Thatevening，Cliffordwantedtobenicetoher。Hewasreadingoneofthelatestscientific-religiousbooks：hehadastreakofaspurioussortofreligioninhim，andwasegocentricallyconcernedwiththefutureofhisownego。ItwaslikehishabittomakeconversationtoConnieaboutsomebook，sincetheconversationbetweenthemhadtobemade，almostchemically。
Theyhadalmostchemicallytoconcoctitintheirheads。
`Whatdoyouthinkofthis，bytheway？’hesaid，reachingforhisbook。
`You’dhavenoneedtocoolyourardentbodybyrunningoutintherain，ifonlywehaveafewmoreaeonsofevolutionbehindus。Ah，hereitis!——“Theuniverseshowsustwoaspects：ononesideitisphysicallywasting，ontheotheritisspirituallyascending。“’
Connielistened，expectingmore。ButCliffordwaswaiting。Shelookedathiminsurprise。
`Andifitspirituallyascends，’shesaid，`whatdoesitleavedownbelow，intheplacewhereitstailusedtobe？’
`Ah!’hesaid。`Takethemanforwhathemeans。Ascendingistheoppositeofhiswasting，Ipresume。’
`Spirituallyblownout，sotospeak!’
`No，butseriously，withoutjoking：doyouthinkthereisanythinginit？’
Shelookedathimagain。
`Physicallywasting？’shesaid。`Iseeyougettingfatter，andI’msotwastingmyself。Doyouthinkthesunissmallerthanheusedtobe？He’snottome。AndIsupposetheappleAdamofferedEvewasn’treallymuchbigger，ifany，thanoneofourorangepippins。Doyouthinkitwas？’
`Well，hearhowhegoeson：“Itisthusslowlypassing，withaslownessinconceivableinourmeasuresoftime，tonewcreativeconditions，amidwhichthephysicalworld，asweatpresentknowit，willherepresentedbyaripplebarelytobedistinguishedfromnonentity。“’
Shelistenedwithaglistenofamusement。Allsortsofimproperthingssuggestedthemselves。Butsheonlysaid：
`Whatsillyhocus-pocus!Asifhislittleconceitedconsciousnesscouldknowwhatwashappeningasslowlyasallthat!Itonlymeanshe’saphysicalfailureontheearth，sohewantstomakethewholeuniverseaphysicalfailure。Priggishlittleimpertinence!’
`Oh，butlisten!Don’tinterruptthegreatman’ssolemnwords!——“Thepresenttypeoforderintheworldhasrisenfromanunimaginablepart，andwillfinditsgraveinanunimaginablefuture。Thereremainstheinexhaustiverealmofabstractforms，andcreativitywithitsshiftingcharactereverdeterminedafreshbyitsowncreatures，andGod，uponwhosewisdomallformsoforderdepend。“——There，that’showhewindsup!’
Conniesatlisteningcontemptuously。
`He’sspirituallyblownout，’shesaid。`Whatalotofstuff!Unnimaginables，andtypesoforderingraves，andrealmsofabstractforms，andcreativitywithashiftycharacter，andGodmixedupwithformsoforder!Why，it’sidiotic!’
`Imustsay，itisalittlevaguelyconglomerate，amixtureofgases，sotospeak，’saidClifford。`Still，Ithinkthereissomethingintheideathattheuniverseisphysicallywastingandspirituallyascending。’
`Doyou？Thenletitascend，solongasitleavesmesafelyandsolidlyphysicallyherebelow。’
`Doyoulikeyourphysique？’heasked。
`Iloveit!’Andthroughhermindwentthewords：It’sthenicest，nicestwoman’sarseasis!
