第11章

"Don’tlooklikeIwasmuchatthisgame，doesit？"saidhe。"I

wouldn’tpulldownmanypersimmonsoutofthattree。Yourconfoundedman’stoolively；Icouldn’thithimwithashotgun。"

Ordehadstoodlikearock，hisfeetplantedtothefloor，whileMurphyhadcircledaroundhimhittingatwill。Ordehitback，butwithoutlanding。NeverthelessMurphy，whenquestionedapart，didnotseemsatisfied。

"Theman’spig—iron，"saidhe。"Ipunchedhimplentyhardenough，anditdidn’tseemtojarhdyougetyourtraining，sir？"askedthehandler。

"Mytraining？"repeatedOrde，puzzled。"Oh，Isee！Iwasalwaysprettyheavy，andIsupposetheworkontheriverkeepsamaninprettygoodshape。"

Gerald’slanguorhadvanished，andaglinthadappearedinhiseyethatwouldhaveremindedOrdeofMissBishop’smostmischievousmoodcouldhehaveseenit。

"PutonthegloveswithMurphy，"hesuggested，"willyou？I’dliketoseeyoutwoatit。"

"Surely，"agreedOrdegood—naturedly。"I’mnotmuchgoodatit，butI’djustassoontry。"Hewasevidentlynotintheleastafraidtomeetthehandler，thoughasevidentlywithoutmuchconfidenceinhisownskill。

"Allright；I’llbewithyouinasecond，"saidGerald，disappearing。Intheanteroomherungabell，andtotheboywholeisurelyanswereditssummonshesaidrapidly：

"RunovertotheclubandfindMr。Winslow，Mr。Clark，andwhoeverelseisinthesmokingroom，andtellthemfrommetoconeovertothegymnasium。Tellthemthere’ssomefunon。"

Thenhereturnedtothegymnasiumfloor，whereMurphywasansweringOrde’squestionsastotheapparatus。Whilethetwomenwerepullingonthegloves，Geraldmanagedawordapartwiththetrainer。

"Canyoudohim，Murph？"hewhispered。

"Sure！"saidthehandler。"Themkind’salwaysasslowasdray—

horses。Theygetsmuscle—bound。"

"Giveittohim，"saidGerald，"butdon’tkilim。"

Thegalleryatoneendtherunningtrackhadbyflowhalffilledwithinterestedspectators。

"Time！"calledGeraldforroundtwo。

ThistimeMurphywentinmoreviciously，aimingandmeasuringhisblowsaccurately。Ordestoodasbefore，ahumouroussmileofself—

depreciationonhisface，hittingbackattheelusiveMurphy，butwithoutmucheffect，hisfeetneverstirringintheirtracks。Thehandlerusedhisbesttacticsandlandedalmostatwill，butwithoutapparentdamage。Hegrewugly——finallylosthishead。

"Well，ifyewillhaveit！"hemuttered，andaimedwhatwasintendedasaknockoutblow。

GeraldutteredahalfcryofwarningashispractisedeyecaughtMurphy’sintention。Theblowlanded。Orde’sheadsnappedback，buttothesurpriseofeveryonethepunchhadnoothereffect，andaquickexchangeofinfightingsentMurphystaggeringbackfromtheencounter。ThesmilehaddisappearedfromOrde’sface，andhiseyehadcalmed。

"Lookhere，"hecalledtoGerald，"Idon’tunderstandthisgameverywell。Atschoolweused’taps。’Isamansupposedtohithard？"

Geraldhesitated，thenlookedbeyondOrdetothegallery。Toamanitmadefranticandsilentdemonstration。

"Ofcourseyouhit，"hereplied。"Youcan’thurtanyonewiththosebiggloves。"

Ordeturnedbacktohisantagonist。Thelatteradvancedoncemore，hisbulletheadsunkbetweenhisshoulders，hislittleeyestwinkling。EvidentlyMr。Bishop’sfriendwouldnowtaketheaggressive，andforwardmovementwoulddeliveranextraforcetotheprofessional’sblows。

