Book + 

V + 

George Green + 

I + 

I + 

In the yard of the County Hotel in Wiltsbury two chauffeurs were busy with cars. George Green finished his work on the interior of the big Daimler, wiped his hands on a bit of oily rag and stood upright with a sigh of satisfaction. He was a cheerful young fellow and was smiling now because he was pleased with himself for locating the trouble and dealing with it. He strolled along to where his fellow chauffeur was completing the toilet of a Minerva. + 

The latter looked up. + 

тАЬHullo, GeorgeтБатАФyou through? Your boss is a Yank, isnтАЩt he? WhatтАЩs he like?тАЭ + 

тАЬHeтАЩs all right. Fussy, though. WonтАЩt go more than forty.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, thank your stars you donтАЩt drive for a woman,тАЭ said the other. His name was Evans. тАЬAlways changing their minds. And no idea of the proper times for meals. Picnic lunches as often as notтБатАФand you know what that means, a hard-boiled egg and a leaf of lettuce.тАЭ + 

Green sat down on an adjacent barrel. + 

тАЬWhy donтАЩt you chuck it?тАЭ + 

тАЬNot so easy to get another job, these days,тАЭ said Evans. + 

тАЬNo, thatтАЩs true,тАЭ said Green. He looked thoughtful. + 

тАЬAnd IтАЩve got a missus and two kids,тАЭ went on the other. тАЬWhatтАЩs the rot that was talked about a country fit for heroes? No, if youтАЩve got a jobтБатАФany kind of a jobтБатАФitтАЩs better to freeze on to it in 1920.тАЭ + 

He was silent for a minute, and then went on. + 

тАЬFunny businessтБатАФthe war. I was hit twiceтБатАФshrapnel. Makes you go a bit queer afterwards. My missus says I frighten herтБатАФgo quite batty sometimes. Wake up in the middle of the night hollering and not knowing where I am.тАЭ + 

тАЬI know,тАЭ said Green. тАЬIтАЩm the same. When my guvnor picked me upтБатАФin Holland that wasтБатАФI couldnтАЩt remember a thing about myself except my name.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhen was that? After the war?тАЭ + 

тАЬSix months after the armistice. I was working in a garage there. Some chaps who were drunk ran me down one night in a lorry. Fairly scared тАЩem sober. They picked me up and took me along with them. IтАЩd got a whacking great bash on the head. They looked after me and got me a job. Good chaps they were. IтАЩd been working there two years when Mr.┬аBleibner came along. He hired a car from our place once or twice and I drove him. He talked to me a good bit and finally he offered to take me on as chauffeur.тАЭ + 

тАЬMean to say you never thought of getting back home before that?тАЭ + 

тАЬNoтБатАФI didnтАЩt want to somehow. IтАЩd no folks there as far as I could remember and IтАЩve an idea IтАЩd had a bit of trouble there of some kind.тАЭ + 

тАЬI shouldnтАЩt associate trouble with you, mate,тАЭ said Evans with a laugh. + 

George Green laughed too. He was indeed a most cheerful-looking young man, tall and dark with broad shoulders and an ever ready smile. + 

тАЬNothing much ever worries me,тАЭ he boasted. тАЬI was born the happy-go-lucky kind, I guess.тАЭ + 

He moved away, smiling happily. A few minutes later he was reporting to his employer that the Daimler was ready for the road. + 

Mr.┬аBleibner was a tall thin dyspeptic-looking American with pure speech. + 

тАЬVery good. Now, Green, I am going to Lord DatchetтАЩs for luncheon. Abingworth Friars. ItтАЩs about six miles from here.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, sir.тАЭ + 

тАЬAfter luncheon I am going to a place called Abbots Puissants. Abbotsford is the village. Do you know it?тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩve heard of it, I think, sir. But I donтАЩt know exactly where it is. IтАЩll look it up on the map.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, please do so. It cannot, I think, be more than twenty milesтБатАФin the direction of Ringwood, I fancy.тАЭ + 

тАЬVery good, sir.тАЭ + 

Green touched his cap and withdrew. + 

II + 

Nell Chetwynd stepped through the French window of the drawing-room and came out upon the terrace at Abbots Puissants. + 

It was one of those still early autumn days when there seems no stirring of life anywhere, as though Nature herself feigned unconsciousness. The sky was a pale, not a deep, blue and there was a very faint haze in the atmosphere. + 

Nell leaned against a big stone urn and gazed out over the silent prospect. Everything was very beautiful and very English. The formal gardens were exquisitely kept. The house itself had been very judiciously and carefully repaired. + 

Not habitually given to emotion, as Nell looked up at the rose-red brick of the walls, she felt a sudden swelling of the heart. It was all so perfect. She wished that Vernon could knowтБатАФcould see. + 

Four years of marriage had dealt kindly with Nell, but they had changed her. There was no suggestion of the nymph about her now. She was a beautiful woman instead of a lovely girl. She was poised, assured. Her beauty was a very definite kind of beautyтБатАФit never varied or altered. Her movements were more deliberate than of old, she had filled out a littleтБатАФthere was no suggestion of immaturity. She was the perfect full-blown rose. + 

A voice called her from the house. + 

тАЬNell!тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm here, George, on the terrace.тАЭ + 

тАЬRight. IтАЩll be out in a minute.тАЭ + 

What a dear George was! A little smile creased her lips. The perfect husband! Perhaps that was because he was an American. You always heard that Americans made perfect husbands. Certainly, George had been one to her. The marriage had been a complete success. It was true that she had never felt for George what she had felt for Vernon, but almost reluctantly she had admitted that perhaps that was a good thing. These tempestuous emotions that tore and rent oneтБатАФthey couldnтАЩt last. Every day you had evidence that they didnтАЩt last. + 

All her old revolt was quelled now. She no longer questioned passionately the reason why Vernon should have been taken from her. God knew best. One rebelled at the time, but one came at last to realize that whatever happened was really for the best. + 

They had known supreme happiness, she and Vernon, and nothing could ever mar or take away from it. It was there foreverтБатАФa precious secret possession, a hidden jewel. She could think of him now without regret or longing. They had loved each other and had risked everything to be together. Then had come that awful pain of separationтБатАФand then peace. + 

Yes, that was the predominant factor in her life nowтБатАФpeace. George had given her that. He had wrapped her round with comfort, with luxury, with tenderness. She hoped that she was a good wife to him, even if she didnтАЩt care like she had cared for Vernon. But she was fond of himтБатАФof course she was! The quiet affectionate feeling she had for him was by far the safest emotion to go through life with. + 

Yes, that expressed exactly what she feltтБатАФsafe and happy. She wished that Vernon knew. He would be glad, she was sure. + 

George Chetwynd came out and joined her. He wore English country clothes and looked very much the country squire. He had not aged at allтБатАФindeed he looked younger. In his hand he held some letters. + 

тАЬIтАЩve agreed to share that shooting with Drummond. I think weтАЩll enjoy it.тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm so glad.тАЭ + 

тАЬWe must decide who we want to ask.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, weтАЩll talk about it tonight. IтАЩm rather glad the Hays couldnтАЩt come and dine. It will be nice to have an evening to ourselves.тАЭ + 

тАЬI was afraid you were overdoing it in town, Nell.тАЭ + 

тАЬWe did rush about rather. But I think itтАЩs good for one really. And anyway, itтАЩs been splendidly peaceful down here.тАЭ + 

тАЬItтАЩs wonderful.тАЭ George threw an appreciative glance over the landscape. тАЬIтАЩd rather have Abbots Puissants than any place in England. ItтАЩs got an atmosphere.тАЭ + 

Nell nodded. + 

тАЬI know what you mean.тАЭ + 

тАЬI should hate to think of it in the hands ofтБатАФwell, people like the Levinnes, for instance.тАЭ + 

тАЬI know. One would resent it. And yet Sebastian is a dearтБатАФand his taste at any rate is perfect.тАЭ + 

тАЬHe knows the taste of the public all right,тАЭ said George dryly. тАЬOne success after anotherтБатАФwith occasionally a succ├иs dтАЩestime just to show heтАЩs not a mere money maker. HeтАЩs beginning to look the part thoughтБатАФgetting not exactly fat, but sleek. Adopting all sorts of mannerisms. ThereтАЩs a caricature of him in Punch this week. Very clever.тАЭ + 

тАЬSebastian would lend himself to caricaturing,тАЭ said Nell, smiling. тАЬThose enormous ears, and those funny high cheekbones. He was an extraordinary-looking boy.тАЭ + 

тАЬItтАЩs odd to think of you all playing together as children. By the way, IтАЩve got a surprise for you. A friend you havenтАЩt seen for some time is coming to lunch today.тАЭ + 

тАЬNot Josephine?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo. Jane Harding.тАЭ + 

тАЬJane Harding! But how on earthтБатАФ?тАЭ + 

тАЬI ran into her at Wiltsbury yesterday. SheтАЩs on tour, acting in some company or other.тАЭ + 

тАЬJane! Why, George, I didnтАЩt even realize you knew her?тАЭ + 

тАЬI came across her when we were both doing relief work in Serbia. I saw a lot of her. I wrote to you about it.тАЭ + 

тАЬDid you? I donтАЩt remember.тАЭ + 

Something in her tone seemed to strike him and he said anxiously: + 

тАЬItтАЩs all right, isnтАЩt it, dear? I thought it would be a pleasant surprise for you. I always thought she was a great friend of yours. I can put her off in a minute ifтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬNo, no. Of course, IтАЩll be delighted to see her. I was only surprised.тАЭ + 

George was reassured. + 

тАЬThatтАЩs all right then. By the way, she told me that a man called Bleibner, a man I knew very well in New York, is also in Wiltsbury. IтАЩd like him to see the Abbey ruinsтБатАФthat sort of thing is a speciality of his. Do you mind if I ask him to lunch, too?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, of course not. Do ask him.тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩll see if I can get him on the phone now. I meant to do it last night, but it slipped my memory.тАЭ + 

He went indoors again. Nell was left on the terrace frowning slightly. + 

George in this had been right. For some reason or other, she was not pleased at the thought of JaneтАЩs coming to lunch. She felt very definitely that she didnтАЩt want to see Jane. Already, the mere mention of Jane seemed to have disturbed the serenity of the morning. She thought: тАЬI was so peaceful and nowтБатАФтАЭ + 

AnnoyingтБатАФyes, it was annoying. She was, had always been, afraid of Jane. Jane was the kind of person you could never be sure about. SheтБатАФhow could one put it?тБатАФshe upset things. She was disturbing, and Nell didnтАЩt want to be disturbed. + 

She thought unreasonably: тАЬWhy on earth did George have to meet her in Serbia? How trying things are.тАЭ + 

But it was absurd to be afraid of Jane. Jane couldnтАЩt hurt herтБатАФnow. Poor Jane, she must have made rather a mess of things to have come down to acting in a touring company. + 

One must be loyal to oneтАЩs old friends, Jane was an old friend. She should see how loyal Nell could be. And with a glow of self-approval she went upstairs and changed into a dress of dove-coloured georgette with which she wore one very beautifully matched string of pearls that George had given her on the last anniversary of their marriage. She took particular pains over her toilet, satisfying thereby some obscure female instinct. + 

тАЬAt any rate,тАЭ she thought, тАЬthe Bleibner man will be there and that will make things easier.тАЭ + 

Though why she expected things to be difficult she could not have explained. + 

George came up to fetch her just as she was applying a final dusting of powder. + 

тАЬJaneтАЩs arrived,тАЭ he said. тАЬSheтАЩs in the drawing room.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd Mr.┬аBleibner?тАЭ + 

тАЬHeтАЩs engaged for lunch, unfortunately. But heтАЩs coming along this afternoon.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh!тАЭ + 

She went downstairs slowly. Absurd to feel so apprehensive. Poor JaneтБатАФone simply must be nice to her. It was such terribly bad luck to have lost her voice and come down to this. + 

Jane, however, did not seem aware of bad luck. She was sprawling back on the sofa in an attitude of easy unconcern, looking round the room with keen appreciation. + 

тАЬHullo, Nell,тАЭ she said. тАЬWell, you seem to have dug yourself in pretty comfortably.тАЭ + 

It was an outrageous remark. Nell stiffened. She couldnтАЩt think for a moment of what to say. She met JaneтАЩs eyes which were full of a mocking maliciousness. They shook hands and Nell said at the same time, тАЬI donтАЩt know what you mean.тАЭ + 

тАЬI meant all this. Palatial dwelling, well-proportioned footmen, highly paid cook, soft-footed servants, possibly a French maid, baths prepared for one with the latest unguents and bath salts, five or six gardeners, luxurious limousines, expensive clothes and, I perceive, genuine pearls! Are you enjoying it all frightfully? I am sure you are.тАЭ + 

тАЬTell me about yourself,тАЭ said Nell, seating herself beside Jane on the sofa. + 

JaneтАЩs eyes narrowed. + 

тАЬThatтАЩs a very clever answer. And I fully deserved it. Sorry, Nell. I was a beast. But you were being so queenly and so gracious. I never can stand people being gracious.тАЭ + 

