`Itmustbe!Can’tbeanybodyelse’s。Anditseemstomeyoudon’tgetenoughoutofit。’
`How？’
`Lookatthewayyouareshutuphere。IsaidtoClifford：Ifthatchildrebelsonedayyou’llhaveyourselftothank!’
`ButCliffordneverdeniesmeanything，’saidConnie。
`Lookhere，mydearchild’——andLadyBennerleylaidherthinhandonConnie’sarm。`Awomanhastoliveherlife，orlivetorepentnothavinglivedit。Believeme!’Andshetookanothersipofbrandy，whichmaybewasherformofrepentance。
`ButIdolivemylife，don’tI？’
`Notinmyidea!CliffordshouldbringyoutoLondon，andletyougoabout。Hissortoffriendsareallrightforhim，butwhataretheyforyou？IfIwereyouIshouldthinkitwasn’tgoodenough。You’llletyouryouthslipby，andyou’llspendyouroldage，andyourmiddleagetoo，repentingit。’
Herladyshiplapsedintocontemplativesilence，soothedbythebrandy。
ButConniewasnotkeenongoingtoLondon，andbeingsteeredintothesmartworldbyLadyBennerley。Shedidn’tfeelreallysmart，itwasn’tinteresting。Andshedidfeelthepeculiar，witheringcoldnessunderitall；likethesoilofLabrador，whichhisgaylittleflowersonitssurface，andafootdownisfrozen。
TommyDukeswasatWragby，andanotherman，HarryWinterslow，andJackStrangewayswithhiswifeOlive。Thetalkwasmuchmoredesultorythanwhenonlythecronieswerethere，andeverybodywasabitbored，fortheweatherwasbad，andtherewasonlybilliards，andthepianolatodanceto。
Olivewasreadingabookaboutthefuture，whenbabieswouldbebredinbottles，andwomenwouldbe`immunized’。
`Jollygoodthingtoo!’shesaid。`Thenawomancanliveherownlife。’
Strangewayswantedchildren，andshedidn’t。
`How’dyouliketobeimmunized？’Winterslowaskedher，withanuglysmile。
`IhopeIam；naturally，’shesaid。`Anyhowthefuture’sgoingtohavemoresense，andawomanneedn’tbedraggeddownbyherfunctions。’
`Perhapsshe’llfloatoffintospacealtogether，’saidDukes。
`Idothinksufficientcivilizationoughttoeliminatealotofthephysicaldisabilities，’saidClifford。`Allthelove-businessforexample，itmightjustaswellgo。Isupposeitwouldifwecouldbreedbabiesinbottles。’
`No!’criedOlive。`Thatmightleaveallthemoreroomforfun。’
`Isuppose，’saidLadyBennerley，contemplatively，`ifthelove-businesswent，somethingelsewouldtakeitsplace。Morphia，perhaps。Alittlemorphineinalltheair。Itwouldbewonderfullyrefreshingforeverybody。’
`ThegovernmentreleasingetherintotheaironSaturdays，foracheerfulweekend!’saidJack。`Soundsallright，butwhereshouldwebebyWednesday？’
`Solongasyoucanforgetyourbodyyouarehappy，’saidLadyBennerley。
`Andthemomentyoubegintobeawareofyourbody，youarewretched。So，ifcivilizationisanygood，ithastohelpustoforgetourbodies，andthentimepasseshappilywithoutourknowingit。’
`Helpustogetridofourbodiesaltogether，’saidWinterslow。`It’squitetimemanbegantoimproveonhisownnature，especiallythephysicalsideofit。’
`Imagineifwefloatedliketobaccosmoke，’saidConnie。
`Itwon’thappen，’saidDukes。`Ouroldshowwillcomeflop；ourcivilizationisgoingtofall。It’sgoingdownthebottomlesspit，downthechasm。Andbelieveme，theonlybridgeacrossthechasmwillbethephallus!’
