to him, or, if not actually hostile, was
almost cruelly critical of him. Now that stranger silently spoke to him,
silently told him many things.

She told him--that which few men ever know--something of what women
specially want, specially need in life. And the catalogue of these needs
seemed to him to be also the catalogue of her reasons for hating him at
this moment.

"Women need--I needed," she seemed to say, "not only a large and ample
friendship, noble condescending, a friendship like an announcement to
citizens affixed to the wall of a market-place, and covering boldly all
the principal circumstances and likely happenings of ordinary feminine
life, but a friendship, an affection, very individual, very full of
subtlety, not such as would suit, would fit comfortably women, but
such as would suit, would fit comfortably, would fit beautifully one
individual woman--me."

Ah, the "women need" was flung away, like a stone thrown into the sea!
It was the "I needed" that was held fast, that was shown to Artois now.
And the "I" stood to Hermione for herself. But might it not have stood
to the world for many a woman?

"I needed some one to whom I could be kind, for whom I could think,
plan, hope, weave a fabric of ambitious dreams, look forward along
the path that leads to glory. I needed some one for whom I could be
unselfish, to whom I could often offer those small burnt sacrifices
whose smoke women love to see ascending towards God, burnt sacrifices
of small personal desire, small personal plans and intentions. I
needed some one to need my encouragement, my admiration--frequently
expressed--my perpetual sympathy hovering about him like a warm cloud
of fragrant incense, my gentle criticism, leading him to efforts which
would win from the world, and from me, more admiration of and wonder at
his energy and genius. I needed some one to stir within me woman's soft
passion for forgiveness, woman's delight in petting the child who has
been naughty, but who puts the naughtiness aside and runs home to be
good again. I needed some one to set upon a pedestal.

"These needs you fully satisfied.

"You gave me generously opportunities for kindness, for thoughtfulness,
for impersonal ambition, for looking forward on your behalf, for
unselfishness, for the sacrifice of my little personal desires, plans,
and intentions, for encouragement of you, for admiration of your
abilities, for sympathy--even for gentle criticism leading you t