\"Sir？\"
\"The——I——er——Iamexpectinga——a——couplethisafternoon，\"begantheProphet，speakingwithconsiderablehesitation，andstillgazing，inahypnotisedmanner，atthetelegram。
\"Acouple，sir？\"
\"Exactly。Apair。\"
\"Apair，sir？Ofhorses，sir？\"
\"Horses！No——ofpeople，thatis，persons。\"
\"Apairofpersons，sir。Yes，sir。\"
\"Theyshouldarrivetowardsfiveo’clock。\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"IfIshouldnotbehomebythattimeyouwillshowthemveryquietlyintomylibrary——notthedrawing—room。Mrs。Merilliaisnotatpresentequaltoreceivingordinaryguests。\"
TheProphetmeantextraordinary，buthepreferredtoputittheotherway。
\"Yes，sir。Whatname，sir？\"
\"Mr。andMrs。——thatis，MadameSagittarius。Thatwilldo。\"
Gustavushastenedtotheservants’halltodiscussthesituation，whiletheProphetstoodre—readingthetelegramwithanexpressionofshattereddismay。NotforatleastfiveminutesdidherecoverhimselfsufficientlytorememberhisappointmentwithLadyEnid，and，whenatlengthhesetforthtoHillStreet，hewassopainfullypreoccupiedthathewalkedthreetimescompletelyroundthesquarebeforehediscoveredtheoutletintothatfashionablethoroughfare。
WhenhereachedthedarkgreenmansionofLadyEnid’sworthyfather，theMarquisofGlome，andhadappliedthebronzedemonthatservedasaknockerfourseparatetimestothedoor，hewasstillsolostinthoughtthathestartedviolentlyontheappearanceoftheScotchretainerattheportal，andbehavedforamomentasifhewereconsideringwhichoftwocoursesheshouldpursue：/i。e。/，whetherheshouldclamberfranticallyintotheseclusionofthearea，ortakeboldlytotheopenstreet。BeforehecoulddoeitherM’Allister，theretainer，hadmagnetisedhimintothehall，relievedhimofhishat——
almostwiththeseductiveadroitnessofaDruryLanethief——anddrawnhimdownatartanpassageintoaverysensible—lookingboudoir，inwhichLadyEnidwassittingbyawoodfirewithaverytallandlustyyoungman。
\"Mr。HennesseyVivian！\"
\"What，Bob——youhere！\"saidtheProphettothelustyyoungman，aftershakinghandsalittledistractedlywithLadyEnid。
\"Yes，oldchap。ButI’mjustoff。Iknowyoutwowanttohaveaconfab，\"returnedMr。RobertGreen，wringinghisoldschoolfriend’shand。\"Niddy’sgivenmethechuck。AndanyhowI’mboundtolookinattheBathClubatfourtofencewithChickyBostock。\"
Mr。Greenspokeinapowerfulbaritonevoice，rollinghisr’s，andshowinghislargeandsquarewhiteteethinaperpetualcheeryandevenboisteroussmile。Hewaswhatiscalledathoroughgoodfellow，springyinbodyandessentiallygayinsoul。Thathewasofaslightlybelatedtemperamentwillbereadilyunderstoodwhenwesaythathewasatthistimejustbeginningtowhistle，withfaircorrectness，\"Ta—ra—ra—boom—
