She thinks herself someone, but presently shell
find out. He went towards the door,and Jonathan followed.
She could not remember how theyhad first met, and
they had certainly not met often. He wished again with all his heart that hehad
never begun to paint it.
He thought almost he sawher suspire with a relief
beyond joy.
But to-night something interfered with the words.
There were certain bloodydisciplines to test the postulant-it was all. They remained
alien-to It and to all, and all to them and- too much! At last hesaid doubtfully:
And Lady Wallingford? The other had very slightly shaken his head. She did not give
this time to settle; she was well assured thatthe thought would return.
And when that had been thwarted, this also which
was to happen had atlast happened.
There was nothing at all of either in the Clerks
gaze.
He suggested that LadyWallingford might be asked.
As soon as Simon paused, he said: Thenyoull speak to Lady Wallingford? But he did
notlose sight of his main point.
There was no slightest visible motion, no faintest
sound of breath.
He was themore ready to owe Betty to a man who saw
so deeply. As the dead body stood and spoke he felt thelordship of that other half
of the world.
She had at least noconsciousness of impropriety;
she was mentally strong enough for joy.
She doesnt care for this Simon herself; she only
goesbecause her mother makes her.
And I certainly thought she wouldnt notice it, or
want tonotice it. He was a child of thenobility, but he was hardly yet a boy when
the Revolution had brokenout. For a moment he thought of Jonathanand Jonathans love.
Ridiculous names these girls have nowadays! For once Lady Wallingford was taken
aback. And as forimbecile, havent you read Sapientia adepti stultitia mundi? There
was in the north, in Yorkshire, asmall house where she and Lady Wallingford
sometimes went. He proposed an aunts house inTunbridge Wells as a shelter for
her.
And there, on the very pavement, the other side of
acrossing, she stood.
He remained standing with his eyes onthe covered
canvas. He cameout into the street and the moonlight, and began to walk. Discouraged
and miserably helpless, Betty got up and put on her clothes.
He knew exactly how he could have avoidedit; he
could have said he wasnt worthy. It was vaguely understoodthat Miss Betty was
subject to something not quite nice.
Of course,she had to, because Evelyn sat, eyeing
her and talking. He caught hisbreath and almost ran to it.
Lester was dead too; she was a little sorryabout
Lester, but Lester had never wanted her. She would be taken to hear Father Simon
speak onLove. Lady Wallingford said: Why areyou sitting up like that?