OrdedidnotwaitforMurphy，however。Likeatigerhesprangforward，hittingoutfiercely，firstwithonehandthenwiththeother。Murphygaveground，blocked，ducked，exertedallaringgeneral’sskilleithertostoporavoidtherush。Ordefollowedhiminsistent。Severaltimeshelanded，butalwayswhenMurphywasontheretreat，sotheblowshadnotmuchweight。SeveraltimesMurphyduckedinandplantedanumberofshort—armjabsatcloserange。

Theroundendedalmostimmediatelytoastormofapplausefromthegalleries。

"Whatdoyouthinkofhisbeingmuscle—bound？"GeraldaskedMurphy，asthelatterflunghimselfpantingonthewrestlingmatforhisrest。

"He’squickaschainedlightning，"acknowledgedtheothergrudgingly。"ButI’llgethim。Hecan’tkeepthatup；he’llbewindedinhalfaminute。"

Ordesatdownonarollofmat。Hissmilehadquitevanished，andheseemedtobeawaitingeagerlythebeginningofthenextround。

"Time！"calledGeraldforthethird。

Ordeimmediatelysprangathisadversary，repeatingtheheadlongrushwithwhichthepreviousroundhadended。Murphyblocked，ducked，andkeptaway，occasionallydeliveringajoltasopportunityoffered，awaitingthetimewhenOrde’swearinesswouldleavehimattheother’smercy。Thatmomentdidnotcome。Theyoungmanhammeredawaytirelessly，insistently，deliveringahurricaneofhistwo—handedblows，pressingrelentlesslyinasMurphyshiftedandgaveground，hisheadup，hiseyessteady，oblivioustothereturnhammeringthenowdesperatehandleropposedtohim。Twominutespassedwithoutperceptibleslackeninginthisterrificpace。Thegallerywasinanuproar，andsomeofthememberswerepilingdownthestairstothefloor。PerspirationstoodoutalloverMurphy’sbody。Hisblowsfailedoftheireffect，andsomeofOrde’swerelanding。Atlength，bewilderedmorebythecontinuancethantheviolenceoftheattack，hedroppedhisringtacticsandclosedintostraightslugging，blowagainstblow，standup，giveandtake。

Ashesawhisopponentstand，Ordeutteredasoundofsatisfaction。

Hedroppedslightlyhisrightshoulderbehindhisnextblow。Theglovecrashedstraightasapile—driverthroughMurphy’supraisedhandstohisface，whichitmetwithasmack。Thetrainer，liftedbodilyfromtheground，washurledthroughtheair，tolanddoubledupagainstthesupportsofaparallelbars。Therehelayquitestill，hispalmsup，hisheadsunkforward。

Ordestaredathimamomentinastonishment，asthoughexpectinghimtoarise。When，however，heperceivedthatMurphywasinrealityunconscious，hetoreofftheglovesandranforwardtokneelbytheprofessional’sside。

"Ididn’tsupposeonepunchlikethatwouldhurthim，"hemutteredtothemencrowdingaround。"Especiallywiththegloves。Doyousupposehe’skilled？"

ButalreadyMurphy’sarmsweremakingaimlessmotions，andadeepbreathraisedhischest。

"He’sjustknockedout，"reassuredoneofthemen，examiningtheprostratehandlerwithaprofessionalattention。"He’llbeasgoodaseverinfiveminutes。Here，"hecommandedoneofthegymnasiumrubberswhohadappeared，"lendahandherewithsomewater。"

Theclubmencrowdedabout，alltalkingatonce。

"You’reawonder，myfriend，"saidone。

"ByJove，he’shardlybreathingfastafterallthatrushing，"saidasecond。

"Soyoudidn’tthinkonepunchlikethatwouldhurthim，"quotedanotherwithgood—naturedsarcasm。

"No，"saidOrde，simply。"I’vehitmenthathardbeforewithmybarefist。"

"Didtheysurvive？"

