hich tormented her seemed to
pass. She realised that here was a nature different from her own, and
which should be dealt with in a way unsuitable to herself; and the
conviction seemed to make the action which it necessitated more easy as
well as more natural to her. Perhaps for the first time in her life
Stephen understood that it may be necessary to apply to individuals a
standard of criticism unsuitable to self-judgment. Her recognition might
have been summed up in the thought which ran through her mind:

'One must be a little lenient with a man one loves!'

Stephen, when once she had allowed the spirit of toleration to work
within her, felt immediately its calming influence. It was with brighter
thoughts and better humour that she went on with her task. A task only,
it seemed now; a means to an end which she desired.

'Leonard, tell me seriously, why do you think I gave you the trouble of
coming out here?'

'Upon my soul, Stephen, I don't know.'

'You don't seem to care either, lolling like that when I am serious!' The
words were acid, but the tone was soft and friendly, familiar and
genuine, putting quite a meaning of its own on them. Leonard looked at
her indolently:

'I like to loll.'

'But can't you even guess, or try to guess, what I ask you?'

'I can't guess. The day's too hot, and that shanty with the drinks is
not built yet.'

'Or may never be!' Again he looked at her sleepily.

'Never be! Why not?'

'Because, Leonard, it may depend on you.'

'All right then. Drive on! Hurry up the architect and the
jerry-builder!'

A quick blush leaped to Stephen's cheeks. The words were full of
meaning, though the tone lacked something; but the news was too good. She
could not accept it at once; she decided to herself to wait a short time.
Ere many seconds had passed she rejoiced that she had done so as he went
on:

'I hope you'll give me a say before that husband of yours comes along. He
might be a blue-ribbonite; and it wouldn't do to start such a shanty for
rot-gut!'

Again a cold wave swept over her. The absolute difference of feeling
between the man and herself; his levity against her earnestness, his
callous blindness to her purpose, even the commonness of his words
chilled her. For a few seconds she wavered again in her intention; but
once again his comeliness and her own obstinacy joined hands and took her
back to her path. With chagrin she felt that her words almost stuck in
h