She got up and began to stroll round the room. + 

тАЬSo this is VernonтАЩs home,тАЭ she said softly. тАЬIтАЩve never seen it beforeтБатАФonly heard him talk about it.тАЭ + 

She was silent for a minute, then asked abruptly: тАЬHow much have you changed?тАЭ + 

Nell explained that everything had been left as it was as far as possible. Curtains, covers, carpets, and so forth, had all been renewed. The old ones were too shabby. And one or two priceless pieces of furniture had been added. Whenever George came across anything that was in keeping with the place he bought it. + 

JaneтАЩs eyes were fixed on her while she made this explanation, and Nell felt uneasy because she couldnтАЩt read the expression in them. + 

George came in before she had finished talking and they went in to lunch. + 

The talk was at first of Serbia, of a few mutual friends out there. Then they passed on to JaneтАЩs affairs. George referred delicately to JaneтАЩs voiceтБатАФthe sorrow he had felt, that everyone must feel. Jane passed it off carelessly enough. + 

тАЬMy own fault,тАЭ she said. тАЬI would sing a certain kind of music and my voice wasnтАЩt made for it.тАЭ + 

Sebastian Levinne, she went on to say, had been a wonderful friend. He was willing now to star her in London, but she had wished to learn her trade first. + 

тАЬSinging in opera is, of course, acting too. But there are all sorts of things to learnтБатАФto manage oneтАЩs speaking voice, for instance. And then oneтАЩs effects are all differentтБатАФthey must be more subtle, less broad.тАЭ + 

Next autumn, she explained, she was to appear in London in a dramatized version of Tosca. + 

Then, dismissing her own affairs, she began to talk of Abbots Puissants. She led George on to discuss his plans, his ideas about the estate. He was made to display himself the complete country squire. + 

There was, apparently, no mockery in JaneтАЩs eyes or her voice, but nevertheless Nell felt acutely uncomfortable. She wished George would stop talking. It was a little ridiculous the way he spoke as though he and his forefathers before him had lived for centuries at Abbots Puissants. + 

After coffee, they went out on the terrace again, and here George was summoned to the telephone and left them with a word of excuse. Nell suggested a tour through the gardens and Jane acquiesced. + 

тАЬIтАЩd like to see everything,тАЭ she said. + 

Nell thought: тАЬItтАЩs VernonтАЩs home she wants to see. ThatтАЩs why sheтАЩs come. But Vernon never meant to her what he meant to me!тАЭ + 

She had a passionate desire to vindicate herself, to make Jane seeтБатАФSee what? She didnтАЩt quite know herself, but she felt that Jane was judging herтБатАФcondemning her, even. + 

She stopped suddenly as they were walking down a long herbaceous border, gay with Michaelmas daisies against the old rose-coloured brick wall behind it. + 

тАЬJane. I want to tell youтБатАФto explainтБатАФтАЭ + 

She paused, gathering herself together. Jane merely looked at her inquiringly. + 

тАЬYou must think itтБатАФvery dreadful of meтБатАФmarrying again so soon.тАЭ + 

тАЬNot at all,тАЭ said Jane. тАЬIt was very sensible.тАЭ + 

Nell didnтАЩt want that. That wasnтАЩt the point of view at all. + 

тАЬI adored VernonтБатАФadored him. When he was killed it nearly broke my heart. I mean it. But I knew so well that he himself wouldnтАЩt wish me to grieve. The dead donтАЩt want us to grieveтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬDonтАЩt they?тАЭ + 

Nell stared at her. + 

тАЬOh, I know youтАЩre voicing the popular idea,тАЭ said Jane. тАЬThe dead want us to be brave and bear up and carry on as usual. They hate us being unhappy about them. ThatтАЩs what everybody goes about sayingтБатАФbut I never have seen that theyтАЩve any foundation for that cheering belief. I think theyтАЩve invented it themselves to make things easier for them. The living donтАЩt all want exactly the same thing, so I donтАЩt see why the dead should either. There must be heaps of selfish dead. If they exist at all, they must be very much the same as they were in life. They canтАЩt be full of beautiful and unselfish feelings all at once. It always makes me laugh when I see a bereaved widower tucking into his breakfast the day after the funeral and saying solemnly: тАШMary wouldnтАЩt wish me to grieve!тАЩ How does he know? Mary may be simply weeping and gnashing her teeth (astral teeth, of course) at seeing him going on as usual just as though she had never existed. Heaps of women like a fuss being made over them. Why should they change their characters when theyтАЩre dead?тАЭ + 

Nell was silent. She couldnтАЩt for the moment collect her thoughts. + 

тАЬNot that I mean Vernon was like that,тАЭ went on Jane. тАЬHe may really have wished you not to grieve. YouтАЩd know best about that, because you knew him better than anyone else.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes,тАЭ said Nell eagerly. тАЬThatтАЩs just it. I know he would want me to be happy. And he wanted me to have Abbots Puissants. I know heтАЩd love to think of my being here.тАЭ + 

тАЬHe wanted to live here with you. ThatтАЩs not quite the same thing.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, but it isnтАЩt as though I were living here with George likeтБатАФlike it would have been with him. Oh! Jane, I want to make you understand. George is a dear, but he isnтАЩtтБатАФhe can never beтБатАФwhatтБатАФwhat Vernon was to me.тАЭ + 

There was a long pause and then Jane said: тАЬYouтАЩre lucky, Nell.тАЭ + 

тАЬIf you think I really love all this luxury! Why, for Vernon IтАЩd give it up in a minute!тАЭ + 

тАЬI wonder.тАЭ + 

тАЬJane! YouтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬYou think you would, butтБатАФI wonder.тАЭ + 

тАЬI did before.тАЭ + 

тАЬNoтБатАФyou only gave up the prospect of it. ThatтАЩs different. It hadnтАЩt eaten into you like it has now.тАЭ + 

тАЬJane!тАЭ + 

NellтАЩs eyes filled with tears. She turned away. + 

тАЬMy dearтБатАФIтАЩm being a beast. ThereтАЩs no harm in what youтАЩve done. I dare say youтАЩre rightтБатАФabout Vernon wishing it. You need kindness and protectionтБатАФbut all the same soft living does eat into one. YouтАЩll know what I mean some day. By the way, I didnтАЩt mean what you thought when I said just now that you were lucky. By lucky, I meant that youтАЩd had the best of both worlds. If youтАЩd married your George when you originally intended, youтАЩd have gone through life with a secret regret, a longing for Vernon, a feeling that youтАЩd been cheated out of life through your own cowardice. And if Vernon had lived you might have grown away from each other, quarrelled, come to hate each other. But as it is, youтАЩve had Vernon, made your sacrifice. YouтАЩve got him where nothing can ever touch him. Love will be a thing of beauty to you forever. And youтАЩve got all the other things as well. This!тАЭ + 

She swept her arm round in a sudden embracing gesture. + 

Nell had hardly paid any attention to the end part of the speech. Her eyes had grown soft and melting. + 

тАЬI know. Everything turns out for the best. They tell you so when youтАЩre a child and later you find it out for yourself. God does know best.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat do you know about God, Nell Chetwynd?тАЭ + 

There was savagery in the question that brought NellтАЩs eyes to Jane in astonishment. She looked menacingтБатАФfiercely accusing. The gentleness of a minute ago was gone. + 

тАЬThe will of God! Would you be able to say that, if GodтАЩs will didnтАЩt happen to coincide with Nell ChetwyndтАЩs comfort, I wonder? You donтАЩt know anything about God or you couldnтАЩt have spoken like that, gently patting God on the back for making life comfortable and easy for you. Do you know a text that used to frighten me in the Bible? This night shall thy soul be required of thee. When God requires your soul of you, be sure youтАЩve got a soul to give Him!тАЭ + 

She paused and then said quietly: тАЬIтАЩll go now. I shouldnтАЩt have come. But I wanted to see VernonтАЩs home. I apologize for what IтАЩve said. But youтАЩre so damned smug, Nell. You donтАЩt know it, but you are. SmugтБатАФthatтАЩs the word. Life to you means yourself and yourself only. What about Vernon? Was it best for him? Do you think he wanted to die right at the beginning of everything he cared for?тАЭ + 

Nell flung her head back defiantly. + 

тАЬI made him happy.тАЭ + 

тАЬI wasnтАЩt thinking of his happiness. I was thinking of his music. You and Abbots PuissantsтБатАФwhat do you matter? Vernon had genius. ThatтАЩs the wrong way of putting itтБатАФhe belonged to his genius. And genius is the hardest master there isтБатАФeverything has got to be sacrificed to it. Your trumpery happiness, even, would have had to go if it stood in the way. Genius has got to be served. Music wanted VernonтБатАФand heтАЩs dead. ThatтАЩs the crying shame, the thing that matters, the thing you never even consider. I know whyтБатАФbecause you were afraid of it, Nell. It doesnтАЩt make for peace and happiness and security. But I tell you, itтАЩs got to be served.тАЭ + 

Suddenly her face relaxed, the old mocking light that Nell hated came back to her eyes. She said: + 

тАЬDonтАЩt worry, Nell. YouтАЩre much the strongest of us all. Protective colouring! I told Sebastian so long ago, and I was right. YouтАЩll endure when weтАЩve all perished. Goodbye. IтАЩm sorry IтАЩve been a devil, but IтАЩm made that way.тАЭ + 

Nell stood staring after her retreating figure. She clenched her hands and said under her breath: + 

тАЬI hate you. IтАЩve always hated you.тАЭ + 

III + 

The day had begun so peacefullyтБатАФand now it was spoilt. Tears came into NellтАЩs eyes. Why couldnтАЩt people let her alone? Jane and her horrid sneering. Jane was a beastтБатАФan uncanny beast. She knew where things hurt you most. + 

Why, even Joe had said that she, Nell, was quite right to marry George! Joe had understood perfectly. Nell felt aggrieved and hurt. Why should Jane be so horrid? And saying things like that about the deadтБатАФirreligious thingsтБатАФwhen everyone knew that the dead liked one to be brave and cheerful. + 

The impertinence of Jane to hurl a text at her head. A woman like Jane, who had lived with people and done all kinds of immoral things. Nell felt a glow of superior virtue. In spite of everything that was said nowadays, there were two different kinds of women. She belonged to one kind and Jane to the other. Jane was attractiveтБатАФthat kind of woman always was attractive. That was why in the past she had felt afraid of Jane. Jane had some queer power over menтБатАФshe was bad through and through. + 

Thinking these thoughts, Nell paced restlessly up and down. She felt disinclined to go back to the house. In any case, there was nothing particular to do this afternoon. There were some letters that must be written some time but she really couldnтАЩt settle to them at present. + 

She had forgotten about her husbandтАЩs American friend, and was quite surprised when George joined her with Mr.┬аBleibner in tow. The American was a tall thin man, very precise. He paid her grave compliments on the house. They were now, he explained, going to view the ruins of the Abbey. George suggested she should come with them. + 

тАЬYou go on,тАЭ said Nell. тАЬIтАЩll follow you presently. I must get a hat. The sun is so hot.тАЭ + 

тАЬShall I get it for you, dear?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, thanks. You and Mr.┬аBleibner go on. YouтАЩll be ages pottering about there, I know.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy, I should say that is very certain to be the case, Mrs.┬аChetwynd. I understand your husband has some idea of restoring the Abbey. That is very interesting.тАЭ + 

тАЬItтАЩs one of our many projects, Mr.┬аBleibner.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou are fortunate to own this place. By the way, I hope youтАЩve no objection, I told my chauffeur (with your husbandтАЩs assent, naturally) that he might stroll round the grounds. He is a most intelligent young man of quite a superior class.тАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs quite all right. And if heтАЩd like to see the house the butler can take him over it later.тАЭ + 

тАЬNow I call that very kind of you, Mrs.┬аChetwynd. What I feel is that we want beauty appreciated by all classes. The idea thatтАЩs going to weld together the League of NationsтБатАФтАЭ + 

Nell felt suddenly that she couldnтАЩt bear to hear Mr.┬аBleibnerтАЩs views on the League of Nations. They were sure to be ponderous and lengthy. She excused herself on the plea of the hot sun. + 

Some Americans could be very boring. What a mercy George was not like that! Dear GeorgeтБатАФreally, he was very nearly perfect. She experienced again that warm happy feeling that had surged over her earlier in the day. + 

What an idiot she was to have let herself be upset by Jane! Jane of all people! What did it matter what Jane said or thought? It didnтАЩt, of courseтБатАФbut there was something about JaneтБатАФshe had the power ofтБатАФwellтБатАФupsetting one. + 

But that was all over now. The old tide of reassurance and safety welled up again. Abbots Puissants, George, the tender memory of Vernon. Everything was all right. + 

She ran down the stairs happily, hat in hand. She paused a minute to adjust it in front of the mirror. She would go now and join them at the Abbey. She would make herself absolutely charming to Mr.┬аBleibner. + 