de—ay，\"todiscussthecharacterofBeckySharp，todwellupontheremarkablepromiseasavocalistshownbyMadameAdelinaPatti，andtowonderatthemarvellousresultssaidtobeaccomplishedbythetelephone。HehadalsoneverheardofChristianScience，andwastotallyunawarethatthereexistsinthemetropolisamodestandretiringbuildingcalled\"TheImperialInstitute。\"Nevertheless，hewasrepeatedlyspokenofbysubstantialpeopleasayoungmanofmanyparts，wasaleadingspiritinYeomanrycircles，andwasgreatlyregardedbytheProphetasatrustyfriendandstalwartupholderoftheBritishEmpire。Hehadrathertheappearanceofabulwark，andsomethingofthedemeanourofaflourishingyoungoaktree。
\"Yes，Bob，you’vegottogo，\"assentedLadyEnid，examiningtheProphet’sslightlydistortedcountenancewithfrank，andeveneager，curiosity。\"Mr。VivianandIaregoingtotalkofmodernthings。\"
\"Iknow，ThackerayandPatti，andthree—volumenovels，andskirtdancing，andalltherestofit，\"saidMr。Green，withunaffectedreverence。\"Well，I’moff。Isay，Hen，popinattheBathonyourwayhomeandhaveawhiskeyandsoda。Ishalljustbeoutofthehotroomand——\"
\"I’msorry，Bob，\"saidtheProphetwithalmostterriblesolemnity，thatIcan’t，that——infact——Iamunable。\"
\"What？Goingtothedentist？\"
\"Exactly——thatis，notatall。\"
\"Well，what’sup？Someintellectualbusiness，lectureonWalterScott，orDickens，oroneoftheotherJohnniesthataresopopularjustnow？\"
\"No。Ihavea——asmallgatheringathomethisafternoon。
\"Allright。ThenI’llpoproundonyou——sayfiveo’clock。\"
\"No，Bob，no，Ican’tsaythat。I’mverysorry，butIcan’tpossiblysaythat。\"
\"Rightyouare。Toocleverforme，Is’pose。LookmeupattheTintackto—nightthen——anytimeafterten。\"
\"IfIcan，Bob，Iwill，\"repliedtheProphet，withimpressiveuncertainty，\"IsayifIcanIwilldoso。\"
\"Done！Ifyoucan’t，thenI’mnottoexpectyou。Thatit？\"
\"Thatisit——precisely。\"
\"Good—bye，Niddy，oldgirl。Keepyourpeckerup。Bytheway，ifyouwantarealgoodtuneforaCharitysing—song，arealrouser，try’NancyLee。’\"
Hewasgone，hummingvigorouslythatnew—fangledfavourite。
\"Sitdown，Mr。Vivian，\"saidLadyEnid，lookingherrightsize。\"We’vegotalottosaytooneanother。\"
\"Ihavetobehomeatfive，\"repliedtheProphet，abstractedly。
LadyEnidbegintoappearatriflethin。
\"Why？Howtiresome！Ididn’tthinkyoureallymeantit。\"
\"Itisvery，verytiresome。\"
Hespokewithmarkeduneasiness，andremainedstandingwiththeairofoneinreadinessforthepunctualcallofthehangman。
\"Whatisit？\"continuedLadyEnid，withherusualinquisitiveness。
\"Ihave，asIsaid，a——asmallgatheringathomeatthathour，\"saidtheProphet，repeatinghisformulamorosely。
\"Agathering——whatof？\"
\"People——persons，thatis。\"
\"What——aparty？\"
\"Twoparties，\"repliedtheProphet，instinctivelygivingMr。
SagittariusandMadametheirundoubteddue。\"Two。\"
\"Twopartiesatthesametime——andintheafternoon！Howveryodd！\"
\"Theywilllookveryodd，very——inBerkeleySquare，\"respondedtheProphet，inatoneofconsiderabledejection。\"Idon’tknow，I’msure，whatMr。FerdinandandGustavuswillthink。StillI’vegivenstrictordersthattheyaretobeletin。WhatelsecouldIdo？\"
HegazedatLadyEnidinademandingmanner。
\"WhatelsecouldIpossiblydounderthecircumstances？\"herepeated。
\"Sitdown，dearMr。Vivian，\"sheanswered，withherpeculiarScotchlassieseductiveness，\"andtellme，yoursincerefriend，whatthecircumstancesare。\"