`Ohdo!dobeimpossible，General!’criedOlive。
`Ibelieveourcivilizationisgoingtocollapse，’saidAuntEva。
`Andwhatwillcomeafterit？’askedClifford。
`Ihaven’tthefaintestidea，butsomething，Isuppose，’saidtheelderlylady。
`Conniesayspeoplelikewispsofsmoke，andOlivesaysimmunizedwomen，andbabiesinbottles，andDukessaysthephallusisthebridgetowhatcomesnext。Iwonderwhatitwillreallybe？’saidClifford。
`Oh，don’tbother!let’sgetonwithtoday，’saidOlive。`Onlyhurryupwiththebreedingbottle，andletuspoorwomenoff。’
`Theremightevenberealmen，inthenextphase，’saidTommy。`Real，intelligent，wholesomemen，andwholesomenicewomen!Wouldn’tthatbeachange，anenormouschangefromus？We’renotmen，andthewomenaren’twomen。We’reonlycerebratingmake-shifts，mechanicalandintellectualexperiments。Theremayevencomeacivilizationofgenuinemenandwomen，insteadofourlittlelotofclever-jacks，allattheintelligence-ageofseven。Itwouldbeevenmoreamazingthanmenofsmokeorbabiesinbottles。’
`Oh，whenpeoplebegintotalkaboutrealwomen，Igiveup，’saidOlive。
`Certainlynothingbutthespiritinusisworthhaving，’saidWinterslow。
`Spirits!’saidJack，drinkinghiswhiskyandsoda。
`Thinkso？Givemetheresurrectionofthebody!’saidDukes。
`Butit’llcome，intime，whenwe’veshovedthecerebralstoneawayabit，themoneyandtherest。Thenwe’llgetademocracyoftouch，insteadofademocracyofpocket。’
SomethingechoedinsideConnie：`Givemethedemocracyoftouch，theresurrectionofthebody!’Shedidn’tatallknowwhatitmeant，butitcomfortedher，asmeaninglessthingsmaydo。
Anyhoweverythingwasterriblysilly，andshewasexasperatedlyboredbyitall，byClifford，byAuntEva，byOliveandJack，andWinterslow，andevenbyDukes。Talk，talk，talk!Whathellitwas，thecontinualrattleofit!
Then，whenallthepeoplewent，itwasnobetter。Shecontinuedploddingon，butexasperationandirritationhadgotholdofherlowerbody，shecouldn’tescape。Thedaysseemedtogrindby，withcuriouspainfulness，yetnothinghappened。Onlyshewasgettingthinner；eventhehousekeepernoticedit，andaskedheraboutherselfEvenTommyDukesinsistedshewasnotwell，thoughshesaidshewasallright。Onlyshebegantobeafraidoftheghastlywhitetombstones，thatpeculiarloathsomewhitenessofCarraramarble，detestableasfalseteeth，whichstuckuponthehillside，underTevershallchurch，andwhichshesawwithsuchgrimpainfulnessfromthepark。Thebristlingofthehideousfalseteethoftombstonesonthehillaffectedherwithagrislykindofhorror。Shefeltthetimenotfaroffwhenshewouldbeburiedthere，addedtotheghastlyhostunderthetombstonesandthemonuments，inthesefilthyMidlands。
Sheneededhelp，andsheknewit：soshewrotealittlecriducoeurtohersister，Hilda。`I’mnotwelllately，andIdon’tknowwhat’sthematterwithme。’
DownpostedHildafromScotland，whereshehadtakenupherabode。ShecameinMarch，alone，drivingherselfinanimbletwo-seater。Upthedriveshecame，tootinguptheincline，thensweepingroundtheovalofgrass，wherethetwogreatwildbeech-treesstood，ontheflatinfrontofthehouse。
Conniehadrunouttothesteps。Hildapulleduphercar，gotout，andkissedhersister。
`ButConnie!’shecried。`Whateveristhematter？’
`Nothing!’saidConnie，rathershamefacedly；butsheknewhowshehadsufferedincontrasttoHilda。Bothsistershadthesamerathergolden，glowingskin，andsoftbrownhair，andnaturallystrong，warmphysique。
ButnowConniewasthinandearthy-looking，withascraggy，yellowishneck，thatstuckoutofherjumper。
`Butyou’reill，child!’saidHilda，inthesoft，ratherbreathlessvoicethatbothsistershadalike。Hildawasnearly，butnotquite，twoyearsolderthanConnie。
`No，notill。PerhapsI’mbored，’saidConniealittlepathetically。