She went down the steps of the terrace and along the garden walk. It was later than she thought. The sun was not far from settingтБатАФa beautiful sunset with a crimson sky. + 

By the goldfish pond a young man in chauffeurтАЩs livery was standing with his back to her. He turned at her approach and civilly raised a finger to his cap. + 

She stood stock still and slowly an unconscious hand crept up to her heart as she stood there staring. + 

IV + 

George Green stared. + 

Then he ejaculated to himself: тАЬWell, thatтАЩs a rum go.тАЭ + 

On arrival at their destination, his master had said to him: тАЬThis is one of the oldest and most interesting places in England, Green. I shall be here at least an hourтБатАФperhaps longer. I will ask Mr.┬аChetwynd if you may stroll about the grounds.тАЭ + 

A kind old buffer, Green had thought indulgently, but terribly keen on what was called тАЬuplift.тАЭ CouldnтАЩt let one alone. And he had that extraordinary American reverence for anything that was hallowed by antiquity. + 

Certainly, this was a nice old place, though. He had looked up at it appreciatively. HeтАЩd seen pictures of it somewhere, he was sure. He wouldnтАЩt mind having a stroll round as heтАЩd been told to do. + 

It was well kept up, he noticed that. Who owned it? Some American chap? These Americans, they had all the money. He wondered who had owned it originally. Whoever it was must have been sick having to let it go. + 

He thought wistfully: тАЬI wish IтАЩd been born a toff. IтАЩd like to own a place like this.тАЭ + 

He had wandered some way through the gardens. In the distance he had noticed a heap of ruins and amongst them two figures, one of which he recognized as being that of his employer. Funny old josserтБатАФalways poking about ruins. + 

The sun was setting, there was a wonderful lurid sky, and against it Abbots Puissants stood out in all its beauty. + 

Funny, the way you thought of things as having happened before! Just for a minute Green could have sworn that he had once stood just where he was standing now and seen the house outlined against a red sky. Could swear, too, that he had felt just that same keen pang as of something that hurt. But it wanted something elseтБатАФa woman with red hair like the sunset. + 

There had been a step behind him and he had started and turned. For a minute he had felt a vague pang of disappointment. For standing there was a young slender woman and her hair, escaping each side from under her hat, was golden, not red. + 

He had touched his cap respectfully. + 

A queer sort of lady, he thought. She had stared at him with every bit of colour draining slowly from her face. She looked absolutely terrified. + 

Then, with a sudden gasp, she turned and almost ran down the path. + 

It was then that he ejaculated: тАЬWell, thatтАЩs a rum go.тАЭ + 

She must, he decided, be a bit queer in the head. + 

He resumed his aimless strolling. + 

II + 

I + 

Sebastian Levinne was in his office going into the details of a ticklish contract when a telegram was brought to him. He opened it carelessly, for he received forty or fifty telegrams a day. After he had read it, he held it in his hand looking at it. + 

Then he crumpled it up, slipped it into his pocket and spoke to Lewis, his right-hand man. + 

тАЬGet on with this thing as best you can,тАЭ he said curtly. тАЬIтАЩm called out of town.тАЭ + 

He took no heed of the protestations that arose, but left the room. He paused to tell his secretary to see to the cancelling of various appointments and then went home, packed a bag, and took a taxi to Waterloo. There he unfolded the telegram again and read it. + 

Please come at once if you can very urgent Jane Wilts Hotel Wiltsbury. + 

It was a proof of his confidence and respect for Jane that he never hesitated. He trusted Jane as he trusted no one else in the world. If Jane said a thing was urgent, it was urgent. He obeyed the summons without wasting a thought of regret on the necessary complications it would cause. For no one else in the world, be it said, would he have done that. + 

On arriving at Wiltsbury he drove straight to the hotel and asked for her. She had engaged a private room, and there she met him with outstretched hands. + 

тАЬSebastianтБатАФmy dearтБатАФyouтАЩve been marvellously quick.тАЭ + 

тАЬI came at once.тАЭ He slipped off his coat and threw it over the back of a chair. тАЬWhat is it, Jane?тАЭ + 

тАЬItтАЩs Vernon.тАЭ + 

Sebastian looked puzzled. + 

тАЬWhat about him?тАЭ + 

тАЬHeтАЩs not dead. IтАЩve seen him.тАЭ + 

Sebastian stared at her for a minute, then drew a chair to the table and sat down. + 

тАЬItтАЩs not like you, Jane, but I think, for once in your life, you must have been mistaken.тАЭ + 

тАЬI wasnтАЩt mistaken. ItтАЩs possible, I suppose, for the War Office to have made an error?тАЭ + 

тАЬErrors have been made more than onceтБатАФbut theyтАЩve usually been contradicted fairly soon. It stands to reason that they must be. If VernonтАЩs alive, whatтАЩs he been doing all this time?тАЭ + 

She shook her head. + 

тАЬThat I canтАЩt say. But IтАЩm as sure about its being Vernon as I am that itтАЩs you here now.тАЭ + 

She spoke curtly but very confidently. + 

He stared at her very hard, then nodded. + 

тАЬTell me,тАЭ he said. + 

Jane spoke quietly and composedly. + 

тАЬThereтАЩs an American here, a Mr.┬аBleibner. I met him out in Serbia. We recognized each other in the street. He told me he was staying at the County Hotel and asked me to lunch today. I went. Afterwards it was raining. He wouldnтАЩt hear of my walking back. His car was there and would take me. His car did take me. Sebastian, the chauffeur was VernonтБатАФand he didnтАЩt know me.тАЭ + 

Sebastian considered the matter. тАЬYouтАЩre sure you werenтАЩt deceived by some strong resemblance?тАЭ + 

тАЬPerfectly sure.тАЭ + 

тАЬThen why didnтАЩt Vernon recognize you? He was pretending, I suppose.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, I donтАЩt think soтБатАФin fact, IтАЩm sure he wasnтАЩt. He would be bound to give some signтБатАФa startтБатАФsomething. He couldnтАЩt have been expecting to see me. He couldnтАЩt have controlled his first surprise. Besides, he lookedтБатАФdifferent.тАЭ + 

тАЬHow different?тАЭ + 

Jane considered. + 

тАЬItтАЩs hard to explain. Rather happy and jolly andтБатАФjust faintlyтБатАФlike his mother.тАЭ + 

тАЬExtraordinary,тАЭ said Sebastian. тАЬIтАЩm glad you sent for me. If it is VernonтБатАФwell, itтАЩs going to be the devil of a business. Nell having married again and everything. We donтАЩt want reporters coming down like wolves on the fold. I suppose thereтАЩll have to be some publicity.тАЭ He got up, walked up and down. тАЬThe first thing is to get hold of Bleibner.тАЭ + 

тАЬI telephoned to him, asking him to be here at six-thirty. I didnтАЩt dare leave it, though I was afraid you wouldnтАЩt be able to get here so soon. Bleibner will be here any minute.тАЭ + 

тАЬGood for you, Jane. We must hear what heтАЩs got to say.тАЭ + 

There was a knock at the door and Mr.┬аBleibner was announced. Jane rose to meet him. + 

тАЬItтАЩs very good of you to come, Mr.┬аBleibner,тАЭ she began. + 

тАЬNot at all,тАЭ said the American. тАЬAlways delighted to oblige a lady. And you said that the matter you wanted to see me about was urgent.тАЭ + 

тАЬIt is. This is Mr.┬аSebastian Levinne.тАЭ + 

тАЬThe Mr.┬аSebastian Levinne? IтАЩm very pleased to meet you, sir.тАЭ + 

The two men shook hands. + 

тАЬAnd now, Mr.┬аBleibner,тАЭ said Jane. тАЬIтАЩll come straight to what I want to talk to you about. How long have you had your chauffeur, and what can you tell us about him?тАЭ + 

Mr.┬аBleibner was plainly surprised and showed it. + 

тАЬGreen? You want to know about Green?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

тАЬWellтБатАФтАЭ The American reflected. тАЬIтАЩve no objections to telling you what I know. I guess you wouldnтАЩt ask without a good reason. I know you well enough for that, Miss Harding. I picked up Green in Holland not long after the armistice. He was working in a local garage. I discovered he was an Englishman and began to take an interest in him. I asked him his history and he was pretty vague about it. I thought at first he had something to conceal, but I soon convinced myself that he was genuine enough. The man was in a kind of mental fog. He knew his name and where he came from but very little else.тАЭ + 

тАЬLost memory,тАЭ said Sebastian softly. тАЬI see.тАЭ + 

тАЬHis father was killed in the South African war, he told me. He remembered his father singing in the village choir, and he remembered a brother whom he used to call Squirrel.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd he was quite sure about his own name?тАЭ + 

тАЬOh! yes. As a matter of fact heтАЩd got it written down in a small pocketbook. There was an accident, you know. He was knocked down by a lorry. ThatтАЩs how they knew who he was. They asked him if his name was Green and he said YesтБатАФGeorge. He was very popular at the garage, he was so sunny and lighthearted. I donтАЩt believe IтАЩve ever seen Green out of temper. + 

тАЬWell, I took a fancy to the young chap. IтАЩve seen a few shell-shocked cases, and his state wasnтАЩt any mystery to me. He showed me the entry in his pocketbook, and I made a few inquiries. I soon found the reasonтБатАФthere always is a reason, you knowтБатАФfor his loss of memory. Corporal George Green, London Fusiliers, was a deserter. + 

тАЬThere, you have it. HeтАЩd funked thingsтБатАФand being a decent young fellow really, he couldnтАЩt face the fact. I explained it all to him. He saidтБатАФrather wonderingly: тАШI shouldnтАЩt have thought I could ever desertтБатАФnot desert.тАЩ I explained to him that that point of view was just the reason he couldnтАЩt remember. He couldnтАЩt remember because he didnтАЩt want to remember. + 

тАЬHe listened but I donтАЩt think he was very convinced. I felt, and still feel, extremely sorry for him. I didnтАЩt think there was any obligation on my part to report his existence to the military authorities. I took him into my service and offered him a chance to make good. IтАЩve never had cause to regret it. HeтАЩs an excellent chauffeurтБатАФpunctual, intelligent, a good mechanic, and always sunny tempered and obliging.тАЭ + 

Mr.┬аBleibner paused and looked inquiringly at Jane and Sebastian. Their pale serious faces impressed him. + 

тАЬItтАЩs frightening,тАЭ said Jane in her low voice. тАЬItтАЩs one of the most frightening things that could happen.тАЭ + 

Sebastian took her hand and squeezed it. + 

тАЬItтАЩs all right, Jane.тАЭ + 

Jane roused herself with a slight shiver and spoke to the American. + 

тАЬI think itтАЩs our turn to explain. You see, Mr.┬аBleibner, in your chauffeur I recognized an old friendтБатАФand he didnтАЩt recognize me.тАЭ + 

тАЬInтАСdeed!тАЭ + 

тАЬBut his name wasnтАЩt Green,тАЭ said Sebastian. + 

тАЬNo? You mean he enlisted under another name?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo. ThereтАЩs something there that seems incomprehensible. I suppose we shall get at it some day. In the meantime, I will ask you, Mr.┬аBleibner, not to repeat this conversation to anyone. ThereтАЩs a wife in the matter, andтБатАФoh! many other considerations.тАЭ + 

тАЬMy dear sir,тАЭ said Mr.┬аBleibner. тАЬYou can trust me to be absolutely silent. But what next? Do you want to see Green?тАЭ + 

Sebastian looked at Jane and she bowed her head. + 

тАЬYes,тАЭ said Sebastian slowly. тАЬI think perhaps that would be the best plan.тАЭ + 

The American rose. + 

тАЬHeтАЩs below now. He brought me here. IтАЩll send him up right away.тАЭ + 

II + 

George Green mounted the stairs with his usual buoyant step. As he did so he wondered what had happened to upset the old josserтБатАФby that term meaning his employer. Very queer the old buffer had looked. + 

тАЬThe door at the top of the stairs,тАЭ Mr.┬аBleibner had said. + 

George Green rapped on it sharply with his knuckles and waited. A voice called тАЬCome inтАЭ and he obeyed. + 

There were two people in the roomтБатАФthe lady he had driven home yesterday (whom he thought of in his own mind as a tip-topper) and a big, rather fat man with a very yellow face and projecting ears. His face seemed vaguely familiar to the chauffeur. For a moment he stood there while they both stared at him. He thought: тАЬWhatтАЩs the matter with everybody this evening?тАЭ + 

He said, тАЬYes, sir?тАЭ in a respectful voice to the yellow gentleman. He went on: тАЬMr.┬аBleibner told me to come up.тАЭ + 

The yellow gentleman seemed to recover himself. + 

тАЬYes, yes,тАЭ he said. тАЬThatтАЩs right. Sit downтБатАФerтБатАФGreen. ThatтАЩs your name, isnтАЩt it?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, sir. George Green.тАЭ + 

He sat down, respectfully, in the chair indicated. The yellow gentleman handed him a cigarette case and said, тАЬHelp yourself.тАЭ And all the time, his eyes, small piercing eyes, never left GreenтАЩs face. That intent burning gaze made the chauffeur uneasy. What was up with everyone tonight? + 