Unluckilyhercuriosityhadledhertooverdopersuasion。Thatcooinginterpolationof\"yoursincerefriend\"——toostronglyhoneyed——suddenlyrecalledtheProphettothefactthatLadyEnidwasnot，andcouldneverbe，hisconfidanteinthematterthatobsessedhim。Hethereforesatdown，butwithanabruptairofindefinitesocialliveliness，andexclaimed，notunlikeMr。RobertGreen，——
\"Well，andhowarethingsgoingwithyou，dearLadyEnid？\"
Shejumpedunderthetransitionasunderawhip。
\"Me！But——thesepartiesyouweretellingmeabout？\"
ButtheProphetrememberedhisoath。Hewasastrictlyhonourablelittleman，andneversworecarelessly。
\"Parties！\"hesaid。\"YouandIaretoooldfriendstowasteourlifeinchatteringaboutsuchLondonnonsense。\"
\"Thenwe’lltalkofyesterday，\"saidLadyEnid，veryfirmly。
TheProphetlookedratherblank。
\"Yes，\"sherepeated。\"Yesterday。I’veguessedyoursecret。\"
\"Whichone？\"hecried，muchstartled。
\"Which？\"shesaidreproachfully。\"Oh，Mr。Vivian——andIthoughtyoutrustedinme。\"
TheProphetwassilent。Thethirddaughteroftheclergymanhadoftenmadethatremarktohimwhentheywerenearlyengaged。Itrecalledbygonememories。
\"That’swhatIthought，\"sheaddedwithpressure。
\"I’msorry，\"theProphetmurmured，ratherobstinately。
\"Ialwaysthink，\"shecontinued，withdeliberateexpansiveness，\"thatnearlyallthemiseriesoftheworldcomeaboutfrompeoplenottrustingin——inpeople。\"
\"Orfrompeopletrustinginthewrongpeople。Whichisit？\"saidtheProphet，notwithoutslyness。
Shebegantolookthin，butcheckedherself。
\"Tellme，\"shesaid，\"whydidyoustopmeyesterdaywhenIwasbeginningtosaytoSirTiglaththatIwassureMalkielwasamanandnotasyndicate？\"
\"DidIstopyou？\"saidtheProphet，artlessly。
\"Yes，withyoureyes。\"
\"Because——becauseIwassure——thatis，certainyoucouldn’tbesure。\"
\"Howcouldyoubecertain？\"
\"How？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Well，howisonecertainofanything？\"saidtheProphet，ratherfeebly。
\"HowareyoucertainthatI’mMissMinervaPartridge？\"
\"Becauseyoutoldmesoyourself，becauseI’veseenyoucomeintoJellybrand’sforyourletters，because——\"
\"Haven’tIseenMalkielcomeintoJellybrand’sforhis？\"
ThisunexpectedretortthrewtheProphetuponhisbeamends。Butherememberedhisoatheveninthatveryawkwardposition。
\"DoeshegotoJellybrand’s？\"heexclaimed，withawildattemptafterastonishment。\"Buthe’sacompany——SirTiglathsaidso。\"
\"Andwhatdidyoureyessayyesterday？\"
\"Ihadacoldinmyeyesyesterday，\"saidtheProphet。\"Theywereveryweak。Theywere——theywereaching。\"
LadyEnidwassilentforamoment。Duringthatmomentshewasconferringwithherfeminineinstinct。WhatitsaidtohermustbeguessedbythemannerinwhichsheoncemoreenteredintoconversationwiththeProphet。
\"Mr。Vivian，\"shesaid，withacompletechangeofdemeanourtogirlishgenialityandimpulsiveness，\"I’mgoingtoconfideinyou。I’mgoingtothrownmyselfuponyourmercy。\"
