uclerk adore Agnes?" said she.

"Can one man judge another in these questions?"

"If neither are hypocrites--yes."

"As for conscious hypocrisy, a priest of great experience once told me
that in twenty years he had met but one deliberate hypocrite. You must
be less cynical. Men, however, don't watch each other closely as a rule
in sentimental matters."

"If that is a reproof, I thank you for it," she answered. "It may do me
good. This wayward soul of mine is all wrong. Be patient with me. I
can't help thinking that most men living are, at the bottom, wholly
selfish and truly miserable."

"Very few people are truly miserable. If this were not the case, the
world and all creatures must have perished long ago."

"Well, I can tell you of three wretches at any rate."

"Three--against the world and all the planets and heaven?" said he.

"Yes. They are Beauclerk, and Agnes and I. We want time and space
annihilated in order that we may be happy. We must be humorous studies
to those looking on, but we are, nevertheless, utterly desperate. This
is true. Scold me now--if you can. Tell me what is to become of us--if
you dare."

She stood up. She clenched her small hands, set her lips, and grew so
pale that the pearls around her neck seemed dark.

"Tell me what is to become of us--if you dare," she repeated, "because
mischief is certain. You belong to those who endure and fight good
fights, and keep the faith. Beauclerk and I are of another order
altogether. We suffer without endurance, we fight without winning, and
the little faith we have is so little that it is taken away from us. As
for Agnes--wait! She is encased, at present, in conventionalities. But
she is gradually getting rid of these wrappings and trappings. She will
surprise you all yet."

"I can believe that. She is a woman, and a good one. All the surprising,
inconceivable things are done by good women."

"And most of the wicked things, too."

"Possibly."

"Let me tell you then that, if it is possible in the circumstances,
Agnes ought to give Beauclerk his release. It would be no more than his
right to demand this."

"A right is something independent of circumstances, and paramount to
them. But when you once talk of your rights and your wrongs in love, all
love is gone, or going. I hope it hasn't come to that--with Reckage!"

"You have great knowledge of him and know how to press it home when you
choose. Can't you see, plainly enough, that he is on t