couldn't leave her at the
Academy because it might injure you. I had brought her in a most blind
egotism; and so I took her away. She is my daughter."

He saw that at first she totally missed the implication of his words.
"But," she stammered, "I was told you had no ... how would that--?" Then
she stopped as sharply as if a hand had compressed her throat. A vivid
mantle of colour rose in her face; she made a motion of rising, of
flight, but sank back weakly. "It is criminally indelicate to speak to
you of this," he said, "but it was absolutely necessary. I want to marry
you; in that circumstance a lie would be fatal, later or sooner."

She attempted to speak, her lips quivered, but only a low gasp was
audible. It was worse, even, than he had feared. Now, however, that he
had told her, he felt happier, more confident. Surely, after a little,
she would forgive, forget, "I want to marry you," he repeated, torn
with pity at her fragility, her visible suffering. "All that might hurt
you has been put out of my life, out of our future. The way is open
before us, the refining. I would do anything to spare you, believe that;
but the truth, now, best."

"Always," she said in a faint voice. "I am trying to--to realize. Oh! I
suppose such things do occur; but the child herself, you--don't see how
that, so near--" she broke off, gazing wide-eyed out of her misery. He
was conscious of the dull, regular beat of the Forge hammer. God, how
the imperfections persisted! But, he told himself savagely, in the end
the metal was steadfast. He would, certainly, overcome her natural
revulsion from what she had just heard. The colour had left her cheeks,
violet shadows gathered about her eyes; she seemed more unsubstantial
than ever. He would repay again and again the suffering he had brought
her. Having declared himself he was almost tranquil; there was a total
absence of the impetuous emotionalism of youth, the blind tyranny of
desire. His feeling was deeper, and accompanied by a far more involved
philosophy of self-recognition. At the same time, while acutely
conscious of his absolute need of Susan Brundon, he was at a loss to
discover its essence, shape. Before he had known her he had been
obsessed by a distaste for his existence; he had desperately wanted
something without definition ... And Susan was that desire, delicate,
clear-eyed Susan. Yet, still, the heart of her escaped him.

Jasper Penny had told himself that his new dissatisfac