TheProphetblinkedwithamazement，likeamartyrwhosuddenlyfindshimselfsnatchedfromtherackandlaiduponaplushdivanwithasatincushionunderhishead。
\"I’mgoingtotrustyou，\"LadyEnidwenton，emphasisingthetwopronouns。
\"Manythanks，\"saidtheProphet，unoriginally。
ShewassittingonasquarepieceoffurniturewhichtheMarquisofGlomecalledan\"Aberdeenlean—to。\"Shenowspreadherselfoutuponitintheeasyattitudeofonewhoisabouttoconverseintimatelyforsomecenturies，andproceeded。
\"Idaresayyouknow，Mr。Vivian，thatpeoplealwayscallmeaverysensiblesortofgirl。\"
TheProphetrememberedhisgrandmother’sremarkaboutLadyEnid。
\"Iknowtheydo，\"heassented，tryingnottothinkoffiveo’clock。
\"Whatdotheymeanbythat，Mr。Vivian？\"
\"Ibegyourpardon？\"
\"Isaywhatdotheymeanbyasensiblesortofgirl？\"
\"Why，Isuppose——\"
\"I’mgoingtotellyou，\"sheinterruptedhim。\"Theymeanasortofgirlwholikesfreshair，washesherfacewithyellowsoap，sportsdogskingloves，drivesinanopencartinpreferencetoashutbrougham，enjoysacoldtubandWhyteMelville’snovels，laughsatghostsandcriesover’Misunderstood，’considerstheBishopofLondonadeityandtheAlbertMemorialagemofart，wouldwearaneatRoyalfringeinhergrave，andastrawhatandshirtontheJudgmentDayifshewereinthecountryforit——walkswiththeguns，sings’Home，SweetHome’intheeveningafterdinnertoherbald—headedfather，thinksthe/DailyMail/anintellectualpaper，theRoyalAcademyanupliftinginstitution，theBritishofficerademi—godwithaheartofgoldinabodyofsteel，andtheroadfromCalaistoParisthewaytoheaven。That’swhattheymeanbyasensiblesortofgirl，isn’tit？\"
\"Idaresayitis，\"saidtheProphet，endeavouringnottofeelasifheweresittingwithadozenortwoofverypractisedstumporators。
\"Yes，andthat’swhattheythinkIam。\"
\"Andaren’tyou？\"inquiredtheProphet。
LadyEniddrewherselfupontheAberdeenlean—to。
\"No，\"shesaiddecisively，\"I’mnot。I’maMissMinervaPartridge。\"
\"Well，butwhatisthat？\"askedtheProphet，withalltheairofamaninquiringaboutsomesavagerace。
\"That’sthesecret——\"
\"Oh，Ibegyourpardon！\"
\"ThatI’mgoingtotellyounow，becauseItrustyou——\"
Againthepronounswereemphasised，andtheProphetthoughthowdifficultitwouldbetokeephisoath。
\"AndbecauseIknownowthatyou’resillytoo。\"
TheProphetjumped，thoughnotforjoy。
\"I’vebeenMissMinervaPartridgefor——waitamoment，Imustlook。\"
Shegotup，wenttoawritingtable，openedadrawerinit，andtookoutalargeredbookandturneditsleaves。
\"Mydiary，\"sheexplained。\"It’sfoolishtokeepone，isn’tit？\"
HerintonationsoobviouslycalledforanaffirmativethattheProphetfeltconstrainedtoreply，——
\"Veryfoolishindeed。\"
Shesmiledwithpleasure。
\"I’msogladyouthinkso。Ah——exactlyayearandahalf。\"
\"You’vebeenMissMinervaPartridge？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Solongasthat？\"
\"Yes，indeed。Mr。Vivian，duringthattimeIhavebeenleadingadoublelife。\"
TheProphetrememberedtheotherdoublelifebesidethebordersoftheRiverMouse，andbegantowonderifhewereacquaintedwithanyhumanbeingwholedasingleone。