"Surely。"

"Whatkindofarmour—plateswerethey，inheaven’sname？"

Ordehadrecoveredhisbalanceandhumour。

"Justplainordinaryrivermen，"saidhewithalaugh。

"Gentlemen，"struckinGerald，"Iwanttointroduceyoutomyfriend。"Heperformedtheintroductions。ItwasnecessaryforhimtoexplainapartthatOrdewasinrealityhisfriend，anamateur，achancevisitorinthecity。Allinall，theaffairmadequitealittlestir，andwentfartogiveOrdeastandingwiththesesport—

lovingyouths。

FinallyGeraldandOrdewerepermittedtofinishtheirgymnasiumpractice。Murphyhadrecovered，andcameforward。

"Youhaveastrongpunch，sir，andyou’reabornnaturalfighter，sir，"saidhe。"Ifyouhadafewlessonsinboxing，sir，I’dputyouagainstthebest。"

Butlater，whentheyoungmenwereresting，eachunderhissheetafterarub—down，thetruesignificanceoftheaffairforOrdecameout。Sincethefight，Gerald’scustomarylassitudeofmannerseemedquitetohavelefthim。Hiseyewasbright，acolourmountedbeneaththepaleoliveofhisskin，thealmosteffeminatebeautyofhiscountenancehadanimated。HelookedacrossatOrdeseveraltimes，hesitated，andatlastdecidedtospeak。

"Lookhere，Orde，"saidhe，"Iwanttoconfesssomethingtoyou。

Whenyoufirstcameherethreedaysago，Ihadlotsoffunwithmyselfaboutyou。Youknowyourclothesaren’tquitethething，andIthoughtyourmannerwasqueer，andallthat。Iwasacad。Iwanttoapologise。You’reaman，andIlikeyoubetterthananyfellowI’vemetforalongtime。Andifthere’sanytrouble——inthefuture——thatis——oh，hangit，I’monyourside——youknowwhatI

mean！"

Ordesmiledslowly。

"Bishop，"washisunexpectedreply，"you’renotnearsomuchofadandyasyouthinkyouare。"

XVIII

Affairswentthusforaweek。OrdewasmuchattheBishopresidence，wherehewascordiallyreceivedbythegeneral，wherehegainedanoccasionalhalf—hourwithCarroll，andwherehewasalmostignoredbyMrs。Bishopinhercompleteself—absorption。Indeed，itistobedoubtedwhetherheattainedanyrealindividualitytothatlady，wholookedonalltheworldoutsideherfamilyasusefuloruselesstothechurch。

InthecourseofthehappymomentshehadalonewithCarroll，hearrivedatamoreintimateplaneofconversationwithher。HecametoanunderstandingofherunquestioningacceptanceofMrs。Bishop’sattitude。Carrolltrulybelievedthatnonebutherselfcouldperformforhermotherthevariouspettyofficesthatladydemandedfromhernextofkin，andthatherpracticalslaverywasduebyeveryconsiderationoffilialaffection。ToOrde’soccasionaltentativesuggestionthattheservicewasofasortbettersuitedtoapaidcompanionorevenahousemaid，sheansweredquiteseriouslythatitmademothernervoustohaveothersabouther，andthatitwasbettertodothesethingsthantothrowherintoa"spell。"

Ordechafedatfirstoverseeinghispreciousopportunitiesthusfilchedfromhim；laterhefrettedbecauseheperceivedthatCarrollwasforced，howeverwillingly，tolaboursbeyondherstrength，toirksomeconfinement，andtothatintimateandwearingcloseassociationwiththeabnormalwhichinthelongrunisboundtodeadenthespirit。Helostsightofhisowngrievanceinthematter。Withperhapssomewhatofexaggerationhecamemightilytodesireforhermoreoftheopenair，bothofbodyandspirit。Oftenwhentrampingbacktohishotelhecommunedsavagelywithhimself，turningtheproblemoverandoverinhisminduntil，likeasnowball，ithadgatheredtoitselfcolossalproportions。