тАЬI wanted to ask you a few questions. To begin with, have you ever seen me before?тАЭ + 

Green shook his head. + 

тАЬNo, sir.тАЭ + 

тАЬSure?тАЭ persisted the other. + 

A faint trace of uncertainty crept into GreenтАЩs voice. + 

тАЬIтБатАФI donтАЩt think so,тАЭ he said doubtfully. + 

тАЬMy name is Sebastian Levinne.тАЭ + 

The chauffeurтАЩs face cleared. + 

тАЬOf course, sir, IтАЩve seen your picture in the papers. I thought it seemed familiar somehow.тАЭ + 

There was a pause, and then Sebastian Levinne asked casually: + 

тАЬHave you ever heard the name of Vernon Deyre?тАЭ + 

тАЬVernon Deyre,тАЭ Green repeated the name thoughtfully. He frowned perplexedly. тАЬThe name seems somehow familiar to me, sir, but I canтАЩt quite place it.тАЭ He paused, the frown deepening. тАЬI think IтАЩve heard it.тАЭ And then added, тАЬThe gentlemanтАЩs dead, isnтАЩt he?тАЭ + 

тАЬSo thatтАЩs your impression, is it? That the gentleman is dead.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, sir, and a goodтБатАФтАЭ + 

He stopped suddenly, crimsoning. + 

тАЬGo on,тАЭ said Levinne. тАЬWhat were you going to say?тАЭ He added shrewdly, perceiving where the trouble lay, тАЬYou need not mince your words. Mr.┬аDeyre was no relation of mine.тАЭ + 

The chauffeur accepted the implication. + 

тАЬI was going to say a good job, tooтБатАФbut I donтАЩt know that I ought to say it, since I canтАЩt remember anything about him. But IтАЩve got a kind of impression thatтБатАФwell, that he was best out of the way, so to speak. Made rather a mess of things, hadnтАЩt he?тАЭ + 

тАЬYou knew him?тАЭ + 

The frown deepened in an agony of attempted recollection. + 

тАЬIтАЩm sorry, sir,тАЭ the chauffeur apologized. тАЬSince the war things seemed to have got a bit mixed up. I canтАЩt always recollect things clearly. I donтАЩt know where I came across Mr.┬аDeyre, and why I disliked him, but I do know that IтАЩm thankful to hear that heтАЩs dead. He was no goodтБатАФyou can take my word for that.тАЭ + 

There was a silence, only broken by something like a smothered sob from the other occupant of the room. Levinne turned to her. + 

тАЬTelephone to the theatre, Jane,тАЭ he said. тАЬYou canтАЩt appear tonight.тАЭ + 

She nodded and left the room. Levinne looked after her and then said abruptly: + 

тАЬYouтАЩve seen Miss Harding before?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, sir. I drove her home today.тАЭ + 

Levinne sighed. Green looked at him inquiringly. + 

тАЬIsтБатАФis that all, sir? IтАЩm sorry to have been so little use. I know IтАЩve been a bitтБатАФwell, queer since the war. My own fault. Perhaps Mr.┬аBleibner told youтБатАФIтБатАФI didnтАЩt do my duty as I should have done.тАЭ + 

His face flushed but he brought out the words resolutely. Had the old josser told them or not? Better to say that anyway. At the same time, a pang of shame pierced him keenly. He was a deserter, a man who had run away! A rotten business. + 

Jane Harding came back into the room and resumed her place behind the table. She looked paler than when she had gone out, Green thought. Curious eyes she hadтБатАФso deep and tragic. He wondered what she was thinking about. Perhaps she had been engaged to this Mr.┬аDeyre. No, Mr.┬аLevinne wouldnтАЩt have urged him to speak out if that had been the case. It was probably all to do with money. A will, or something like that. + 

Mr.┬аLevinne began questioning him again. He made no reference to the last sentence. + 

тАЬYour father was killed in the Boer War, I believe?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, sir.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou remember him?тАЭ + 

тАЬOh! yes, sir.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat did he look like?тАЭ + 

Green smiled. The memory was pleasant to him. + 

тАЬA burly sort of chap. Mutton chop whiskers. Very bright blue eyes. I remember him as well as anything singing in the choir. Baritone voice he had.тАЭ + 

He smiled happily. + 

тАЬAnd he was killed in the Boer War?тАЭ + 

A sudden look of doubt crept into GreenтАЩs face. He seemed worriedтБатАФdistressed. His eyes looked pathetically across the table like a dog at fault. + 

тАЬItтАЩs queer,тАЭ he said. тАЬI never thought of that. HeтАЩd be too old. HeтБатАФand yet IтАЩd swearтБатАФIтАЩm sureтБатАФтАЭ + 

The look of distress in his eyes was so acute that the other said, тАЬNever mind,тАЭ and went on: тАЬAre you married, Green?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, sir.тАЭ + 

The answer came with prompt assurance. + 

тАЬYou seem very certain about that,тАЭ said Mr.┬аLevinne smiling. + 

тАЬI am, sir. It leads to nothing but troubleтБатАФmixing yourself up with women.тАЭ He stopped abruptly and said to Jane: тАЬI beg your pardon.тАЭ + 

She smiled faintly and said: тАЬIt doesnтАЩt matter.тАЭ + 

There was a pause. Levinne turned to her and said something so quickly that Green could not catch it. It sounded like: + 

тАЬExtraordinary likeness to Sydney Bent. Never imagined it was there.тАЭ + 

Then they both stared at him again. + 

And suddenly he was afraidтБатАФdefinitely childishly afraidтБатАФin the same way that he remembered being afraid of the dark when he was a baby. There was something upтБатАФthat was how he put it to himselfтБатАФand these two knew it. Something about him. + 

He leant forwardтБатАФacutely apprehensive. + 

тАЬWhatтАЩs the matter?тАЭ he said sharply. тАЬThereтАЩs somethingтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

They didnтАЩt deny itтБатАФjust continued to look at him. + 

And his terror grew. Why couldnтАЩt they tell a chap? They knew something that he didnтАЩt. Something dreadful. He said again, and this time his voice was high and shrill: + 

тАЬWhatтАЩs the matter?тАЭ + 

The lady got upтБатАФhe noticed in the background of his mind as it were how splendidly she moved. She was like a statue heтАЩd seen somewhere. She came round the table and laid a hand on his shoulder. She said comfortingly and reassuringly: тАЬItтАЩs all right. You mustnтАЩt be frightened.тАЭ + 

But GreenтАЩs eyes continued to question Levinne. This man knewтБатАФthis man was going to tell him. What was this horrible thing that they knew and he didnтАЩt? + 

тАЬVery odd things have happened in this war,тАЭ began Levinne. тАЬPeople have sometimes forgotten their own names.тАЭ + 

He paused significantly, but the significance was lost on Green. He said with a momentary return to cheerfulness: + 

тАЬIтАЩm not as bad as that. IтАЩve never forgotten my name.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut you have.тАЭ He stopped, then went on: тАЬYour real name is Vernon Deyre.тАЭ + 

The announcement ought to have been dramatic, but it wasnтАЩt. The words seemed to Green simply silly. He looked amused. + 

тАЬIтАЩm Mr.┬аVernon Deyre? You mean IтАЩm his double or something?тАЭ + 

тАЬI mean you are him.тАЭ + 

Green laughed frankly. + 

тАЬI canтАЩt monkey about with that stuff, sir. Not even if it means a title or a fortune! Whatever the resemblance, IтАЩd be bound to be found out.тАЭ + 

Sebastian Levinne leant forward over the table and rapped out each word separately with emphasis: + 

тАЬYouтБатАФareтБатАФVernonтБатАФDeyre.тАЭ + 

Green stared. The emphasis impressed him. + 

тАЬYouтАЩre kidding me?тАЭ + 

Levinne slowly shook his head. Green turned suddenly to the woman who stood beside him. Her eyes, very grave and absolutely assured, met his. She said very quietly: + 

тАЬYou are Vernon Deyre. We both know it.тАЭ + 

There was dead silence in the room. To Green, it seemed as though the whole world was spinning round. It was like a fairy story, fantastic and impossible. And yet something about these two compelled credence. He said uncertainly: + 

тАЬButтБатАФbut things donтАЩt happen like that. You couldnтАЩt forget your own name!тАЭ + 

тАЬEvidentlyтБатАФsince you have done so.тАЭ + 

тАЬButтБатАФbut, look here, sirтБатАФI know IтАЩm George Green. IтБатАФwell, I just know it!тАЭ + 

He looked at them triumphantly, but slowly and remorselessly Sebastian Levinne shook his head. + 

тАЬI donтАЩt know how thatтАЩs come about,тАЭ he said. тАЬA doctor would probably be able to tell you. But I do know thisтБатАФthat you are my friend, Vernon Deyre. There is no possible doubt of that.тАЭ + 

тАЬButтБатАФbut, if thatтАЩs true, I ought to know it.тАЭ + 

He felt bewildered, horribly uncertain. A strange sickening world where you couldnтАЩt be sure of anything. These were kindly sane people, he trusted them. What they said must be soтБатАФand yet something in him refused to be convinced. They were sorry for himтБатАФhe felt that. And that frightened him. There was something more yetтБатАФsomething that he hadnтАЩt been told. + 

тАЬWho is he?тАЭ he said sharply. тАЬThis Vernon Deyre, I mean.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou come from this part of the world. You were born and spent most of your childhood at a place called Abbots PuissantsтБатАФтАЭ + 

Green interrupted him in astonishment. + 

тАЬAbbots Puissants? Why, I drove Mr.┬аBleibner there yesterday. And you say itтАЩs my old home, and I never recognized it!тАЭ + 

He felt suddenly buoyed up and scornful. The whole thing was a pack of lies! Of course it was! He had known it all the time. These people were honest, but they were mistaken. He felt relievedтБатАФhappier. + 

тАЬAfter that you went to live near Birmingham,тАЭ continued Levinne. тАЬYou went to school at Eton and from there you went on to Cambridge. After that you went to London and studied music. You composed an opera.тАЭ + 

Green laughed outright. + 

тАЬThere youтАЩre quite wrong, sir. Why, I donтАЩt know one note of music from another.тАЭ + 

тАЬThe war broke out. You obtained a commission in the yeomanry. You were marriedтБатАФтАЭ he paused, but Green gave no signтБатАФтАЬand went out to France. In the spring of the following year you were reported Killed in Action.тАЭ + 

Green stared at him incredulously. What sort of a rigmarole was this? He couldnтАЩt remember a thing about any of it. + 

тАЬThere must be some mistake,тАЭ he said confidently. тАЬMr.┬аDeyre must have been what they call my тАШdouble.тАЩтАКтАЭ + 

тАЬThere is no mistake, Vernon,тАЭ said Jane Harding. + 

Green looked from her to Sebastian. The confident intimacy of her tone had done more to convince him than anything else. He thought: тАЬThis is awful. A nightmare. Such things canтАЩt happen.тАЭ He began to shake all over, unable to stop. + 

Levinne got up, mixed him a stiff drink from materials that stood on a tray in the corner and brought it back to him. + 

тАЬSwallow this,тАЭ he said. тАЬAnd youтАЩll feel better. ItтАЩs been a shock.тАЭ + 

Green gulped down the draught. It steadied him. The trembling ceased. + 

тАЬBefore God, sir,тАЭ he said. тАЬIs this true?тАЭ + 

тАЬBefore God, it is,тАЭ said Sebastian. + 

He brought a chair forward, sat down close by his friend. + 

тАЬVernon, dear old chapтБатАФdonтАЩt you remember me at all?тАЭ + 

Green stared at himтБатАФan anguished stare. Something seemed to stir ever so faintly. How it hurt, this trying to remember! There was somethingтБатАФwhat was it? He said doubtfully: + 

тАЬYouтБатАФyouтАЩve grown up.тАЭ He stretched out a hand and touched SebastianтАЩs ear. тАЬI seem to rememberтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬHe remembers your ears, Sebastian,тАЭ cried Jane and going over to the mantelpiece she laid her head down upon it and began to laugh. + 

тАЬStop it, Jane.тАЭ Sebastian rose, poured out another drink and took it to her. тАЬSome medicine for you.тАЭ + 

She drank it, handed the glass back to him, smiled faintly and said: тАЬIтАЩm sorry. I wonтАЩt do it again.тАЭ + 

Green was going on with his discoveries. + 

тАЬYouтАЩreтБатАФyouтАЩre not a brother, are you? No, you lived next door. ThatтАЩs itтБатАФyou lived next doorтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs right, old chap.тАЭ Sebastian patted him on the shoulder. тАЬDonтАЩt worry to thinkтБатАФitтАЩll come back soon. Take it easy.тАЭ + 

Green looked at Jane. He said timidly and politely: + 

тАЬWere youтБатАФare youтБатАФmy sister? I seem to remember something about a sister.тАЭ + 