`Butthatisreallyratherextraordinary，becausethere’snodenyingit’sanencumbrance。ButthenIsupposeawomandoesn’ttakeasupremepleasureinthelifeofthemind。’
`Supremepleasure？’shesaid，lookingupathim。`Isthatsortofidiocythesupremepleasureofthelifeofthemind？Nothankyou!Givemethebody。Ibelievethelifeofthebodyisagreaterrealitythanthelifeofthemind：whenthebodyisreallywakenedtolife。Butsomanypeople，likeyourfamouswind-machine，haveonlygotmindstackedontotheirphysicalcorpses。’
Helookedatherinwonder。
`Thelifeofthebody，’hesaid，`isjustthelifeoftheanimals。’
`Andthat’sbetterthanthelifeofprofessionalcorpses。Butit’snottrue!thehumanbodyisonlyjustcomingtoreallife。WiththeGreeksitgavealovelyflicker，thenPlatoandAristotlekilledit，andJesusfinisheditoff。Butnowthebodyiscomingreallytolife，itisreallyrisingfromthetomb。AndItwillbealovely，lovelylifeinthelovelyuniverse，thelifeofthehumanbody。’
`Mydear，youspeakasifyouwereusheringitallin!True，youamgoingawayonaholiday：butdon’tpleasebequitesoindecentlyelatedaboutit。Believeme，whateverGodthereisisslowlyeliminatingthegutsandalimentarysystemfromthehumanbeing，toevolveahigher，morespiritualbeing。’
`WhyshouldIbelieveyou，Clifford，whenIfeelthatwhateverGodthereishasatlastwakenedupinmyguts，asyoucallthem，andisripplingsohappilythere，likedawn。WhyshouldIbelieveyou，whenIfeelsoverymuchthecontrary？’
`Oh，exactly!Andwhathascausedthisextraordinarychangeinyou？
runningoutstarknakedintherain，andplayingBacchante？desireforsensation，ortheanticipationofgoingtoVenice？’
`Both!Doyouthinkitishorridofmetobesothrilledatgoingoff？’
shesaid。
`Ratherhorridtoshowitsoplainly。’
`ThenI’llhideit。’
`Oh，don’ttrouble!Youalmostcommunicateathrilltome。IalmostfeelthatitisIwhoamgoingoff。’
`Well，whydon’tyoucome？’
`We’vegoneoverallthat。Andasamatteroffact，Isupposeyourgreatestthrillcomesfrombeingabletosayatemporaryfarewelltoallthis。Nothingsothrilling，forthemoment，asGood-bye-to-all!——Buteverypartingmeansameetingelsewhere。Andeverymeetingisanewbondage。’
`I’mnotgoingtoenteranynewbondages。’
`Don’tboast，whilethegodsarelistening，’hesaid。
Shepulledupshort。
`No!Iwon’tboast!’shesaid。
Butshewasthrilled，nonetheless，tobegoingoff：tofeelbondssnap。Shecouldn’thelpit。
Clifford，whocouldn’tsleep，gambledallnightwithMrsBolton，tillshewastoosleepyalmosttolive。
AndthedaycameroundforHildatoarrive。ConniehadarrangedwithMellorsthatifeverythingpromisedwellfortheirnighttogether，shewouldhangagreenshawloutofthewindow。Iftherewerefrustration，aredone。
MrsBoltonhelpedConnietopack。
`ItwillbesogoodforyourLadyshiptohaveachange。’
`Ithinkitwill。Youdon’tmindhavingSirCliffordonyourhandsaloneforatime，doyou？’
`Ohno!Icanmanagehimquiteallright。Imean，Icandoallheneedsmetodo。Don’tyouthinkhe’sbetterthanheusedtobe？’
`Ohmuch!Youdowonderswithhim。’
`DoIthough!Butmenareallalike：justbabies，andyouhavetoflatterthemandwheedlethemandletthemthinkthey’rehavingtheirownway。
Don’tyoufinditso，myLady？’
`I’mafraidIhaven’tmuchexperience。’
Conniepausedinheroccupation。
`Evenyourhusband，didyouhavetomanagehim，andwheedlehimlikeababy？’sheasked，lookingattheotherwoman。
MrsBoltonpausedtoo。
`Well!’shesaid。`Ihadtodoagoodbitofcoaxing，withhimtoo。
ButhealwaysknewwhatIwasafter，Imustsaythat。Buthegenerallygaveintome。’
`Hewasneverthelordandmasterthing？’
`No!Atleastthere’dbealookinhiseyessometimes，andthenIknewI’dgottogivein。Butusuallyhegaveintome。No，hewasneverlordandmaster。ButneitherwasI。IknewwhenIcouldgonofurtherwithhim，andthenIgavein：thoughitcostmeagoodbit，sometimes。’
`Andwhatifyouhadheldoutagainsthim？’
`Oh，Idon’tknow，Ineverdid。Evenwhenhewasinthewrong，ifhewasfixed，Igavein。Yousee，Ineverwantedtobreakwhatwasbetweenus。Andifyoureallysetyourwillagainstaman，thatfinishesit。Ifyoucareforaman，youhavetogiveintohimoncehe’sreallydetermined；
whetheryou’reintherightornot，youhavetogivein。Elseyoubreaksomething。ButImustsay，Ted’udgiveintomesometimes，whenIwassetonathing，andinthewrong。SoIsupposeitcutsbothways。’
`Andthat’showyouarewithallyourpatients？’askedConnie。
`Oh，That’sdifferent。Idon’tcareatall，inthesameway。Iknowwhat’sgoodforthem，orItryto，andthenIjustcontrivetomanagethemfortheirowngood。It’snotlikeanybodyasyou’rereallyfondof。It’squitedifferent。Onceyou’vebeenreallyfondofaman，youcanbeaffectionatetoalmostanyman，ifheneedsyouatall。Butit’snotthesamething。
