartedand,attheendofanhour,returnedslightlyflushed。

  “ThereisnolimittothetreacheryofTHEHILLOFILLUSION

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  withme,IcanfeelcertainthatyouarenotwithMrsVansuythen,ormakingEmmamiserable。”

  KurrellenduresanythingthatBoultemaysaytohimSometimestheyareawayforthreedaystogether,andthentheMajorinsistsuponhiswifegoingovertositwithMrs,Boulte;althoughMrsVansuythenhasrepeatedlydedaredthatsheprefersherhusband’scompanytoanyintheworldFromthewayinwhichsheclingstohim,shewouldcertainlyseemtobespeakingthetruth。

  Butofcourse,astheMajorsays,“inalittleStationwemustallbefriendly。”

  TheHillofIllusionWhatrenderedvaintheirdeepdesire?

  AGod,aGodtheirseveranceruled,AndbadebetweentheirshorestobeTheunplumbed,salt,estrangingsea-

  MatthewArnold。

  HETellyour’hampanisnottohurryso,dearTheyforgetI’mfreshfromthePlains。

  SHESureproofthatIhavenotbeengoingoutwithanyoneYes,theyareanuntrainedcrew。

  Wheredowego?

  HEAsusual-totheworld’sendNo,Jakko。

  SHEHaveyourponyledafteryou,thenIt’salongound。

  HEAndforthelasttime,thankHeaven!

  SHEDoyoumeanthatstill?Ididn’tdaretowritetoyouaboutit-allthesemonths。

  HEMeanit!I’vebeenshapingmyaffairstothatendsinceAutumnWhatmakesyouspeakasthoughithadoccurredtoyouforthefirsttime?

  SHEI!Oh!Idon’tknowI’vehadlongenoughtothink,too。

  HEAndyou’vechangedyourmind?

  SHENoYououghttoknowthatI

  amamiracleofconstancyWhatareyour-arrangements?

  HEOurs,Sweetheart,please。

  SHEOurs,beitthenMypoorboy,howthepricklyheathasmarkedyourforehead!Haveyouevertriedsulphateofcopperinwater?

  HEIt’llgoawayinadayortwauphereThearrangementsaresimpleenoughTongaintheearlymorning-reachKalkaattwelve-Umballaatseven-down,straightbynighttrain,toBombay,andthenthesteamerofthe21stforRomeThat’smyideaTheContinentandSweden-aten-weekhoneymoon。

  SHESsh!Don’ttalkofitinthatwayItmakesmeafraidGuy,howlonghavewetwobeeninsane?

  HESeve~monthsandfourteendays,Iforgettheoddhoursexactly,butI’llthink。

  SHEIonlywantedtoseeifyourememberedWhoarethosetwoontheBlessingtonRoad?

  HEEabreyandthePennerwomanWhatdotheymattertous?

  Tellmeeverythingthatyou’vebeendoingandsayingandthinking222

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