uture chequered by fits of hysteria."

"But why!" urged Boreham, and he could not conceal his agitation; "when
I spoke of the endowment of mothers I did not mean that I personally
wanted any interference (at present) with our system of monogamy. The
British public thinks it believes in monogamy and I, personally, think
that monogamy is workable, under certain circumstances. It would be
possible for me under certain circumstances."

The sublimity of his self-sacrifice almost brought tears to Boreham's
eyes. May quickened her steps, and he opened the door for her to go into
the lobby. As he went through himself he could see that the two
strangers had turned and were watching them. He damned them under his
breath and pulled the door to.

"There are women," he went on, as he followed her down the stairs, "who
have breadth of character and brains that command the fidelity of men. I
need not tell _you_ this."

May was descending slowly and looked as if she thought she was alone.

"'Age cannot wither, nor custom stale thy infinite variety,'" he
whispered behind her, and he found the words strangely difficult to
pronounce because of his emotion. He moved alertly into step with her
and gazed at her profile.

"When that is said to a woman, well, a moderately young woman," remarked
May, "a woman who is, say, twenty-eight--I am twenty-eight--it has no
point I am afraid!"

"No point?" exclaimed Boreham.

"No point," repeated May. "How do you know that thirty years from now,
when I am on the verge of sixty, that I shan't be withered--unless,
indeed, I get too stout?" she added pensively.

"You will always be young," said Boreham, fervently; "young, like Ninon
de l'Enclos."

May had now reached the ground, and she walked out on to the terrace
into open daylight.

Boreham was at her side immediately, and she turned and looked at him.
His pale blue eyes blinked at her, for he was aware that hers were
hostile! Why?

"You would seem young to me," he said, trying to feel brave.

"Men and women ought," she said, with emphasis on the word "ought"--"men
and women ought to wither and grow old in the service of Humanity. I
think nothing is more pathetic than the sight of an old woman trying to
look young instead of learning the lesson of life, the lesson we are
here to learn!"

Boreham had had barely time to recover from the blow when she added in
the sweetest tone--

"There, that's a scolding for you and for Ninon de l'Encl