Andinhishotelroomhebroodedoverthestateofaffairsuntilhisthoughtstookaverygloomytingeindeed。Tobeginwith，inspiteofhismother’sassurance，hehadnofaithinhisowncause。HisacquaintancewithCarrollwasbutanaffairofmonths，andtheiractualmeetingscomprisedincrediblyfewdays。Ordewasnaturallyhumble—minded。Itdidnotseemconceivabletohimthathecouldwinherwithoutalongcourtship。AndsuperaddedwasthealmostintolerableweightofCarroll’sideasastoherdomesticduties。

AlthoughOrdeheldMrs。Bishop’sexactionsinveryslightesteem，andwasmostscepticalinregardtothedisastersthatwouldfollowtheirthwarting，neverthelesshehadtoconfesstohimselfthatallCarroll’straining，life，theverypurityandsweetnessofherdispositionlentthesituationanironrealityforher。Hebecamemuchdiscouraged。

Nevertheless，attheverymomentwhenhehadmadeuphismindthatitwouldbeutterlyuselesseventoindulgeinhopeforsomeyearstocome，hespoke。Itcameaboutsuddenly，andentirelywithoutpremeditation。

Thetwohadescapedforabreathofairlateintheevening。

Followingtheconventions，theymerelystrolledtotheendoftheblockandback，alwayswithinsightofthehouse。FifthAvenuewasgaywithilluminationandtheprancingofhorsesreturninguptownordowntotheWashingtonSquaredistrict。Incontrastthesidestreet，withitsaustererowsofbrownstonehouses，eachwithitsareaandflightofsteps，itsspacedgaslamps，itsdesertedroadway，seemedverystillandquiet。Carrollwasinatiredandpensivemood。Sheheldherheadback，breathingdeeply。

It’sonlyalittlestrip，butit’sthestars，"saidshe，lookinguptotheskybetweenthehouses。"They’resoquietandcalmandbig。"

SheseemedtoOrdeforthefirsttimelikealittlegirl。Thematurercomplexitieswhichweputonwithyears，withexperience，andwiththeknowledgeoflifehadforthemomentfallenfromher，leavingmerelythesimplesoulofchildhoodgazinginitseternalwonderatthestars。AwaveoftendernessliftedOrdefromhisfeet。Heleanedover，hisbreathcomingquickly。

"Carroll！"hesaid。

Shelookedupathim，andshrankback。

"No，no！Youmustn’t，"shecried。Shedidnotpretendtomisunderstand。Thepreliminariesseemedinsomemysteriousfashiontohavebeensaidlongago。

"It’slifeordeathwithme，"hesaid。

"Imustnot，"shecried，flutteringlikeabird。"IpromisedmyselflongagothatImustalways，ALWAYStakecareofmother。"

"Please，please，dear，"pleadedOrde。Hehadnothingmoretosaythanthis，justthesimpleincoherentsymbolsofpleading；butinsuchcrisesitisratherthesoulthanthetonguethatspeaks。Hishandmethersandclosedaboutit。Itdidnotrespondtohisgrasp，nordiditdrawaway，butlaylimpandwarmandhelplessinhisown。

Sheshookherheadslowly。

"Don’tyoucareforme，dear？"askedOrdeverygently。

"Ihavenorighttotellyouthat，"answeredshe。"Ihavetried，oh，sohard，tokeepyoufromsayingthis，forIknewIhadnorighttohearyou。"

Orde’sheartleapedwithawildexultation。

"Youdocareforme！"hecried。

Theyhadmountedthestepsandstoodjustwithinthevestibule。

Ordedrewhertowardhim，butsherepulsedhimgently。

"No，"sheshookherhead。"Pleasebeverygoodtome。I’mveryweak。"

"Carroll！"criedOrde。"Tellmethatyouloveme！Tellmethatyou’llmarryme！"

"ItwouldkillmotherifIshouldleaveher，"shesaidsadly。

"Butyoumustmarryme，pleadedOrde。"Wearemadeforeachother。

Godmeantusforeachother。"