Jane shook her head, unable to speak. Green flushed. + 

тАЬIтАЩm sorry. I shouldnтАЩt haveтБатАФтАЭ + 

Sebastian interrupted. + 

тАЬYou didnтАЩt have a sister. There was a cousin who lived with you. Her name was Josephine. We called her Joe.тАЭ + 

Green pondered. + 

тАЬJosephineтБатАФJoe. Yes, I seem to remember something about that.тАЭ He paused and then reiterated pathetically: тАЬAre you sure my name isnтАЩt Green?тАЭ + 

тАЬQuite sure. Do you still feel it is?тАЭ + 

тАЬYesтБатАКтБатАж And you say I make up musicтБатАФmusic of my own? Highbrow stuffтБатАФnot ragtime?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

тАЬIt all seemsтБатАФwell, mad. Just thatтБатАФmad!тАЭ + 

тАЬYou mustnтАЩt worry,тАЭ said Jane gently. тАЬI dare say we have been wrong to tell you all this the way we have.тАЭ + 

Green looked from one to the other of them. He felt dazed. + 

тАЬWhat am I to do?тАЭ he asked helplessly. + 

Sebastian gave an answer with decision. + 

тАЬYou must stay here with us. YouтАЩve had a great shock, you know. IтАЩll go and square things with old Bleibner. HeтАЩs a very decent chap and heтАЩll understand.тАЭ + 

тАЬI shouldnтАЩt like to put him out in any way. HeтАЩs been a thundering good boss to me.тАЭ + 

тАЬHeтАЩll understand. IтАЩve already told him something.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat about the car? I donтАЩt like to think of another chap driving that car. SheтАЩs running now as sweetlyтБатАФтАЭ + 

He was once again the chauffeur, intent on his charge. + 

тАЬI know. I know.тАЭ Sebastian was impatient. тАЬBut the great thing, my dear fellow, is to get you right as soon as possible. We want to get a first-class doctor on to you.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhatтАЩs a doctor got to do with it?тАЭ Green was slightly hostile. тАЬIтАЩm perfectly fit.тАЭ + 

тАЬPerhaps, a doctor ought to see you all the same. Not hereтБатАФin London. We donтАЩt want any talk down here.тАЭ + 

Something in the tone of the speakerтАЩs voice attracted GreenтАЩs attention. The flush came over his face. + 

тАЬYou mean the deserting businessтБатАКтБатАжтАК?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, no. To tell the truth, I canтАЩt get the hang of that. I mean something quite different.тАЭ + 

Green looked at him inquiringly. + 

Sebastian thought: тАЬWell, I suppose heтАЩs got to know sometime.тАЭ Aloud he said: + 

тАЬYou see, thinking you were dead, your wife hasтБатАФwellтБатАФmarried again.тАЭ + 

He was a little afraid of the effect of those words. But Green seemed to see the matter in a humorous light. + 

тАЬThat is a bit awkward,тАЭ he said with a grin. + 

тАЬIt doesnтАЩt upset you in any way?тАЭ + 

тАЬYou canтАЩt be upset by a thing you donтАЩt remember.тАЭ He paused, as though really considering the matter for the first time. тАЬWas Mr.┬аDeyreтБатАФI mean, was IтБатАФfond of her?тАЭ + 

тАЬWellтБатАФyes.тАЭ + 

But again the grin came over GreenтАЩs face. + 

тАЬAnd I to be so positive I wasnтАЩt married. All the sameтАЭтБатАФhis face changedтБатАФтАЬitтАЩs rather frighteningтБатАФall this!тАЭ + 

He looked suddenly at Jane, as though seeking assurance. + 

тАЬDear Vernon,тАЭ she said, тАЬit will be all right.тАЭ + 

She paused, and then said in a quiet casual tone: + 

тАЬYou drove Mr.┬аBleibner over to Abbots Puissants, you say. Did youтБатАФdid you see anyone there? Any of the people of the house?тАЭ + 

тАЬI saw Mr.┬аChetwyndтБатАФand I saw a lady in the sunk gardens. I took her to be Mrs.┬аChetwynd, fair-haired and good-looking.тАЭ + 

тАЬDidтБатАФdid she see you?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes. SeemedтБатАФwell, scared. Went dead-white and bolted like a rabbit.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, God,тАЭ said Jane, and bit off the exclamation almost before it was uttered. + 

Green was cogitating quietly over the matter. + 

тАЬPerhaps she thought she knew me,тАЭ he said. тАЬShe must have been one of them who knew himтБатАФmeтБатАФin the old days, and it gave her a turn. Yes, that must have been it.тАЭ + 

He was quite happy with his solution. + 

Suddenly he asked: тАЬHad my mother got red hair?тАЭ + 

Jane nodded. + 

тАЬThen that was it.тАЭ He looked up apologetically. тАЬSorry. I was just thinking of something.тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩll go and see Bleibner now,тАЭ said Sebastian. тАЬJane will look after you.тАЭ + 

He left the room. Green leant forward in his chair, his head held between his hands. He felt acutely uncomfortable and miserableтБатАФespecially with Jane. Clearly he ought to know herтБатАФand he didnтАЩt. She had said тАЬDear VernonтАЭ just now. It was terribly awkward when people knew you and you felt they were strangers. If he spoke to her he supposed he ought to call her JaneтБатАФbut he couldnтАЩt. She was a stranger. Still he supposed heтАЩd have to get used to it. TheyтАЩd have to be Sebastian and George and Jane togetherтБатАФno, not GeorgeтБатАФVernon. Silly sort of name, Vernon. Probably heтАЩd been a silly sort of chap. + 

тАЬI mean,тАЭ he thought, trying desperately to force the realization upon himself, тАЬI must have been a silly sort of chap.тАЭ + 

He felt horribly lonelyтБатАФcut off from reality. He looked up to find Jane watching him, and the pity and understanding in her eyes made him feel a shade less forlorn. + 

тАЬItтАЩs rather terrible just at first, isnтАЩt it?тАЭ she said. + 

He said politely: тАЬIt is rather difficult. You donтАЩtтБатАФyou donтАЩt know where you are with things.тАЭ + 

тАЬI understand.тАЭ + 

She said no moreтБатАФjust sat there quietly beside him. His head jerked forward. He began to doze. In reality he only slept for a few minutes, but it seemed to him hours. Jane had turned all the lamps out but one. He woke with a start. She said quickly: + 

тАЬItтАЩs all right.тАЭ + 

He stared at her, his breath coming in gasps. He was still in the nightmare then, he hadnтАЩt wakened. And there was something worse to comeтБатАФsomething he didnтАЩt know yet. He was sure of it. That was why they all looked at him so pityingly. + 

Jane got up suddenly. Wildly, he cried out: + 

тАЬStay with me. Oh! please stay with me.тАЭ + 

He couldnтАЩt understand why her face should suddenly twist with pain. What was there in what he had said to make her look like that? He said again: тАЬDonтАЩt leave me. Stay with me.тАЭ + 

She sat down again beside him and took his hand in hers. She said very gently: + 

тАЬI wonтАЩt go away.тАЭ + 

He felt soothed, reassured. After a minute or two he dozed again. He woke quietly this time. The room was as before and his hand was still in JaneтАЩs. He spoke diffidently: + 

тАЬYouтБатАФyou arenтАЩt my sister? You wereтБатАФyou are, I meanтБатАФa friend of mine?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

тАЬA great friend?тАЭ + 

тАЬA great friend.тАЭ + 

He paused. Yet the conviction in his mind was growing stronger and stronger. He blurted out suddenly: + 

тАЬYouтАЩreтБатАФyouтАЩre my wife, arenтАЩt you?тАЭ + 

He was sure of it. + 

She drew her hand away. He couldnтАЩt understand the look in her face. It frightened him. She got up. + 

тАЬNo,тАЭ she said. тАЬIтАЩm not your wife.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh! IтАЩm sorry. I thoughtтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬItтАЩs all right.тАЭ + 

And at that minute Sebastian came back. His eyes went to Jane. She said, with a little twisted smile: + 

тАЬIтАЩm glad youтАЩve come.тБатАКтБатАж IтАЩmтБатАФglad youтАЩve comeтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

III + 

Jane and Sebastian talked long into the night. What was to be done? Who was to be told? + 

There was Nell and NellтАЩs position to consider. Presumably Nell should be told first of all. She was the one most vitally concerned. + 

Jane agreed. тАЬIf she doesnтАЩt know already.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou think she knows?тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, evidently she met Vernon that day face to face.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, but she must have thought it just a very strong resemblance.тАЭ + 

Jane was silent. + 

тАЬDonтАЩt you think so?тАЭ + 

тАЬI donтАЩt know.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut hang it all, Jane, if sheтАЩd recognized him, sheтАЩd have done somethingтБатАФgot hold of him or Bleibner. ItтАЩs two days ago now.тАЭ + 

тАЬI know.тАЭ + 

тАЬShe canтАЩt have recognized him. She just saw BleibnerтАЩs chauffeur and his likeness to Vernon gave her such a shock that she couldnтАЩt stand it and rushed away.тАЭ + 

тАЬI suppose so.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhatтАЩs in your mind, Jane?тАЭ + 

тАЬWe recognized him, Sebastian.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou mean you did. IтАЩd been told by you.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut you would have known him anywhere, wouldnтАЩt you?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, I wouldтБатАКтБатАж But then I know him so well.тАЭ + 

Jane said in a hard voice: тАЬSo does Nell.тАЭ + 

Sebastian looked sharply at her and said, тАЬWhat are you getting at, Jane?тАЭ + 

тАЬI donтАЩt know.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, you do. What do you really think happened?тАЭ + 

Jane paused before speaking. + 

тАЬI think Nell came upon him suddenly in the garden and thought it was Vernon. Afterwards she persuaded herself that it had only been a chance resemblance that had upset her so.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, thatтАЩs very much what I said.тАЭ + 

He was a little surprised when she said meekly: тАЬYes, it is.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhatтАЩs the difference?тАЭ + 

тАЬPractically none, onlyтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬYes?тАЭ + 

тАЬYou and I would have wanted to believe it was Vernon even if it wasnтАЩt.тАЭ + 

тАЬWouldnтАЩt Nell? Surely she hasnтАЩt come to care for George Chetwynd to such an extentтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬNell is very fond of George, but Vernon is the only person sheтАЩs ever been in love with.тАЭ + 

тАЬThen thatтАЩs all right. Or is it worse that way? ItтАЩs the deuce of a tangle. What about his people?тБатАФMrs.┬аDeyre and the Bents?тАЭ + 

Jane said decidedly: тАЬNell must be told before they are. Mrs.┬аDeyre will broadcast it over England as soon as she knows, and that will be very unfair to both Vernon and Nell.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, I think youтАЩre right. Now my plan is this. To take Vernon up to town tomorrow and go and see a specialistтБатАФthen be guided by what he advises.тАЭ + 

Jane said Yes, she thought that would be the best plan. She got up to go to bed. On the stairs she paused and said to Sebastian: + 

тАЬI wonder if weтАЩre right. Bringing him back, I mean. He looked so happy. Oh! Sebastian, he looked so happy.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬAs George Green, you mean?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes. Are you sure weтАЩre right?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, IтАЩm pretty sure. It canтАЩt be right for anyone to be in that unnatural sort of state.тАЭ + 

тАЬI suppose it is unnatural. The queer thing is he looked so normal and commonplace. And happyтБатАФthatтАЩs what I canтАЩt get over, SebastianтБатАФhappy.тБатАКтБатАж WeтАЩre none of us very happy, are we?тАЭ + 

He couldnтАЩt answer that. + 

III + 

I + 

Two days later Sebastian came to Abbots Puissants. The butler was not sure that Mrs.┬аChetwynd could see him. She was lying down. + 

Sebastian gave his name and said he was sure Mrs.┬аChetwynd would see him. He was shown into the drawing-room to wait. The room seemed very empty and silent but unusually luxuriousтБатАФvery different from what it had looked in his childish days. He thought to himself, тАЬIt was a real house then,тАЭ and wondered what exactly he meant by that. He got it presently. Now it suggested, very faintly, a museum. Everything was beautifully arranged, and harmonized perfectly. Every piece that was not perfect had been replaced by one that was. All the carpets and covers and hangings were new. + 

тАЬAnd they must have cost a pretty penny,тАЭ thought Sebastian appreciatively, and priced them with a fair degree of accuracy. He always knew the cost of things. + 

He was interrupted in this salutary exercise by the door opening. Nell came in, a pink colour in her cheeks and her hand outstretched. + 

тАЬSebastian! What a surprise! I thought you were too busy ever to leave London except at a weekendтБатАФand not often then!тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩve lost just twenty thousand pounds in the last two days,тАЭ said Sebastian gruffly as he took her hand. тАЬSimply from gadding about and letting things go anyhow. How are you, Nell?тАЭ + 

тАЬOh! IтАЩm feeling splendid.тАЭ + 

She didnтАЩt look very splendid, though, he thought, now that the flush of surprise had died away. Besides, hadnтАЩt the butler said she was lying down, not feeling well? He fancied that her face looked a little strained and haggard. + 

