CHAPTER XIII

andtheypassedthegate,andwalkedslowlyroundtheFieldsagain,discussingdifficultieswhich,asamatteroffact,weremoreorlesschronicintheDenhamfamily,andonlynowbroughtforwardtoappeaseMary’ssympathy,which,however,soothedRalphmorethanhewasawareof.Shemadehimatleastdwelluponproblemswhichwererealinthesensethattheywerecapableofsolutionandthetruecauseofhismelancholy,whichwasnotsusceptibletosuchtreatment,sankrathermoredeeplyintotheshadesofhismind. Marywasattentiveshewashelpful.Ralphcouldnothelpfeelinggratefultoher,themoreso,perhaps,becausehehadnottoldherthetruthabouthisstateandwhentheyreachedthegateagainhewishedtomakesomeaffectionateobjectiontoherleavinghim.Buthisaffectiontooktheratheruncouthformofexpostulatingwithheraboutherwork. “Whatd’youwanttositonacommitteefor?”heasked.“It’swasteofyourtime,Mary.” “Iagreewithyouthatacountrywalkwouldbenefittheworldmore,”shesaid.“Lookhere,”sheaddedsuddenly,“whydon’tyoucometousatChristmas?It’salmostthebesttimeofyear.” “CometoyouatDisham?”Ralphrepeated. “Yes.Wewon’tinterferewithyou.Butyoucantellmelater,”shesaid,ratherhastily,andthenstartedoffinthedirectionofRussellSquare.Shehadinvitedhimontheimpulseofthemoment,asavisionofthecountrycamebeforeherandnowshewasannoyedwithherselfforhavingdoneso,andthenshewasannoyedatbeingannoyed. “IfIcan’tfaceawalkinafieldalonewithRalph,”shereasoned,“I’dbetterbuyacatandliveinalodgingatEaling,likeSallySeal—andhewon’tcome.Ordidhemeanthathewouldcome?” Sheshookherhead.Shereallydidnotknowwhathehadme