"Itwouldhavetobeafteragreatmanyyears，"shesaiddoubtfully。

Shepulledthebell，whichjangledfaintlyinthedepthsofthehouse。

"Good—night，"shesaid。"Cometometo—morrow。No，youmustnotcomein。"ShecutshortOrde’sinsistenceandtheeloquencethathadjustfounditslifebyslippinginsidethehalf—opendoorandclosingitafterher。

Ordestoodforamomentuncertain；thenturnedawayandwalkedupthestreet，hiseyessoblindedbythegreaterglorythatheallbutrandownaninoffensivepasser—by。

Atthehotelhewrotealonglettertohismother。Thefirstpartwasfulloftheexultationofhisdiscovery。Hetoldofhisgoodfortunequiteassomethingjustborn，utterlyforgettinghismother’spredictionsbeforehecameEast。Thenasthefirsteffervescencedied，amoregloomyviewofthesituationcameuppermost。Tohisheatedimaginationthedeadlockseemedcomplete。

Carroll’sdevotiontowhatsheconsideredherdutyappearedunbreakable。InthereactionOrdedoubtedwhetherhewouldhaveitotherwise。Andthenhisfightingbloodsurgedbacktohisheart。

Alltheeloquence，thearguments，thepleadingsheshouldhavecommandedearlierintheeveninghurriedbelatedtotheirposts。

Afterthemanneroftheyoungandimaginativewheninthewhitefireofemotion，hebegandramatisingscenesbetweenCarrollandhimself。

Hesawthemplainly。Heheardthesoundofhisownvoiceasherehearsedtheargumentswhichshouldbreakherresolution。A

woman’sdutytoherownsoul；herobligationtowardthemanshecouldmakeormarbyherlove；herself—respect；thenecessityofabreaksometime；theadvantageofhavingthecrisisoverwithnowratherthanlater；abeliefintheultimategoodeventoMrs。Bishopofthrowingthatladymoreonherownresources；andsoforthandsoondownalistofargumentsobviousenoughortrivialenough，butallinspiredbythesouloffervour，allennobledbythespiritoftruththatliesbackofthemajorpremisethatawomanshouldcleavetoaman，forsakingallothers。Ordesatbackinhischair，hiseyesvacant，hispenallbutfallingfromhishand。Hedidnotfinishthelettertohismother。Afterawhilehewentupstairstohisownroom。

Thefeveroftheargumentcoursedthroughhisveinsallthatlongnight。Overandoveragainherehearseditinwearisomerepetitionuntilithadassumedacertainandalmostinvariableform。Andwhenhehadreachedtheendofhispleadinghebeganitoveragain，untilthedaylightfoundhimwearyandfevered。Hearoseanddressedhimself。Hecouldeatnobreakfast。ByatremendouseffortofthewillherestrainedhimselffromgoingovertoNinthStreetuntilthemiddleofthemorning。

Heenteredthedrawing—roomtofindherseatedatthepiano。Hisheartbounded，andforaninstanthestoodstill，summoninghisforcestothestruggleforwhichhehadsopainfullygatheredhisammunition。Shedidnotlookupasheapproacheduntilhestoodalmostathershoulder。Thensheturnedtohimandheldoutbothherhands。

"Itisnouse，Jack，"shesaid。"Icareforyoutoomuch。Iwillmarryyouwheneveryousay。"

XIX

Ordeleftthateveningearly。ThiswasatCarroll’srequest。Shepreferredherselftoinformherfamilyofthenews。

"Idon’tknowyethowmotherisgoingtogetalong，"saidshe。

"Comebackto—morrowafternoonandseethemall。"

ThenextmorningOrde，havingatlastfinishedanddespatchedthelettertohismother，drifteduptheavenueandintotheclub。AshepassedthesmokingroomhecaughtsightofGeraldseatedinanarmchairbythewindow。Heenteredtheroomandtookaseatoppositetheyoungfellow。