She went on: тАЬSit down, Sebastian. You look as though you were on the point of going off to catch a train. George is awayтБатАФin Spain. He had to go on business. HeтАЩll be away a week at least.тАЭ + 

тАЬWill he?тАЭ + 

That was a good thing anyway. A damned awkward business. Nell had simply no ideaтБатАКтБатАж + 

тАЬYouтАЩre very glum, Sebastian. Is anything the matter?тАЭ + 

She asked the question quite lightly, but he seized upon it eagerly. It was the opening he needed. + 

тАЬYes, Nell,тАЭ he said gravely. тАЬAs a matter of fact there is.тАЭ + 

He heard her draw in her breath with a sudden catch. Her eyes looked watchful. + 

тАЬWhat is it?тАЭ she said. + 

Her voice sounded differentтБатАФhard and suspicious. + 

тАЬIтАЩm afraid what IтАЩm going to say will be a great shock to you. ItтАЩs about Vernon.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat about Vernon?тАЭ + 

Sebastian waited a minute. Then he said: тАЬVernonтБатАФis alive, Nell.тАЭ + 

тАЬAlive?тАЭ she whispered. Her hand crept up to her heart. + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

She didnтАЩt do any of the things he expected her to doтБатАФdidnтАЩt faint, or cry out, or ask eager questions. She just stared straight ahead of her. And a sudden quick suspicion came into his shrewd Jewish mind. + 

тАЬYou knew it?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, no.тАЭ + 

тАЬI thought perhaps you saw him, the other day, when he came here?тАЭ + 

тАЬThen it was Vernon?тАЭ + 

It broke from her like a cry. Sebastian nodded his head. It was as he had thought and said to Jane. She had not trusted her eyes. + 

тАЬWhat did you thinkтБатАФthat it was a very close resemblance?тАЭ + 

тАЬYesтБатАФyes, thatтАЩs what I thought. How could I think it was Vernon? He looked at me and didnтАЩt know me.тАЭ + 

тАЬHeтАЩs lost his memory, Nell.тАЭ + 

тАЬLost his memory?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

He told her the story, giving the details as carefully as possible. She listened but paid less attention than he expected. When he had finished she said: тАЬYes, but whatтАЩs to be done about it all? Will he get it back? What are we to do?тАЭ + 

He explained that Vernon was having treatment from a specialist. Already, under hypnosis, part of the lost memory had returned. The whole process would not be long delayed. He did not enter into the technical details, judging rightly that these would have no interest for her. + 

тАЬAnd then heтАЩll knowтБатАФeverything?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

She shrank back in her chair. He felt a sudden rush of pity. + 

тАЬHe canтАЩt blame you, Nell. You didnтАЩt knowтБатАФnobody could know. The report of his death was absolutely definite. ItтАЩs an almost unique case. IтАЩve heard of one other. In most cases, of course, a report of death was contradicted almost immediately. Vernon loves you enough to understand and forgive.тАЭ + 

She said nothing but she put up both hands to cover her face. + 

тАЬWe thinkтБатАФif you agreeтБатАФthat everything had better be kept quiet for the present. YouтАЩll tell Chetwynd, of course. And you and he and Vernon canтБатАФwell, thrash it out together.тАЭ + 

тАЬDonтАЩt! DonтАЩt! DonтАЩt go into details. Just letтАЩs leave it for the presentтБатАФtill IтАЩve seen Vernon.тАЭ + 

тАЬDo you want to see him at once? Will you come up to town with me?тАЭ + 

тАЬNoтБатАФI canтАЩt do that. Let him come hereтБатАФto see me. Nobody will recognize him. The servants are all new.тАЭ + 

Sebastian said slowly: тАЬVery wellтБатАКтБатАж IтАЩll tell him.тАЭ + 

Nell got up. + 

тАЬIтБатАФIтБатАФyou must go away now, Sebastian. I canтАЩt bear any more. I canтАЩt indeed. ItтАЩs all so dreadful. And only two days ago I was so happy and peacefulтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬBut Nell, surely to have Vernon back againтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬOh! yes, I didnтАЩt mean that. You donтАЩt understand. ThatтАЩs wonderful, of course. Oh! do go, Sebastian. ItтАЩs awful of me turning you out like this, but I canтАЩt bear any more. You must go.тАЭ + 

Sebastian went. On the way back to town he wondered a good deal. + 

II + 

Left alone, Nell went back to her bedroom and lay down on her bed, pulling the silk eiderdown tightly over her. + 

So it was true after all. It had been Vernon. She had told herself that it couldnтАЩt beтБатАФthat she had made a ridiculous mistake. But sheтАЩd been uneasy ever since. + 

What was going to happen? What would George say about it all? Poor George! HeтАЩd been so good to her. + 

Of course there were women whoтАЩd married again, and then had found their first husbands were alive. Rather an awful position. She had never really been GeorgeтАЩs wife at all. + 

Oh! it couldnтАЩt be true. Such things didnтАЩt happen. God wouldnтАЩt letтБатАФ + 

But perhaps she had better not think of God. It reminded her of those very unpleasant things that Jane had said the other day. That very same day. + 

She thought with a rush of self-pity: тАЬI was so happy!тАЭ + 

Was Vernon going to understand? Would heтБатАФperhapsтБатАФblame her? HeтАЩd want her, of course, to come back. Or wouldnтАЩt he, now that she and GeorgeтБатАКтБатАж What did men think? + 

There could be a divorce, of course, and then she could marry George. But that would make a lot of talk. How difficult everything was. + 

She thought with a sudden shock: тАЬBut I love Vernon. How can I contemplate a divorce and marrying George when I love Vernon? HeтАЩs been given back to meтБатАФfrom the dead.тАЭ + 

She turned over restlessly on the bed. It was a beautiful Empire bed. George had bought it out of an old ch├вteau in France. It was perfect and quite unique. She looked round the room: a charming room, everything in harmonyтБатАФperfect taste, perfect unostentatious luxury. + 

She remembered suddenly the horsehair sofa and the antimacassars in the furnished rooms at Wiltsbury.тБатАКтБатАж Dreadful! But they had been happy there. + 

But now? She looked round the room with new eyes. Of course, Abbots Puissants belonged to George. Or didnтАЩt it, now that Vernon had come back? Anyway, Vernon would be just as poor as everтБатАФthey couldnтАЩt afford to live here. There were all the things that George had done to it.тБатАКтБатАж Thought after thought raced confusedly through her brain. + 

She must write to GeorgeтБатАФbeg him to come home. Just say it was urgentтБатАФnothing more. He was so clever. He might see a way. + 

Or perhaps she wouldnтАЩt write to himтБатАФnot till she had seen Vernon. Would Vernon be very angry? How terrible it all was. + 

The tears came to her eyes. She sobbed: тАЬItтАЩs unfairтБатАФitтАЩs unfair. IтАЩve never done anything. Why should this happen to me? Vernon will blame me and I couldnтАЩt know. How could I know?тАЭ + 

Again the thought flitted across her mind: тАЬI was so happy!тАЭ + 

III + 

Vernon was listening, trying to understand what the doctor was saying to him. He looked across the table at him. A tall thin man with eyes that seemed to see right into the centre of you and to read there things that you didnтАЩt even know about yourself. + 

And he made you see all the things you didnтАЩt want to see. Made you bring things up out of the depths. He was saying: + 

тАЬNow that you have remembered, tell me again exactly how you saw the announcement of your wifeтАЩs marriage.тАЭ + 

Vernon cried out: тАЬMust we go over it again and again? It was all so horrible. I donтАЩt want to think of it any more.тАЭ + 

And then the doctor explained, gravely and kindly, but very impressively. It was because of that desire not to тАЬthink of it any moreтАЭ that all this had come about. It must be faced nowтБатАФthrashed out. Otherwise the loss of memory might return. + 

They went all over it again. + 

And then, when Vernon felt he could bear no more, he was told to lie down on a couch. The doctor touched his forehead and his limbs, told him that he was restingтБатАФwas restedтБатАФthat he would become strong and happy again.тБатАКтБатАж + 

A feeling of peace came over Vernon. + 

He closed his eyes.тБатАКтБатАж + 

IV + 

Vernon came down to Abbots Puissants three days later. He came in Sebastian LevinneтАЩs car. To the butler he gave his name as Mr.┬аGreen. Nell was waiting for him in the little white-panelled room where his mother had sat in the mornings. She came forward to meet him, forcing a conventional smile to her lips. The butler shut the door behind him, just in time for her to stop short before offering him her hand. + 

They looked at each other. Then Vernon said: + 

тАЬNellтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

She was in his arms. He kissed herтБатАФkissed herтБатАФkissed her.тБатАКтБатАж + 

He let her go at last. They sat down. He was quiet, rather tragic, very restrained, but for that one wild greeting. HeтАЩd gone through so muchтБатАФso much in these last few days. + 

Sometimes he wished theyтАЩd left him aloneтБатАФas George Green. It had been jolly being George Green. + 

He said stammeringly: тАЬItтАЩs all right, Nell. You mustnтАЩt think I blame you. I understand. Only it hurts. It hurts like hell. Naturally.тАЭ + 

She said: тАЬI didnтАЩt meanтБатАФтАЭ + 

He interrupted her. + 

тАЬI know, I tell youтБатАФI know! DonтАЩt talk about it. I donтАЩt want to hear about it. I donтАЩt want to think about it even.тАЭ He added in a different tone: тАЬThey say thatтАЩs my trouble. ThatтАЩs how it happened.тАЭ + 

She said, rather eagerly: тАЬTell me about itтБатАФabout everything.тАЭ + 

тАЬThere isnтАЩt much to tell.тАЭ He spoke without interest, abstractedly. тАЬI was taken prisoner. How I got to be reported killed, I donтАЩt know. At least I have a sort of vague idea. There was a fellow very like meтБатАФone of the Huns. I donтАЩt mean a double, or anything of that sort, but just a general superficial resemblance. My GermanтАЩs pretty rotten but I heard them commenting on it. They took my kit and my identification disc. I think the idea was to penetrate into our lines as meтБатАФwe were being relieved by Colonial troops, and they knew it. The fellow would pass muster for a day or so and would gain the information he wanted. ThatтАЩs only an idea, but it explains why I wasnтАЩt returned in the list of prisoners and I was sent to a camp that was practically all French and Belgians. But none of that matters, does it? I suppose the Hun was killed getting through our lines and was buried as me. I had a pretty bad time in GermanyтБатАФnearly died with some kind of fever on top of being wounded. Finally I escapedтБатАФOh! itтАЩs a long story. IтАЩm not going into all that now. I had the hell of a timeтБатАФwithout food and water sometimes for days at a stretch. It was a sort of miracle that I came throughтБатАФbut I did. I got into Holland. I was exhausted and at the same time all strung up. And I could only think of one thingтБатАФgetting back to you.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes?тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd then I saw itтБатАФin a beastly illustrated paper. Your marriage. ItтБатАФit finished me. But I wouldnтАЩt face it. I kept on saying that it couldnтАЩt be true. I went outтБатАФI donтАЩt know where I went. Things got all mixed up in my mind. + 

тАЬThere was a whacking great lorry coming down the road. I saw my chanceтБатАФend it all, get out of it. I stepped out in front of it.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, Vernon.тАЭ She shuddered. + 

тАЬAnd that was the end. Of me as Vernon Deyre, I mean. When I came to there was just one name in my headтБатАФGeorge. That lucky chap, George. George Green.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy Green?тАЭ + 

тАЬA sort of fancy of mine when I was a child. And then the Dutch girl at the inn had asked me to look up a pal of hers whose name was Green and IтАЩd written it down in a little book.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd you didnтАЩt remember anything?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo.тАЭ + 

тАЬWerenтАЩt you very frightened?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, not at all. I didnтАЩt seem to be worrying about anything.тАЭ He added with lingering regret: тАЬI was awfully happy and jolly.тАЭ + 

Then he looked across at her. + 

тАЬBut that doesnтАЩt matter now. Nothing mattersтБатАФbut you.тАЭ + 

She smiled at him but her smile was flickering and uncertain. He barely noticed it at the moment, but went on. + 

тАЬItтАЩs been rather hellтБатАФgetting back. Remembering things. All such beastly things. All the things thatтБатАФreallyтБатАФI didnтАЩt want to face. I seem to have been an awful coward all my life. Always turning away from things I didnтАЩt want to look at. Refusing to admit them.тАЭ + 

He got up suddenly and came across to her, dropping his head upon her knees. + 

тАЬDarling NellтБатАФitтАЩs all right. I know I come first. I do, donтАЩt I?тАЭ + 

She said: тАЬOf course.тАЭ + 

Why did her voice sound so mechanical in her own ears? He did come first. Just now, with his lips on hers, she had been swept back again to those wonderful days at the beginning of the war. She had never felt about George like thatтБатАКтБатАж drowned, carried away. + 