\"Manypeopledothat，\"heremarkedratheraimlessly。
LadyEnidlookedvexed。
\"IdidnotsayIhadamonopolyofthecommodity，\"sherejoined，evidentlywishingthatshehad。
\"Oh，no，\"saidtheProphet，makingthingsworse；\"onemeetspeoplewholivedoubleliveseveryday，Imightalmostsayeveryhour。\"
Theclockhadjuststruckfour，andhehadbeguntothinkoffive。LadyEnid’spleasantplumpnessbeganrapidlytodisappear。
\"Ican’tsayIdo，\"shesaidsharply，feelingthatmostofthegiltwasbeingstrippedoffhersin。
ShestoppedinsuchobviousdissatisfactionthattheProphet，vaguelyawarethathehadmadesomemistake，said，——
\"Pleasegoon。Iamsointerested。Whyhaveyouledadoublelifeforthelastweekandahalf？\"
\"Yearandahalf，Isaid。\"
\"Imeanyearandahalf。\"
Heforcedhismobilefeaturestoassumeafixedexpressionofgreedy，thoughrathertooconstant，curiosity。LadyEnidbrightenedup。
\"Mr。Vivian，\"shesaid，\"manygirlsarebornsensible—lookingwithoutwishingit。\"
\"Aretheyreally？Itneveroccurredtome。\"
\"Suchthingsveryseldomdooccurtomen。Nowthatplacesthesegirlsinaverypainfulposition。IwasplacedinthispositionassoonasI
wasborn，oratleastassoonasIbegantolooklikeanythingatall。
Forbabiesreallydon’t。\"
\"That’sverytrue，\"assentedtheProphet，withmorefervour。
\"Peoplecontinuallysaidtome，’Whatanicesensiblegirlyouare’；
or——’OnealwaysfeelsyourCommonsense’；or——’There’snothingfoolishaboutyou，Enid，thankHeaven！’TheChieftainrelieduponmethoroughly。Sodidthetenants。Sodideverybody。Youcanunderstandthatitbecameverytrying？\"
\"Ofcourse，ofcourse。\"
\"It’ssomethingtodowiththeshapeofmyeyebrows，thecolourofmyhair，thewayIsmileandthatsortofthing。\"
\"Nodoubtitis。\"
\"Mr。Vivian，I’lltellyounow，thatI’veneverfeltsensibleinallmylife。\"
\"Really！\"ejaculatedtheProphet，stillfirmlyholdingallhisfeaturestogetherinanunyieldingexpressionoffixedcuriosity。
\"Neveronce，howevergreattheprovocation。Andinmyfamily，withtheChieftain，theprovocationyoucanunderstandisexceptionallygreat。\"
TheMarquisofGlome，whowastheheadofaclancalled\"TheMacArdells，\"wasalwaysnamedtheChieftainbyhisrelationsandfriends。
\"Ifeltsureitmustbe，\"saidtheProphet，decisively。
\"Neverthelessitissoextremelydifficult，ifnotimpossible，nottotrytobewhatpeopletakeyouforthatIwasinaperpetualconditionofactingsensibly，againstmytruenature。\"
\"Howverytrying！\"murmuredtheProphet，mechanically。
\"Itwas，Mr。Vivian。Itoftenmademefellquiteill。NobodybutyouknowshowIhavesuffered。\"
\"AndwhydoIknow？\"inquiredtheProphet。
\"BecauseIrealisedyesterdaythatyoumustbealmostassillybynatureasIam。\"
\"Yesterday——why？When？\"
\"WhenyousaidtoSirTiglaththatyoucouldprophesy。\"
TheProphetstiffened。Shelaughedalmostaffectionately。
\"Soabsurd！ButIwasvexedwhenyousaidyou’dgiveitup。Youmustn’tdothat，oryou’llbeflyinginthefaceofyourownfolly。\"
ShedrewtheAberdeenlean—to，whichraneasilyonEdinburghcastors，alittlenearertohim，andcontinued。