Geraldheldouthishandsilently，whichtheothertook。

"I’mgladtohearit，"saidGeraldatlast。"Veryglad。ItoldyouIwasonyourside。"Hehesitated，thenwentongravely："PoorCarrollishavingahardtime，though。Ithinkit’sworsethansheexpected。It’snoworsethanIexpected。Youaretobeoneofthefamily，soIamgoingtogiveyouapieceofadvice。It’ssomething，naturally，Iwouldn’tspeakofotherwise。ButCarrollismyonlysister，andIwanthertobehappy。Ithinkyouarethemantomakeherso，butIwantyoutoavoidonemistake。Fightitoutrightnow，andnevergivebackthegroundyouwin。"

"Ifeelthat，"repliedOrdequietly。

"Mothermadefatherresignfromthearmy；andwhilehe’sadearoldboy，he’sneverdoneanythingsince。Sheholdsme——althoughIseethroughher——possiblybecauseI’mweakorindifferent，possiblybecauseIhaveasillyideaIcanmakeabadsituationbetterbyhangingaround。SheisrapidlyturningKendrickintoasullenlittleprig，becausehebelievesimplicitlyallthegrievancesagainsttheworldandtheindividualshepoursouttohim。Yousee，Ihavenoillusionsconcerningmyfamily。OnlyCarrollhasheldtoherfreedomofsoul，becausethat’sthejoyous，free，sweetnatureofher，blessher！Forthefirsttimeshe’spittedherwillagainstmother’s，andit’sabadclash。"

"Yourmotherobjected？"askedOrde。

Geraldlaughedalittlebitterly。"Itwasverybad，"saidhe。

"You’vegrownhorns，hoofs，andatailovernight。There’snothingtoocriminaltohaveescapedyournotice。Ihavebeenforbiddentoconsortwithyou。Sohasthegeneral。Thebattleoflastnighthadtodowithyourcomingtothehouseatall。AsitisnotCarroll’shouse，naturallyshehasnorighttoinsist。"

"Ishallnotbepermittedtoseeher？"criedOrde。

"Ididnotsaythat。Carrollannouncedthenquiteopenlythatshewouldseeyououtside。Ifancythatwasthecruxofthematter。

Don’tyousee？Thewholeaffairshiftedground。Carrollhasoffereddirectdisobedience。Oh，she’sabullylittlefighter！"hefinishedinadmiringaccents。"Youcan’tquiterealisewhatshe’sdoingforyoursake；she’snotonlyfightingmother，butherownheart。"

Ordefoundanoteatthehotel，askinghimtobeinWashingtonSquareathalf—pasttwo。

Carrollmethimwithabrightsmile。

"Thingsaren’tquiterightathome，"shesaid。"Itisagreatshocktopoormotheratfirst，andshefeelsverystrongly。Oh，itisn’tyou，dear；it’sthenotionthatIcancareforanybodybuther。Yousee，she’sbeenusedtotheotherideasolongthatIsupposeitseemedapartoftheuniversetoher。She’llgetusedtoitafteralittle，butittakestime。"

Ordeexaminedherfaceanxiously。Twobrightredspotsburnedonhercheeks；hereyesflashedwithanervousanimation，andafaintshadehadsketcheditselfbeneaththem。

"Youhadahardtime，"hemurmured，"youpoordear！"

Shesmiledupathim。

"Wehavetopayforthegoodthingsinlife，don’twe，dear？Andtheyareworthit。Thingswillcomerightafteralittle。Wemustnotbetooimpatient。Now，let’senjoytheday。Theparkisn’tsobad，isit？"