ThelightofbattleglowedinHilda’sface；shewasawoman，softandstillassheseemed，oftheoldamazonsort，notmadetofitwithmen。
`Thiswretchedplace!’shesaidsoftly，lookingatpoor，old，lumberingWragbywithrealhate。Shelookedsoftandwarmherself，asaripepear，andshewasanamazonoftherealoldbreed。
ShewentquietlyintoClifford。Hethoughthowhandsomeshelooked，butalsoheshrankfromher。Hiswife’sfamilydidnothavehissortofmanners，orhissortofetiquette。Heconsideredthemratheroutsiders，butoncetheygotinsidetheymadehimjumpthroughthehoop。
Hesatsquareandwell-groomedinhischair，hishairsleekandblond，andhisfacefresh，hisblueeyespale，andalittleprominent，hisexpressioninscrutable，butwell-bred。Hildathoughtitsulkyandstupid，andhewaited。
Hehadanairofaplomb，butHildadidn’tcarewhathehadanairof；shewasupinarms，andifhe’dbeenPopeorEmperoritwouldhavebeenjustthesame。
`Connie’slookingawfullyunwell，’shesaidinhersoftvoice，fixinghimwithherbeautiful，gloweringgreyeyes。Shelookedsomaidenly，sodidConnie；buthewellknewthetoneofScottishobstinacyunderneath。
`She’salittlethinner，’hesaid。
`Haven’tyoudoneanythingaboutit？’
`Doyouthinkitnecessary？’heasked，withhissuavestEnglishstiffness，forthetwothingsoftengotogether。
Hildaonlygloweredathimwithoutreplying；reparteewasnotherforte，norConnie’s；sosheglowered，andhewasmuchmoreuncomfortablethanifshehadsaidthings。
`I’lltakehertoadoctor，’saidHildaatlength。`Canyousuggestagoodoneroundhere？’
`I’mafraidIcan’t。’
`ThenI’lltakehertoLondon，wherewehaveadoctorwetrust。’
Thoughboilingwithrage，Cliffordsaidnothing。
`IsupposeImayaswellstaythenight，’saidHilda，pullingoffhergloves，`andI’lldrivehertotowntomorrow。’
Cliffordwasyellowatthegillswithanger，andateveningthewhitesofhiseyeswerealittleyellowtoo。Herantoliver。ButHildawasconsistentlymodestandmaidenly。
`Youmusthaveanurseorsomebody，tolookafteryoupersonally。Youshouldreallyhaveamanservant，’saidHildaastheysat，withapparentcalmness，atcoffeeafterdinner。Shespokeinhersoft，seeminglygentleway，butCliffordfeltshewashittinghimontheheadwithabludgeon。
`Youthinkso？’hesaidcoldly。
`I’msure!It’snecessary。Eitherthat，orFatherandImusttakeConnieawayforsomemonths。Thiscan’tgoon。’
`Whatcan’tgoon？’
`Haven’tyoulookedatthechild!’askedHilda，gazingathimfullstare。
Helookedratherlikeahuge，boiledcrayfishatthemoment；orsoshethought。
`ConnieandIwilldiscussit，’hesaid。
`I’vealreadydiscusseditwithher，’saidHilda。
Cliffordhadbeenlongenoughinthehandsofnurses；hehatedthem，becausetheylefthimnorealprivacy。Andamanservant!……hecouldn’tstandamanhangingroundhim。Almostbetteranywoman。ButwhynotConnie？
Thetwosistersdroveoffinthemorning，ConnielookingratherlikeanEasterlamb，rathersmallbesideHilda，whoheldthewheel。SirMalcolmwasaway，buttheKensingtonhousewasopen。
ThedoctorexaminedConniecarefully，andaskedherallaboutherlife。
`Iseeyourphotograph，andSirClifford’s，intheillustratedpaperssometimes。
Almostnotorieties，aren’tyou？That’showthequietlittlegirlsgrowup，thoughyou’reonlyaquietlittlegirlevennow，inspiteoftheillustratedpapers。No，no!There’snothingorganicallywrong，butitwon’tdo!Itwon’tdo!TellSirCliffordhe’sgottobringyoutotown，ortakeyouabroad，andamuseyou。You’vegottobeamused，gotto!Yourvitalityismuchtoolow；noreserves，noreserves。Thenervesoftheheartabitqueeralready：oh，yes!Nothingbutnerves；I’dputyourightinamonthatCannesorBiarritz。Butitmustn’tgoon，mustn’t，Itellyou，orIwon’tbeanswerableforconsequences。You’respendingyourlifewithoutrenewingit。You’vegottobeamused，properly，healthilyamused。You’respendingyourvitalitywithoutmakingany。Can’tgoon，youknow。Depression!Avoiddepression!’