\"AtleastIfeltobligedtoseekanoutlet。Icouldnotstiflemyrealselfforever，andyetIcouldnotbecomfortablysillywiththosewhowereabsolutelyconvincedofmypermanentgoodsense。Itriedtobeseveraltimes。
\"Didn’tyousucceed？\"
\"Notonce。\"
\"Tch！Tch！\"
\"SoatlastIwasdriventothedoublelife。\"
\"Thenyourcoachmanknows？\"
\"MacSpillan！No！Itookacab——afour—wheeler——atthecorneroftheSquare，andthenameofMinervaPartridge。It’sasillyname，isn’tit？\"
Sheaskedthequestionwithearnestanxiety。
\"Quiteidiotic，\"saidtheProphet，reassuringly。
\"Ifeltquitesureitwas，\"shecried，obviouslycomforted。\"Becauseitcametomesoinevitably。Iwassoperfectlynatural——andalone——whenI
inventedit。Noonehelpedme。\"
\"Iassureyou，\"reiteratedtheProphet，\"thereisnodoubtthenameisabsolutelyandentirelyidiotic。\"
\"Thankyou，dearMr。Vivian！Whatapleasureitistotalktoyou！
UnderthisnameIhave，forayearandahalf，ledanidioticlife，suchalifeasreallysuitsme，suchalifeasisincompleteaccordwithmytruenature。Oh，thejoyofit！Thesenseoffreedom！IfonlyallothersillygirlswholooksensiblelikemehadthecouragetodowhatIhavedone！\"
\"Itisapity！\"saidtheProphet，inassent，beginningtobegenuinelymovedbytheobvioussincerityofthishumanbeing’sbenttowardsfolly。\"Butwhathaveyoudoneduringthisyearandahalfoftruthandfreedom？\"
\"Morefoolishthingsthanmanycrowdintoalifetime，\"shecriedecstatically。\"Itwouldtakemedaystotellyouofhalfofthem！\"
\"Oh，thenyoumustn’t，\"saidtheProphet，glancingfurtivelyattheclock。\"Hadyoucomeouttobesillyyesterdayafternoon？\"
\"Yes，Ihad——tobesilliereventhanusual。Andifithadn’tbeenforSirTiglathcatchingsightofmeintheavenue，andthen——Mr。
Sagittariusandyoubeingintheparlour——\"
Shestopped。
\"Bytheway，\"shesaid，inherusualtoneofbreezycommonsense，\"wereyoulivingadoublelifeintheparlour？\"
\"I！\"saidtheProphet。\"Oh，no，notatall。Ineverdoanythingofthatkind。\"
\"Sure？\"
\"Quitecertain。\"
\"You’renotgoingto？\"
\"Certainlynot。Nothingwouldinduceme。\"
Shelookedathim，asifunconvinced，raisingherdark，sensibleeyebrows。
\"AllJellybrand’sclientsdo，\"shesaid。\"AndI’mcertainMr。
Sagittarius——\"
\"Iassureyou，\"saidtheProphet，withtheheavyearnestnessofabsoluteinsincerity，\"Mr。SagittariusisthemostsinglelivedmanI
evermet，theverymost。ButwhydidSirTiglath，thatis，whydidyou——？\"
\"Trytoavoidhim？Well——\"
Forthefirsttimeshehesitated，andbegantolookslightlyconfused。
\"Well，\"sherepeated，\"SirTiglathisaverystrange，peculiaroldman。\"
TheProphetthoughtthatiftheyounglibrarianhadbeenpresenthewouldhaveeliminatedthesecondadjective。
\"Peculiar！Yes，heis。Hisappearance，hismanner——\"
\"Oh，Idon’tmeanthat。\"
\"No？\"
\"No。Lotsofelderlymenhavepurplefaces，turnedlegsandroaringvoices。Youmustknowthat。SirTiglathispeculiarinthisway——heisquiteelderlyandyethe’snotintheleastlittlebitsilly。\"
\"Oh！\"
\"He’sathoroughlysensibleoldman，theonlyoneIevermet。\"
\"Yourfather？\"