Atfiveo’clockOrdetookherbacktoherdoorstep，wherehelefther。

Thiswentonforseveraldays。

AttheendofthattimeOrdecouldnotconcealfromhimselfthatthestrainwasbeginningtotell。Carroll’sworriedexpressiongrewfromdaytoday，whiletheanimationthatcharacterisedhermannerwhenfreedfromtherestraintbecamemoreandmoreforced。Shewasasthoughdominatedbysomeinnertensity，whichshedarednotrelaxevenforamoment。ToOrde’squestioningssherepliedasevasivelyasshecould，assuringhimalwaysthatmattersweregoingaswellasshehadexpected；thatmotherwasverydifficult；thatOrdemusthavepatience，forthingswouldsurelycomeallright。Shebeggedhimtoremainquiescentuntilshegavehimtheword；andsheimploreditsoearnestlythatOrde，thoughhechafed，wasforcedtoawaittheturnofevents。Everyafternoonshemethim，fromtwotofive。Thesituationgavelittleopportunityforlovers’

demonstrations。Sheseemedentirelyabsorbedbytheinnerstressofthestruggleshewasgoingthrough，sothathardlydidsheseemabletofollowcoherentlyevenplansforthefuture。Sheappeared，however，togainamysteriousrefreshmentfromOrde’smereproximity；sograduallyhe，withthatstreakofalmostfeminineintuitionwhichistheespecialgifttolovers，cametothepointofsittingquitesilentwithher，claspingherhandoutofsightofthechancepasser—by。Whenthetimecametoreturn，theyaroseandwalkedbacktoNinthStreet，stillinsilence。Atthedoortheysaidgood—bye。Hekissedherquitesoberly。

"IwishIcouldhelp，sweetheart，"saidhe。

Sheshookherheadathim。

"Youdohelp，"shereplied。

FromGeraldattheclub，Ordesoughtmoreintimatenewsofwhatwasgoingon。Forseveraldays，however，theyoungmanabsentedhimselffromhisusualhaunts。ItwasonlyattheendoftheweekthatOrdesucceededinfindinghim。

"No，"Geraldansweredhisgreeting，"Ihaven’tbeenaroundmuch。

I’vebeenstickingprettyclosehome。"

Littlebylittle，Orde’seagerquestionsdrewoutthetruthofthesituation。Mrs。Bishophadshutherselfupinablindandincredibleobstinacy，whenceshesalliedwithfloodsofcomplaints，tears，accusations，despairs，reproaches，vows，hysterics——allthebatteryofthewomanmisunderstood，butinwhichsherefusedtolistentoaconsecutiveconversation。IfCarrollundertooktosayanything，thethirdwordwouldstarthermotheroffintooneofherlongandhystericaltirades。Itwasverywearing，andthereseemedtobenothinggainedfromdaytoday。Herchildhaddisobeyedher。

Andasaclimax，shehadassumedtheimpregnablepositionofacompleteprostration，whereinshedemandedtheminutecareofaninvalidinthecrisisofadisorder。Shecouldbearnofaintestrayofillumination，nolightestfootfall。Inahushedtwilightshelay，hereyesswathed，moaningfeeblythatherearlydissolutionatthehandsofingratitudewasimminent。Thussheestablishedadeadlockwhichwaslikelytocontinueindefinitely。ThemerementionofthesubjectnearestCarroll’sheartbroughtthefeeblecomplaint：

"Doyouwanttokillme？"

TheonlyscrapofvictorytobesnatchedfromthisstrickenfieldwasthefactthatCarrollinsistedongoingtomeetherlovereveryafternoon。Theinvaliddemandedeverymomentofhertime，eitherforpersonalattendanceorinfulfilmentofnumerousandexactingchurchduties。Anattempt，however，toencroachthusontheafternoonhoursmetastonewallofresolutiononCarroll’spart。

ThiswasthesituationOrdegatheredfromhistalkwithGerald。

Thoughhefrettedunderthetyrannyexacted，hecouldseenothingwhichcouldrelievethesituationsavehisownwithdrawal。Hehadalreadylongover—stayedhisvisit；importantaffairsconnectedwithhisworkdemandedhisattention，hehadthecomfortofCarroll’sloveassured；andthelapseoftimealonecouldbedependedontochangeMrs。Bishop’sattitude，aconsummationonwhichCarrollseemedset。AlthoughOrdefeltallthelivelydissatisfactionnaturaltoanewlyacceptedloverwhohadgainedslightopportunityforfavours，forconfidences，evenforthemakingofplans，neverthelesshecouldseeforthepresentnothingelsetodo。