Hildasetherjaw，andthatmeantsomething。
Michaelisheardtheywereintown，andcamerunningwithroses。`Why，whatever’swrong？’hecried。`You’reashadowofyourself。Why，Ineversawsuchachange!Whyeverdidn’tyouletmeknow？CometoNicewithme!
ComedowntoSicily!Goon，cometoSicilywithme。It’slovelytherejustnow。Youwantsun!Youwantlife!Why，you’rewastingaway!Comeawaywithme!CometoAfrica!Oh，hangSirClifford!Chuckhim，andcomealongwithme。I’llmarryyoutheminutehedivorcesyou。Comealongandtryalife!
God’slove!ThatplaceWragbywouldkillanybody。Beastlyplace!Foulplace!
Killanybody!Comeawaywithmeintothesun!It’sthesunyouwant，ofcourse，andabitofnormallife。’
ButConnie’sheartsimplystoodstillatthethoughtofabandoningCliffordthereandthen。Shecouldn’tdoit。No……no!Shejustcouldn’t。ShehadtogobacktoWragby。
Michaeliswasdisgusted。Hildadidn’tlikeMichaelis，butshealmostpreferredhimtoClifford。BackwentthesisterstotheMidlands。
HildatalkedtoClifford，whostillhadyelloweyeballswhentheygotback。He，too，inhisway，wasoverwrought；buthehadtolistentoallHildasaid，toallthedoctorhadsaid，notwhatMichaelishadsaid，ofcourse，andhesatmumthroughtheultimatum。
`Hereistheaddressofagoodmanservant，whowaswithaninvalidpatientofthedoctor’stillhediedlastmonth。Heisreallyagoodman，andfairlysuretocome。’
`ButI’mnotaninvalid，andIwillnothaveamanservant，’
saidClifford，poordevil。
`Andherearetheaddressesoftwowomen；Isawoneofthem，shewoulddoverywell；awomanofaboutfifty，quiet，strong，kind，andinherwaycultured……’
Cliffordonlysulked，andwouldnotanswer。
`Verywell，Clifford。Ifwedon’tsettlesomethingbyto-morrow，IshalltelegraphtoFather，andweshalltakeConnieaway。’
`WillConniego？’askedClifford。
`Shedoesn’twantto，butsheknowsshemust。Motherdiedofcancer，broughtonbyfretting。We’renotrunninganyrisks。’
SonextdayCliffordsuggestedMrsBolton，Tevershallparishnurse。
ApparentlyMrsBettshadthoughtofher。MrsBoltonwasjustretiringfromherparishdutiestotakeupprivatenursingjobs。Cliffordhadaqueerdreadofdeliveringhimselfintothehandsofastranger，butthisMrsBoltonhadoncenursedhimthroughscarletfever，andheknewher。
ThetwosistersatoncecalledonMrsBolton，inanewishhouseinarow，quiteselectforTevershall。Theyfoundarathergood-lookingwomanofforty-odd，inanurse’suniform，withawhitecollarandapron，justmakingherselfteainasmallcrowdedsitting-room。
MrsBoltonwasmostattentiveandpolite，seemedquitenice，spokewithabitofabroadslur，butinheavilycorrectEnglish，andfromhavingbossedthesickcolliersforagoodmanyyears，hadaverygoodopinionofherself，andafairamountofassurance。Inshort，inhertinyway，oneofthegoverningclassinthevillage，verymuchrespected。