Youdon’treallycare。Idoubt，onceyou’vereallycared，ifyoucaneverreallycareagain。’
ThesewordsfrightenedConnie。
`Doyouthinkonecanonlycareonce？’sheasked。
`Ornever。Mostwomennevercare，neverbeginto。Theydon’tknowwhatitmeans。Normeneither。ButwhenIseeawomanascares，myheartstandsstillforher。’
`Anddoyouthinkmeneasilytakeoffence？’
`Yes!Ifyouwoundthemontheirpride。Butaren’twomenthesame？Onlyourtwopridesareabitdifferent。’
Connieponderedthis。Shebeganagaintohavesomemisgivingabouthergagaway。Afterall，wasshenotgivinghermanthego-by，ifonlyforashorttime？Andheknewit。That’swhyhewassoqueerandsarcastic。
Still!thehumanexistenceisagooddealcontrolledbythemachineofexternalcircumstance。Shewasinthepowerofthismachine。Shecouldn’textricateherselfallinfiveminutes。Shedidn’tevenwantto。
HildaarrivedingoodtimeonThursdaymorning，inanimbletwo-seatercar，withhersuit-casestrappedfirmlybehind。Shelookedasdemureandmaidenlyasever，butshehadthesamewillofherown。Shehadtheveryhellofawillofherown，asherhusbandhadfoundout。Butthehusbandwasnowdivorcingher。
Yes，sheevenmadeiteasyforhimtodothat，thoughshehadnolover。
Forthetimebeing，shewas`off’men。Shewasverywellcontenttobequiteherownmistress：andmistressofhertwochildren，whomshewasgoingtobringup`properly’，whateverthatmaymean。
Conniewasonlyallowedasuit-case，also。Butshehadsentonatrunktoherfather，whowasgoingbytrain。NousetakingacartoVenice。AndItalymuchtoohottomotorin，inJuly。Hewasgoingcomfortablybytrain。
HehadjustcomedownfromScotland。
So，likeademurearcadianfield-marshal，Hildaarrangedthematerialpartofthejourney。SheandConniesatintheupstairsroom，chatting。
`ButHilda!’saidConnie，alittlefrightened。`Iwanttostaynearheretonight。Nothere：nearhere!’
Hildafixedhersisterwithgrey，inscrutableeyes。Sheseemedsocalm：
andshewassooftenfurious。
`Where，nearhere？’sheaskedsoftly。
`Well，youknowIlovesomebody，don’tyou？’
`Igatheredtherewassomething。’
`Wellhelivesnearhere，andIwanttospendthislastnightwithhimmust!I’vepromised。’
Conniebecameinsistent。
HildabentherMinerva-likeheadinsilence。Thenshelookedup。
`Doyouwanttotellmewhoheis？’shesaid。
`He’sourgame-keeper，’falteredConnie，andsheflushedvividly，likeashamedchild。
`Connie!’saidHilda，liftinghernoseslightlywithdisgust：ashehadfromhermother。
`Iknow：buthe’slovelyreally。Hereallyunderstandstenderness，’
saidConnie，tryingtoapologizeforhim。
Hilda，likearuddy，rich-colouredAthena，bowedherheadandponderedShewasreallyviolentlyangry。Butshedarednotshowit，becauseConnie，takingafterherfather，wouldstraightawaybecomeobstreperousandunmanageable。
Itwastrue，HildadidnotlikeClifford：hiscoolassurancethathewassomebody!ShethoughthemadeuseofConnieshamefullyandimpudently。
Shehadhopedhersisterwouldleavehim。But，beingsolidScotchmiddleclass，sheloathedany`lowering’ofoneselforthefamily。Shelookedupatlast。
`You’llregretit，’shesaid，`Ishan’t，’criedConnie，flushedred。`He’squitetheexception。Ireallylovehim。He’slovelyasalover。’
Hildastillpondered。
`You’llgetoverhimquitesoon，’shesaid，`andlivetobeashamedofyourselfbecauseofhim。’
`Ishan’t!IhopeI’mgoingtohaveachildofhis。’
`Connie!’saidHilda，hardasahammer-stroke，andpalewithanger。
`IshallifIpossiblycan。IshouldbefearfullyproudifIhadachildbyhim。’
Itwasnousetalkingtoher。Hildapondered。
`Anddoesn’tCliffordsuspect？’shesaid。
`Ohno!Whyshouldhe？’
`I’venodoubtyou’vegivenhimplentyofoccasionforsuspicion，’saidHilda。
`Notitall。’
`Andtonight’sbusinessseemsquitegratuitousfolly。Wheredoesthemanlive？’
`Inthecottageattheotherendofthewood。’
`Isheabachelor？’
`No!Hiswifelefthim。’
`Howold？’
`Idon’tknow。Olderthanme。’
Hildabecamemoreangryateveryreply，angryashermotherusedtobe，inakindofparoxysm。Butstillshehidit。
`Iwouldgiveuptonight’sescapadeifIwereyou，’sheadvisedcalmly。
`Ican’t!Imuststaywithhimtonight，orIcan’tgotoVeniceatall。Ijustcan’t。’
Hildaheardherfatheroveragain，andshegaveway，outofmerediplomacy。
AndsheconsentedtodrivetoMansfield，bothofthem，todinner，tobringConniebacktothelane-endafterdark，andtofetchherfromthelane-endthenextmorning，herselfsleepinginMansfield，onlyhalfanhouraway，goodgoing。
Butshewasfurious。Shestoreditupagainsthersister，thisbalkinherplans。
Connieflunganemerald-greenshawloverherwindow-sill。