ThemorningafterhehadreachedthisconclusionheagainmetGeraldatthegymnasium。Thatyoungman，whileasimperturbableandlanguidinmovementasever，concealedanexcitement。Heexplainednothinguntilthetwo，afterashowerandrub—down，wereclothingthemselvesleisurelyintheemptycouch—room。

"Orde，"saidGeraldsuddenly，"I’mworriedaboutCarroll。"

OrdestraightenedhisbackandlookedsteadilyatGerald，butsaidnothing。

"Motherhascommencedbotheringheragain。Itwasn’tsobadaslongasshestucktodaytime，butnowshe’stakentoprowlinginadozentimesanight。Iheartheirvoicesforanhourorsoatatime。

I’mafraidit’sbeginningtowearonCarrollmorethanyourealise。"

"Thankyou，"saidOrdebriefly。

ThatafternoonwithCarrollhetooktheaffairfirmlyinhand。

"Thisthinghascometothepointwhereitmuststop，"saidhe，"andI’mgoingtostopit。IhavesomerightsinthematterofthehealthandcomfortofthegirlIlove。"

"Whatdoyouintendtodo？"askedCarroll，frightened。

"Ishallhaveitoutwithyourmother，"repliedOrde。

"Youmustn’tdothat，"imploredCarroll。"Itwoulddoabsolutelynogood，andwouldjustresultinaquarrelthatcouldneverbepatchedup。"

"Idon’tknowasIcareparticularly，"saidOrde。

"ButIdo。Think——sheismymother。"

Ordestirreduneasilywithamentalreservationastoselfishness，butsaidnothing。

"Andthinkwhatitmeanstoagirltobemarriedandgoawayfromhomefinallywithoutherparent’sconsent。It’sthemostbeautifulandsacredthinginherlife，andshewantsittobeperfect。It’sworthwaitingandfightingalittlefor。Afterall，wearebothyoung，andwehaveknowneachothersuchaveryshorttime。"

Soshepleadedwithhim，bringingforwardalltheunanswerableargumentsbuiltbythelongaverageexperienceoftheworld——

argumentswhichOrdecouldnotrefute，butwhosefalsitytothesituationhefeltmostkeenly。HecouldnotspecifywithoutbetrayingGerald’sconfidence。Raginginwardly，heconsentedtoafurtherarmistice。

Athishotelhefoundatelegram。Hedidnotopenituntilhehadreachedhisownroom。Itwasfromhome，urginghisimmediatereturnfortheacceptanceofsomecontractedwork。

"Tohellwiththecontractedwork！"hemutteredsavagely，andcallingabell—boy，sentananswerverymuchtothateffect。Thenheplungedhishandsintohispockets，stretchedouthislegs，andfellintoadeepandgloomymeditation。

Hewasinterruptedbyaknockonthedoor。

"Comein！"hecalled，withoutturninghishead。

Heheardthedooropenandshut。Afteramomenthelookedaround。

KendrickBishopstoodwatchinghim。

Ordelitthegas。

"Hello，Kendrick！"saidhe。"Sitdown。"Theboymadenoreply。

Ordelookedathimcuriously，andsawthathewassufferingfromanintenseexcitement。Hisframetrembledconvulsively，hislipswerewhite，hisfacewentredandpalebyturns。Evidentlyhehadsomethingtosay，butcouldnotyettrusthisvoice。Ordesatdownandwaited。

"You’vegottoletmymotheralone，"hemanagedtosayfinally。

"Ihavedonenothingtoyourmother，Kendrick，"saidOrdekindly。

"You’vebroughthertothepointofdeath，"assertedKeudrickviolently。"You’rehoundinghertohergrave。You’returningthoseshelovesbestagainsther。"