\"TheChieftaincanbeveryfoolishattimes。That’swhyhe’salwaysreliedsoonme。\"
Shegavethisprooftriumphantly。TheProphetfeltboundtoacceptit。
\"SirTiglathisreally，asanoldman，whateverybodythinksIam，asayoungwoman。D’yousee？\"
\"Youmean？\"
\"Theoppositeofme。Andinthiswaytoo。WhileIhidemysillinessundermyeyebrows，andhair，andsmile，andmanner，hehideshissensiblenessunderhis。Whenpeoplemeetmetheyalwaysthink——whatacommon—senseyoungwoman！Whentheymeethimtheyalwaysthink——whatapreposterousoldman！\"
\"Well，butthen，\"criedtheProphet，struckbyasuddenidea，\"ifthatisso，howcanyouliveadoublelifeasMissMinervaPartridge？Youcan’tchangeyoureyebrowswithyourname！\"
\"Ah，youdon’tknowwomen！\"shemurmured。\"No，butyouseeIbeginatonce。\"
\"Begin？\"
\"Beingsilly。AllthepeoplewhoknowmeasMissPartridgeknowI’manabsurdpersoninspiteofmylooks。I’veprovedittothembymyactions。I’vebegunatoncebeforetheycouldhavetimetojudgebymyappearance。I’vetoldtheminstantlythatI’maChristianScientist，andabelieverinthevalueoftight—lacingandinghosts，ananti—
vaccinator，aFabian，amemberof’TheMasculineClub，’a’spirit，’afriendofMahatmas，anintimateofthe’RationalDress’set——youknow，whowearthingslikehalfinflatedballoonsinPiccadilly——avegetarian，afollowerofMrs。Besant，adrinkerofhopbittersandZozophine，aJacobite，ahateroffalsehairandofallcollectiveactiontostampouthydrophobia，astamp—collector，anengageroflady—
helpsinsteadofservants，anamateurreciterandskirtdancer，anownerofalockofPaderewski’shair——tornfreshfromtheheadpersonallyataconcert——anadmirerofGeorgeBernardShawasathinkerbutahaterofhimasahumourist，arationalistandreaderof/Punch/，anatheistandtable—turner，afriendofallwhothinkthatwomendon’tdesiretobeslaves，ahomoeopathistandSandowite，anenemyofbabies——asifallwomendidn抰worshipthem！——aloverofcats——asifallwomendidn’thateoneanother！——a——\"
\"One——onemoment！\"gaspedtheProphetatthisjuncture。\"Manyoftheseviewsaresurelyinopposition，indirectoppositiontoeachother。\"
\"Idaresay。Thatdoesn’tmatterintheleasttoarealsillywomansuchasIam。\"
\"Andthenyousaidthatyouprovedbyyouractionsinstantlythat——\"
\"SoIdid。Icaughtupahappydoginthestreet，criedoveritsagony，unmuzzleditandallowedittoadditslittlecontributiontothejoyoflifebymanglingapassingarchdeacon。Isatonthefloorandhandledsnakes。Iworemyhairpartedononesideandsmokedacigaretteinachiffongown。IrefusedfoodinapublicrestaurantbecauseithadbeencookedbyaFrenchman。I——\"
\"Enough！Enough！\"criedtheProphet。\"Iunderstand。YouforcedMissPartridge’sacquaintancestobelieveinMissPartridge’sfolly。Butwhoweretheseacquaintances？\"
\"Itwouldtakemehourstotellyou。Firsttherewas——\"
\"Ireallyhavetogoatfive。\"
\"ThenI’llfinishaboutSirTiglath。He’sanutterlysensibleoldman，andsoisdifferentfromallotheroldmen，foryouknowhumanfollyincreasesenormouslywithage。Isn’tthatlovely？Now，Mr。Vivian，SirTiglathadmiresme。\"