CHAPTER X

,withacuriousdivisionofconsciousness,oneplucksaflowersentimentallyandthrowsitaway,withablush,whenitisactuallypicked.No,hewouldgoandseeMaryDatchet.Bythistimeshewouldbebackfromherwork. ToseeRalphappearunexpectedlyinherroomthrewMaryforasecondoffherbalance.Shehadbeencleaningknivesinherlittlescullery,andwhenshehadlethiminshewentbackagain,andturnedonthecold-watertaptoitsfullestvolume,andthenturneditoffagain.“Now,”shethoughttoherself,asshescrewedittight,“I’mnotgoingtoletthesesillyideascomeintomyhead....Don’tyouthinkMr.Asquithdeservestobehanged?”shecalledbackintothesitting-room,andwhenshejoinedhim,dryingherhands,shebegantotellhimaboutthelatestevasiononthepartoftheGovernmentwithrespecttotheWomen’sSuffrageBill.Ralphdidnotwanttotalkaboutpolitics,buthecouldnothelprespectingMaryfortakingsuchaninterestinpublicquestions.Helookedatherassheleantforward,pokingthefire,andexpressingherselfveryclearlyinphraseswhichboredistantlythetaintoftheplatform,andhethought,“HowabsurdMarywouldthinkmeifsheknewthatIalmostmadeupmymindtowalkallthewaytoChelseainordertolookatKatharine’swindows.Shewouldn’tunderstandit,butIlikeherverymuchassheis.” ForsometimetheydiscussedwhatthewomenhadbetterdoandasRalphbecamegenuinelyinterestedinthequestion,Maryunconsciouslyletherattentionwander,andagreatdesirecameoverhertotalktoRalphaboutherownfeelingsor,atanyrate,aboutsomethingpersonal,sothatshemightseewhathefeltforherbutsheresistedthiswish.Butshecouldnotpreventhimfromfeelingherlackofinterestinwhathewassaying,andgraduallytheybothbecamesilent.OnethoughtafteranothercameupinRalph’smind,buttheywereall,insomeway,connectedwithKatharine,orwithvaguefeelingsofromanceandadventuresuchassheinspired.ButhecouldnottalktoMaryaboutsuchthoughtsandhepitiedherforknowingnothingofwhathewasfeeling.“Here,”hethought,“iswherewedifferfromwomentheyhavenosenseofromance.” “Well,Mary,”hesaidatlength,“whydon’tyousaysomethingamusing?” Histonewascertainlyprovoking,but,asageneralrule,Marywasnoteasilyprovoked.Thisevening,however,sherepliedrathersharply: “BecauseI’vegotnothingamusingtosay,Isuppose.” Ralphthoughtforamoment,andthenremarked: “Youworktoohard.Idon’tmeanyourhealth,”headded,asshelaughedscornfully,“Imeanthatyouseemtometobegettingwrappedupinyourwork.” “Andisthatabadthing?”sheasked,shadinghereyeswithherhand. “Ithinkitis,”hereturnedabruptly. “Butonlyaweekagoyouweresayingtheopposite.”Hertonewasdefiant,butshebecamecuriouslydepressed.Ralphdidnotperceiveit,andtookthisopportunityoflecturingher,andexpressinghislatestviewsupontheproperconductoflife.Shelistened,buthermainimpressionwasthathehadbeenmeetingsomeonewhohadinfluencedhim.Hewastellingherthatsheoughttoreadmore,andtoseethattherewereotherpointsofviewasdeservingofattentionasherown.Naturally,havinglastseenhimashelefttheofficeincompanywithKatharine,sheattributedthechangetoheritwaslikelythatKatharine,onleavingthescenewhichshehadsoclearlydespised,hadpronouncedsomesuchcriticism,orsuggesteditbyherownattitude.ButsheknewthatRalphwouldneveradmitthathehadbeeninfluencedbyanybody. “Youdon’treadenough,Mary,”hewassaying.“Yououghttoreadmorepoetry.” ItwastruethatMary’sreadinghadbeenratherlimitedtosuchworksassheneededtoknowforthesakeofexaminationsandhertimeforreadinginLondonwasverylittle.Forsomereason,noonelikestobetoldthattheydonotreadenoughpoetry,butherresentmentwasonlyvisibleinthewayshechangedth