e two last
days, with the unintentional sidelight it threw on just those parts he
wished to keep in darkness, made her aware how complicated and involved
his life had become. But before he finished speaking, she brought all
her practical intelligence to bear on what he said.

"Maurice!" she exclaimed, with a consternation that was three parts
genuine. "I should like to shake you. How COULD you!--what induced you
to do such a foolish thing?" And, as he did not speak: "If only you had
come to me before, instead of after! I should have said: hold what
ridiculous opinions you like yourself, but for goodness' sake keep
clear of Schwarz with them. Yes, ridiculous, and offensive, too. Anyone
would have taken your talk about being dissatisfied just as he did. And
after the way he has been treated of late, he's of course doubly
touchy."

"I knew that, when it was too late. But I meant merely to speak
straight out to him, Madeleine--one man to another. You surely don't
want to say he's incapable of allowing one to have an independent
opinion? If that's the case, then he's nothing but the wretched little
tyrant Heinz declares him to be."

"Wait till you have taught as long as he has," said Madeleine, and, at
his muttered: "God forbid!" she continued with more warmth: "You'll
know then, too, that it doesn't matter whether your pupils have
opinions or not. He has seen this kind of thing scores of times before,
and knows it must be kept down."

She paused, and looked at him. "To get on in life, one must have a
certain amount of tact. You are too naive, Maurice, too
unsuspecting--one of those people who would like to carry on social
intercourse on a basis of absolute truth, and then be surprised that it
came to an end. You are altogether a very difficult person to deal
with. You are either too candid, or too reserved. There's no middle way
in you. I haven't the least doubt that Schwarz finds you both
perplexing and irritating; he takes the candour for impertinence, and
the reserve for distrust."

Maurice smiled faintly. "Go on--don't spare me. No one ever troubled
before to tell me my failings."

"Oh, I'm quite in earnest. As I look at it, it's entirely your own
fault that you don't stand better with Schwarz. You have never
condescended to humour him, as you ought to have done. You thought it
was enough to be truthful and honest, and to leave the rest to him.
Well, it wasn't. I won't hear a word against Schwarz; he's goodness