no way of
making him understand the situation. The thing had become _mine_; I
thought by it, and lived by it; I couldn't bear to speak of it as
merely an interesting hypothesis discovered in the course of my
reading. At once it would have seemed to me to carry less weight; I
should have been thrown back again into uncertainty. This, too, just at
the moment when a principle, a conviction, had become no less a
practical than a subjective need to me; for--thanks to you--I saw a new
hope in life, the possibility of an active career which would give
scope to all my energies. Do you follow me? Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly," replied Constance, with a slight inclination of her head.
She seemed both to listen and to be absorbed in thought.

"From that moment, I ceased to think of the book. I had as good as
forgotten its existence. Though, on the whole, it had done me so great
a service, there were many things in it I didn't like, and these would
now have annoyed me much more than at the first reading. I should have
felt as if the man had got hold of _my_ philosophy, and presented it
imperfectly. You will understand now why I was so astonished at your
charge of plagiarism. I really didn't know what to say; I couldn't
perceive your point of view: I don't remember how I replied, I'm afraid
my behaviour seemed only to confirm your suspicion. In very truth, it
was the result of genuine surprise. Of course I had only to reflect to
see how this discovery must have come upon you, but then it was too
late. We were in the thick of extraordinary complications: no hope of
quiet and reasonable talk. Since the tragic end, I have worried
constantly about that misunderstanding. Is it quite cleared up? We must
be frank with each other now or never. Speak your thought as honestly
as I have spoken mine."

"I completely understand you," was the meditative reply.

"I was sure you would! To some people, such an explanation would be
useless; Mrs. Toplady, for instance. I should be sorry to have to
justify myself by psychological reasoning to Mrs. Toplady. And,
remember, Mrs. Toplady represents the world. A wise man does not try to
explain himself to the world; enough if, by exceptional good luck,
there is one person to whom he can confidently talk of his struggles
and his purposes. Don't suppose, however, that I lay claim to any great
wisdom; after the last fortnight, that would be rather laughable. But I
am capable of benefiting by experi