тАЬYou say that so strangelyтБатАФas though you didnтАЩt mean it.тАЭ + 

тАЬOf course I mean it.тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm sorry for ChetwyndтБатАФrotten luck for him. How has he taken it? Very hard?тАЭ + 

тАЬI havenтАЩt told him.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat?тАЭ + 

She was moved to vindicate herself. + 

тАЬHeтАЩs awayтБатАФin Spain. I havenтАЩt got his address.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh! I see.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

He paused. + 

тАЬItтАЩll be rather rotten for you, Nell. But it canтАЩt be helped. WeтАЩll have each other.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

Vernon looked round. + 

тАЬChetwynd will have this place, anyway. IтАЩm such an ungenerous beggar that I even grudge him that. But, damn it all, it is my home. ItтАЩs been in the family five hundred years. Oh! what does it all matter? Jane told me once that I couldnтАЩt get everything. IтАЩve got youтБатАФthatтАЩs all that matters. WeтАЩll find some place. Even if itтАЩs only a couple of rooms, it will do.тАЭ + 

His arms stole up, closing round her. Why did she feel that cold dismay at those words, тАЬA couple of roomsтАЭ? + 

тАЬDamn these things! They get in my way!тАЭ + 

ImpetuouslyтБатАФhalf laughingтБатАФhe held up the string of pearls she wore. He switched them offтБатАФflung them on the floor. Her lovely pearls! She thought: тАЬAnyway, I suppose IтАЩll have to give them back.тАЭ Another cold feeling. All those lovely jewels that George had given her. + 

What a brute she was to go on thinking of things like that. + 

He had seen something at last. He was kneeling upright, looking at her. + 

тАЬNell, isтБатАФis anything the matter?тАЭ + 

тАЬNoтБатАФof course not.тАЭ + 

She couldnтАЩt meet his eyes. She felt too ashamed. + 

тАЬThere is something. Tell me.тАЭ + 

She shook her head. + 

тАЬItтАЩs nothing.тАЭ + 

She couldnтАЩt be poor again. She couldnтАЩtтБатАФshe couldnтАЩt. + 

тАЬNell, you must tell me.тАЭ + 

He mustnтАЩt knowтБатАФhe must never know what she was really like. She was so ashamed. + 

тАЬNell, you do love me, donтАЩt you?тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, yes!тАЭ The words came eagerly. That at any rate was true. + 

тАЬThen what is it? I know thereтАЩs something.тБатАКтБатАж Ah!тАЭ + 

He got up. His face had gone white. She looked up at him inquiringly. + 

тАЬIs it that?тАЭ he asked in a low voice. тАЬIt must be. YouтАЩre going to have a child.тАЭ + 

She sat as though carved in stone. She had never thought of that. If it were true, it solved everything. Vernon would never know. + 

тАЬIt is that?тАЭ + 

Again it seemed as though hours passed. Thoughts went whirling round in her brain. It was not herself, but something outside herself that at last made her bow her head ever so slightly. + 

He moved a little away. He spoke in a hard dry voice. + 

тАЬThat alters everything.тБатАКтБатАж My poor Nell! You canтАЩtтБатАФwe canтАЩtтБатАКтБатАж Look here, nobody knowsтБатАФabout me, I meanтБатАФexcept the doctor and Sebastian and Jane. They wonтАЩt split. I was reported dead. I am dead.тАЭ + 

She made a movement, but he held up a hand to stop her and backed away towards the door. + 

тАЬDonтАЩt say anythingтБатАФfor GodтАЩs sake, donтАЩt say anything. Words will make it worse. IтАЩm going. I darenтАЩt touch you or kiss you. IтБатАФgoodbye.тАЭ + 

She heard the door open, made a movement as if to call outтБатАФbut no sound came from her throat. The door shut again. + 

There was still time. The car hadnтАЩt started. + 

But still she didnтАЩt move. + 

She had one moment of searing bitterness when she looked into herself and thought: тАЬSo thatтАЩs what IтАЩm really like.тАЭ + 

But she made no sound or movement. + 

Four years of soft living fettered her will, stifled her voice, and paralysed her body. + 

IV + 

I + 

тАЬMiss Harding to see you, madam.тАЭ + 

Nell started. Twenty-four hours had elapsed since her interview with Vernon. She had thought it was finished. And now Jane! + 

She was afraid of Jane. + 

She might refuse to see her. + 

She said: тАЬShow her up here.тАЭ + 

It was more private up here in her own sitting room. + 

What a long time it was waiting. Had Jane gone away again? No, here she was. + 

She looked very tall. Nell cowered down on the sofa. Jane had a wicked faceтБатАФshe had always thought so. There was a look on her face now as of an avenging Fury. + 

The butler left the room. Jane stood towering over Nell. Then she flung back her head and laughed. + 

тАЬDonтАЩt forget to ask me to the christening,тАЭ she said. + 

Nell flinched. She said haughtily: + 

тАЬI donтАЩt know what you mean?тАЭ + 

тАЬItтАЩs a family secret at present, is it? Nell, you damned little liarтБатАФyouтАЩre not going to have a child. I donтАЩt believe you ever will have a childтБатАФtoo much risk and pain. What made you think of telling Vernon such a peculiarly damnable lie?тАЭ + 

Nell said sullenly: тАЬI never told him. HeтБатАФhe guessed.тАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs even more damnable.тАЭ + 

тАЬI donтАЩt know what you mean coming here andтБатАФand saying things like this.тАЭ + 

Her protest sounded weakтБатАФspiritless. For the life of her she couldnтАЩt put the necessary indignation into it. With anyone elseтБатАФnot with Jane. Jane had always been disagreeably clear-eyed. It was awful! If only Jane would go away. + 

She rose to her feet, trying to sound decisive. + 

тАЬI donтАЩt know why you have come here. If it is only to make a sceneтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬListen, Nell. YouтАЩre going to hear the truth. You chucked Vernon once before. He came to me. YesтБатАФto me. He lived with me for three months. He was living with me when you came to my flat that day. Ah! that hurts you. YouтАЩve still got a bit of raw womanhood left in you, IтАЩm glad to see. + 

тАЬYou took him from me then. He went to you and never gave me a thought. HeтАЩs yours now if you want him. But I tell you this, Nell, if you let him down a second time, heтАЩll come to me again. Oh! yes, he will. YouтАЩve thought things about me in your mindтБатАФturned up your nose at me as тАШa certain kind of woman.тАЩ Well, because of that, perhaps, IтАЩve got power. I know more about men than you will ever learn. I can get Vernon if I want him. And I do want him. I always have.тАЭ + 

Nell shuddered. She turned her face away, digging her nails into the palms of her hands. + 

тАЬWhy do you tell me all this? YouтАЩre a devil.тАЭ + 

тАЬI tell it you to hurt you! To hurt you like hell before itтАЩs too late. No, you shanтАЩt turn your head away. You shanтАЩt shrink away from what IтАЩm telling you. YouтАЩve got to look at me and seeтБатАФyes, seeтБатАФwith your eyes and your heart and your brain.тБатАКтБатАж You love Vernon with the last remaining corner of your miserable little soul. Think of him in my armsтБатАФthink of his lips on mine, of his kisses burning my body.тБатАКтБатАж Yes, you shall think of it. + 

тАЬSoon you wonтАЩt mind even that. But you mind now.тБатАКтБатАж ArenтАЩt you enough of a woman to jib at handing over the man you love to another woman? To a woman you hate? тАШA present for Jane with love from Nell.тАЩтАКтАЭ + 

тАЬGo away,тАЭ said Nell faintly. тАЬGo away.тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm going. ItтАЩs not too late. You can undo the lie you told.тАЭ + 

тАЬGo away.тБатАКтБатАж Go away.тАЭ + 

тАЬDo it soonтБатАФor youтАЩll never do it.тАЭ Jane paused at the door, looking back over her shoulder. тАЬI came for VernonтАЩs sakeтБатАФnot mine. I want him back. And I shall have himтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ she paused, тАЬunlessтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

She went out. + 

Nell sat with her hands clenched. + 

She murmured fiercely: тАЬShe shanтАЩt have him. She shanтАЩt.тАЭ + 

She wanted Vernon. She wanted him. He had loved Jane once. He would love her again. What had she said? тАЬтАж┬аhis lips on mineтБатАКтБатАж his kisses burning myтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ Oh, God, she couldnтАЩt bear it. She started upтБатАФmoved towards the telephone. + 

The door opened. She turned slowly. George came in. He looked very normal and cheerful. + 

тАЬHullo, sweetheart.тАЭ He crossed the room and kissed her. тАЬHere I amтБатАФback again. A nasty crossing. IтАЩd rather have the Atlantic than the Channel any day.тАЭ + 

She had completely forgotten that George was coming home today! She couldnтАЩt tell him this minuteтБатАФit would be too cruel. And besides it was so difficultтБатАФto burst in with the tragic news in the middle of a flow of banalities. This eveningтБатАФlater. In the meantime she would play her part. + 

She returned his embrace mechanically, sat down and listened while he talked. + 

тАЬIтАЩve got a present for you, honey. Something that reminded me of you.тАЭ + 

He took a velvet case from his pocket. + 

Inside, on a bed of white velvet, lay a big rose-coloured diamondтБатАФexquisite, flawlessтБатАФdepending from a long chain. Nell gave a little gasp of pleasure. + 

He lifted the jewel from the case and slipped the chain over her head. She looked down. The exquisite rose-coloured stone blinked up at her from its resting place between her breasts. Something about it hypnotized her. + 

He led her to the glass. She saw a golden-haired beautiful woman, very calm and elegant. She saw the waved and shingled hair, the manicured hands, the foamy negligee of soft lace, the cobweb-silk stockings and little embroidered mules. She saw the hard cold beauty of the rose-coloured diamond. + 

And behind them she saw George ChetwyndтБатАФkindly, generous, deliciously safe. + 

Dear George, she couldnтАЩt hurt him.тБатАКтБатАж + 

Kisses.тБатАКтБатАж What, after all, were kisses? You neednтАЩt think about them. Better not to think of them. + 

VernonтБатАКтБатАж JaneтБатАКтБатАж + 

She wouldnтАЩt think of them. For good or evil sheтАЩd made her choice. There would be bad moments sometimes, but on the whole it would be for the best. Better for Vernon too. If she werenтАЩt happy she couldnтАЩt make him happy. + 

She said gently: тАЬYou are a dear to bring me such a lovely present. Ring for tea. WeтАЩll have it up here.тАЭ + 

тАЬThat will be fine. But werenтАЩt you going to telephone to someone? I interrupted you.тАЭ + 

She shook her head. + 

тАЬNo,тАЭ she said, тАЬIтАЩve changed my mind.тАЭ + 

II + 

Letters from Vernon Deyre to Sebastian Levinne + 

Do you know that there was once a legend in Russia that concerned a тАЬnameless beastтАЭ that was coming? + 

I mention this not because of any political significance (by the way, the Antichrist hysteria is curious, isnтАЩt it?) but because it reminded me of my own terror of тАЬthe Beast.тАЭ IтАЩve thought about тАЬthe BeastтАЭ a great deal since coming to RussiaтБатАФtrying to get at its true significance. + 

Because thereтАЩs more in it than just being afraid of a piano. The doctor in London opened my eyes to a great many things. IтАЩve begun to see that all through my life IтАЩve been a coward. I think youтАЩve known that, Sebastian. You wouldnтАЩt put it in that offensive way, but you hinted as much to me once. IтАЩve run away from things.тБатАКтБатАж Always IтАЩve run away from things. + 

And thinking it all over now, I see the Beast as something symbolicalтБатАФnot a mere piece of furniture composed of wood and wires. DonтАЩt mathematicians say that the future exists at the same time as the past?тБатАФthat we travel through time as we travel through space?тБатАФfrom a thing that is to another thing that is? DonтАЩt some even hold that remembering is a mere habit of the mindтБатАФthat we could remember forward as well as back if we had only learnt the trick of it? It sounds nonsense when I say it, but I believe there is some theory of that kind. + 

I believe that there is some part of us that does know the future, that is always intimately aware of it. + 

That explains, doesnтАЩt it, why we should shrink sometimes? The burden of our destiny is going to be heavy and we recoil from its shadow. I tried to escape from musicтБатАФbut it got me. It got me at that concert, in the same way that religion got those people at the Salvation Army meeting. + 

ItтАЩs a devilish thingтБатАФor is it godlike? If so itтАЩs an Old Testament jealous GodтБатАФall the things IтАЩve tried to cling on to have been swept away. Abbots PuissantsтБатАКтБатАж NellтБатАКтБатАж + 

And, damn it all, whatтАЩs left? Nothing. Not even the cursed thing itself. IтАЩve no wish to write music. I hear nothingтБатАФfeel nothing. Will it ever come back? Jane says it will. She seems very sure. She sends her love to you, by the way. + 

III + 

YouтАЩre an understanding devil, Sebastian. You donтАЩt complain that I ought to have written you a description of samovars, the political situation and life in Russia generally. The country, of course, is in a bloody muddle. What else could it be in? But itтАЩs jolly interesting.тБатАКтБатАж + 

