CHAPTER XXXI
關燈
小
中
大
apableofgroupingthepast,heconfusedtheepisodeofJackywithanotherepisodethathadtakenplaceinthedaysofhisbachelorhood.Thetwomadeonecropofwildoats,forwhichhewasheartilysorry,andhecouldnotseethatthoseoatsareofadarkerstockwhicharerootedinanother’sdishonour.UnchastityandinfidelitywereasconfusedtohimastotheMiddleAges,hisonlymoralteacher.Ruth(pooroldRuth!)didnotenterintohiscalculationsatall,forpooroldRuthhadneverfoundhimout.
Hisaffectionforhispresentwifegrewsteadily.Herclevernessgavehimnotrouble,and,indeed,helikedtoseeherreadingpoetryorsomethingaboutsocialquestionsitdistinguishedherfromthewivesofothermen.Hehadonlytocall,andsheclappedthebookupandwasreadytodowhathewished.Thentheywouldarguesojollily,andonceortwiceshehadhiminquiteatightcorner,butassoonashegrewreallyserious,shegavein.Manisforwar,womanfortherecreationofthewarrior,buthedoesnotdislikeitifshemakesashowoffight.Shecannotwininarealbattle,havingnomuscles,onlynerves.Nervesmakeherjumpoutofamovingmotor-car,orrefusetobemarriedfashionably.Thewarriormaywellallowhertotriumphonsuchoccasionstheymovenottheimperishableplinthofthingsthattouchhispeace.
Margarethadabadattackofthesenervesduringthehoneymoon.Hetoldher—casually,aswashishabit—thatOnitonGrangewaslet.Sheshowedherannoyance,andaskedrathercrosslywhyshehadnotbeenconsulted.
“Ididn’twanttobotheryou,”hereplied.“Besides,Ihaveonlyheardforcertainthismorning.”
“Wherearewetolive?”saidMargaret,tryingtolaugh.“Ilovedtheplaceextraordinarily.Don’tyoubelieveinhavingapermanenthome,Henry?”
Heassuredherthatshemisunderstoodhim.Itishomelifethatdistinguishesusfromtheforeigner.Buthedidnotbelieveinadamphome.
“Thisisnews.IneverheardtillthisminutethatOnitonwasdamp.”
“Mydeargirl!”—heflungouthishand—“haveyoueyes?haveyouaskin?Howcoulditbeanythingbutda
