t women to be women. Her theory was
that they should turn themselves into unscrupulous sexless nuisances. An
offended theorist dwelt in her bosom somewhere. In what way she expected
Flora de Barral to set about saving herself from a most miserable
existence I can't conceive; but I verify believe that she would have
found it easier to forgive the girl an actual crime; say the rifling of
the Bournemouth old lady's desk, for instance. And then--for Mrs. Fyne
was very much of a woman herself--her sense of proprietorship was very
strong within her; and though she had not much use for her brother, yet
she did not like to see him annexed by another woman. By a chit of a
girl. And such a girl, too. Nothing is truer than that, in this world,
the luckless have no right to their opportunities--as if misfortune were
a legal disqualification. Fyne's sentiments (as they naturally would be
in a man) had more stability. A good deal of his sympathy survived.
Indeed I heard him murmur "Ghastly nuisance," but I knew it was of the
integrity of his domestic accord that he was thinking. With my eyes on
the dog lying curled up in sleep in the middle of the porch I suggested
in a subdued impersonal tone: "Yes. Why not let yourself be persuaded?"

I never saw little Fyne less solemn. He hissed through his teeth in
unexpectedly figurative style that it would take a lot to persuade him to
"push under the head of a poor devil of a girl quite sufficiently
plucky"--and snorted. He was still gazing at the distant quarry, and I
think he was affected by that sight. I assured him that I was far from
advising him to do anything so cruel. I am convinced he had always
doubted the soundness of my principles, because he turned on me swiftly
as though he had been on the watch for a lapse from the straight path.

"Then what do you mean? That I should pretend!"

"No! What nonsense! It would be immoral. I may however tell you that
if I had to make a choice I would rather do something immoral than
something cruel. What I meant was that, not believing in the efficacy of
the interference, the whole question is reduced to your consenting to do
what your wife wishes you to do. That would be acting like a gentleman,
surely. And acting unselfishly too, because I can very well understand
how distasteful it may be to you. Generally speaking, an unselfish
action is a moral action. I'll tell you what. I'll go with you."

He turned round and stare