Love from Jane. + 

IV + 

Jane was right to bring me here. Point No.┬а1, no one is likely to come across me here and joyously proclaim my resurrection from the dead. Point No.┬а2, this is about the most interesting place in the world to be from my point of view. A kind of free and easy laboratory where everyone is trying experiments of the most dangerous kind. The whole world seems concerned with Russia from a purely political point of view. Economics, starvation, morals, lack of liberty, diseased and decadent childrenтБатАКтБатАж etc. + 

But amazing things are sometimes born out of vice and filth and anarchy. The whole trend of Russian thought in art is extraordinaryтБатАКтБатАж part of it the most utter childish drivel you ever heardтБатАФand yet wonderful gleams peeping throughтБатАФlike shining flesh through a beggarтАЩs ragsтБатАКтБатАж + 

The Nameless BeastтБатАФCollective Man. Did you ever see that plan for a monument to the Communist Revolution? The Colossus of Iron? I tell you, it stirs the imagination. + 

MachineryтБатАФan Age of Machinery.тБатАКтБатАж How the Bolsheviks worship anything to do with machineryтБатАФand how little they know about it! ThatтАЩs why itтАЩs so wonderful to them, I suppose. Imagine a real mechanic of Chicago composing a dynamic poem describing his city as тАЬтАж┬аbuilt upon a screw! Electro dynamo mechanical city! Spiral-shaped on a steel disc. At every stroke of the hour turning round itselfтБатАФFive thousand skyscrapersтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ Anything more alien from the spirit of America! + 

And yetтБатАФdo you ever see a thing when youтАЩre too close to it? ItтАЩs the people who donтАЩt know machinery who see its soul and its meaning. The Nameless Beast.тБатАКтБатАж My Beast?тБатАКтБатАж I wonder. + 

Collective ManтБатАФforming himself in turn into a vast machine. The same herd instinct that saved the race of old coming out again in a different form. + 

LifeтАЩs becoming too difficultтБатАФtoo dangerousтБатАФfor the individual. What was it Dostoevsky says in one of his books? + 

тАЬThe flock will collect again and submit once more, and then it will be forever, forever. We will give them a quiet modest happiness.тАЭ + 

Herd instinct.тБатАКтБатАж I wonder. + 

V + 

I have found the other passage in Dostoevsky. I think it is the one you mean. + 

тАЬAnd we alone, we who guard the mystery, we alone shall be unhappy. There will be thousands of millions of happy children and only a hundred thousand martyrs who have taken on themselves the curse of good and evil.тАЭ + 

You mean, and Dostoevsky meant, that there must always be individualists. It is the individualists who carry on the torch. Men welded into a vast machine must ultimately perish. For the machine is soulless and will end as scrap iron. + 

Men worshipped stone and built StonehengeтБатАФand today, the men who built it have perished and are unknown and Stonehenge stands. And yet, by a paradox, the men are alive in you and me, their descendants, and Stonehenge and what it stood for, is dead. The things that die endure, and the things that endure perish. + 

It is Man that goes on forever. (Does he? IsnтАЩt that unwarrantable arrogance? Yet we believe it!) And so, there must be individualists behind the Machine. So Dostoevsky says and so you say. But then youтАЩre both Russians. As an Englishman IтАЩm more pessimistic. + 

Do you know what that passage from Dostoevsky reminds me of? My childhood. Mr.┬аGreenтАЩs hundred childrenтБатАФand Poodle, Squirrel and Tree. Representatives of the hundred thousand. + 

VI + 

I suppose youтАЩre right. I never have thought much before. It seemed to me an unprofitable exercise. In fact, IтАЩm not sure I donтАЩt still regard it as such. + 

The trouble is, you see, that I canтАЩt тАЬsay it in music.тАЭ Damn it all, why canтАЩt I say it in music? MusicтАЩs my job. IтАЩm more sure of that than ever. And yetтБатАФnothing doing. + 

ItтАЩs hell. + 

VII + 

Dear Sebastian: + 

HavenтАЩt I mentioned Jane? What is there to say about her? SheтАЩs splendid. We both know that. Why donтАЩt you write to her yourself? + 

VIII + 

Dear old Sebastian: + 

Jane says you may be coming out here. I wish to God you would. IтАЩm sorry I havenтАЩt written for six monthsтБатАФI never was one of the worldтАЩs ready letter writers. + 

Have you seen anything of Joe? IтАЩm glad Jane and I looked her up passing through Paris. JoeтАЩs staunch, sheтАЩll never split on us, and IтАЩm glad she at any rate knows. We never write to each other, she and I, we never have. But I wondered if youтАЩd heard anything. I didnтАЩt think she looked awfully fit. Poor old Joe! SheтАЩs made a mess of things. + 

Have you heard anything of TatlinтАЩs scheme for a monument to the Third Internationale? To consist of a union of three great glass chambers connected by a system of vertical axes and spirals. By means of special machinery they were to be kept in perpetual motion but at different rates of speed. + 

And inside, I suppose, theyтАЩd sing hymns to a Holy Acetylene Blowpipe! + 

Do you remember, one night, we were motoring back to town, and we took the wrong turning somewhere amongst the tramlines of Lewisham, and instead of making for the haunts of civilization we turned up somewhere among the Surrey docks and through an opening in the frowsy houses we saw a queer kind of cubist picture of cranes and cloudy steam and iron girders. And immediately your artistic soul bagged it for a drop sceneтБатАФor whatever the technical term is. + 

My God, Sebastian! What a magnificent spectacle of machinery you could build upтБатАФsheer effects and lightingтБатАФand masses of humans with inhuman facesтБатАФmassтБатАФnot individuals. YouтАЩve something of the kind in mind, havenтАЩt you? + 

The architect, Tatlin, said something that I think good and yet a lot of nonsense. + 

тАЬOnly the rhythm of the metropolis, of factories and machines together with the organization of the masses, can give the impulse to the new artтБатАФтАЭ + 

And he goes on to speak of the тАЬmonument of the machine,тАЭ the only adequate expression of the present. + 

You know, of course, all about the modern Russian Theatre. ThatтАЩs your job. I suppose Mayerhold is as marvellous as they say he is. But can one mix up drama and propaganda? + 

All the same, itтАЩs exciting to arrive at a theatre and be compelled at once to join a marching crowdтБатАФup and down, in strict step, till the performance beginsтБатАФand the scenery, composed of rocking chairs and cannons and revolving bays and God knows what! ItтАЩs babyishтБатАФabsurdтБатАФand yet one feels that baby has got hold of a dangerous and rather interesting toy that in other handsтБатАКтБатАж + 

Your hands, SebastianтБатАФyouтАЩre a Russian. But thank heaven and geography, no propagandistтБатАФjust a showman pure and simpleтБатАКтБатАж + 

The Rhythm of the metropolisтБатАФmade pictorial. + 

My God!тБатАФif I could give you the music. ItтАЩs the music thatтАЩs needed. + 

LordтБатАФtheir тАЬnoise orchestrasтАЭтБатАФtheir symphonies of factory sirens! There was a show at Baku in 1922тБатАФbatteries of artillery, machine-guns, choirs, naval fog horns. Ridiculous! Yes, but if they had a composerтБатАКтБатАж + 

No woman ever longed for a child like I long to produce music. + 

And IтАЩm barrenтБатАФsterile. + 

IX + 

Dear Sebastian: + 

It seems like a dream, your having come and gone. Will you really do The Tale of the Rogue Who Outwitted Three Other Rogues? I wonder. + 

IтАЩm only just beginning to recognize what a howling success youтАЩve made of things. IтАЩve at last grasped that youтАЩre simply it nowadays. Yes, found your National Opera HouseтБатАФGod knows itтАЩs time we had one. But what do you want with opera? ItтАЩs archaicтБатАФdeadтБатАФridiculous individual love affairsтБатАКтБатАж + 

Music up to now seems to me like a childтАЩs drawing of a houseтБатАФfour walls, a door, two windows and a chimney pot. There you areтБатАФand what more do you want! + 

At any rate Feinberg and Prokofiev do more than that. + 

Do you remember how we used to jeer at the cubists and futurists? At least I did. Now that I come to think of it, I donтАЩt believe you agreed. + 

And then one dayтБатАФat a cinemaтБатАФI saw a view of a big city from the air. Spires turning over, buildings bendingтБатАФeverything behaving as one simply knew concrete and steel and iron couldnтАЩt behave! And for the first time I got a glimmering of what old Einstein meant when he talked about relativity. + 

We donтАЩt know anything about the shape of music, We donтАЩt know anything about the shape of anything, for that matterтБатАФbecause thereтАЩs always one side open to space. + 

Some day youтАЩll know what I meanтБатАФwhat music can meanтБатАФwhat IтАЩve always known it meant. + 

What a mess that opera of mine was. All opera is a mess. Music was never intended to be representational. To take a story and write descriptive music to it is as wrong as to write a passage of musicтБатАФin the abstract so to speakтБатАФand then find an instrument capable of playing it! When Stravinsky wrote a clarinet passage, you canтАЩt even conceive of it as being played by anything else! + 

Music should be like mathematicsтБатАФa pure science, untouched by drama, or romanticism, or any emotion other than the pure emotion which is the result of sound divorced from ideas. + 

IтАЩve always known that in my heart. Music must be Absolute. + 

Not, of course, that I shall realize my ideal. To create pure sound untouched by ideas is a counsel of perfection. + 

My music will be the music of machinery. I leave the dressing of it to you. ItтАЩs an age of choreography, and choreography will reach heights we donтАЩt as yet dream of. I can trust you with the visual side of my masterpiece as yet unwrittenтБатАФand which in all probability never will be written. + 

Music must be four-dimensionalтБатАФtimbre, pitch, relative speed and periodicity. + 

I donтАЩt think even now we appreciate Sch├╢nberg enough. That clean remorseless logic that is the spirit of today. He and he alone had the courage to disregard traditionтБатАФto get down to bedrock, and discover Truth. + 

HeтАЩs the one man to my mind who matters. Even his scheme of score writing will have to be adopted universally. ItтАЩs absolutely necessary if scores are going to be intelligible. + 

The thing I have against him is his scorn of his instruments. HeтАЩs afraid of being a slave to them. He makes them serve him whether they will or no. + 

IтАЩm going to glorify my instruments. IтАЩm going to give them what they wantтБатАФwhat theyтАЩve always wanted. + 

Damn it all, Sebastian, what is this strange thing, music? I know less and less. + 

X + 

I know I havenтАЩt written. IтАЩve been busy. Making experiments. Means of expression for the Nameless Beast. In other words, instrument making. Metals are jolly interesting. IтАЩm working with alloys just at present. + 

What a fascinating thing sound is. + 

Jane sends her love. + 

In answer to your questionтБатАФNo, I donтАЩt suppose I shall ever leave RussiaтБатАФnot even to attend at your newly planned opera house, disguised in my beard! + 

ItтАЩs even more barbarous and beautiful now than when you saw it! Full and flowing, the perfect temperamental Slav Beaver! + 

But in spite of the forest camouflage, here I am and here I stay, till I am exterminated by one of the bands of wild children. + 

Telegram from Vernon Deyre to Sebastian Levinne + 

Just heard Joe dangerously ill feared dying stranded in New York Jane and I sailing Resplendent hope see you London. + 

V + 

I + 

тАЬSebastian!тАЭ + 

Joe started up in bed then fell back weakly. She stared unbelievingly. Sebastian, big, fur-coated, calm and omniscient, smiled placidly down at her. + 

There was no sign in his face of the sudden pang her appearance had given him. JoeтБатАФpoor little Joe! + 

Her hair had grownтБатАФit was arranged in two short plaits, one over each shoulder. Her face was horribly thin, with a high hectic flush on each cheekbone. The bones of her shoulders showed through her thin nightdress. + 

She looked like a feverish child. There was something childlike in her surprise, in her pleasure, in her eager questioning. The nurse had left them. + 

Sebastian sat down by the bed and took JoeтАЩs thin hand in his. + 

тАЬVernon wired me. I didnтАЩt wait for him. I caught the first boat.тАЭ + 

тАЬTo come to me?тАЭ + 

тАЬOf course.тАЭ + 

тАЬDear Sebastian!тАЭ + 

Tears came into her eyes. Sebastian was alarmed and went on hastily: + 

тАЬNot that I shanтАЩt do a bit of business while I am over. I often come over on business, and as a matter of fact I can do one or two good deals just now.тАЭ + 

тАЬDonтАЩt spoil it.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut itтАЩs true,тАЭ said Sebastian, surprised. + 

Joe began to laugh, but coughed instead. Sebastian watched anxiously, ready to call the nurse. He had been warned. But the fit passed. + 

Joe lay there contentedly, her hand creeping into SebastianтАЩs again. + 

тАЬMother died this way,тАЭ she whispered. тАЬPoor Mother! I thought I was going to be so much wiser than she was, and IтАЩve made such a mess of things. Oh! such a mess of things.тАЭ + 

тАЬPoor old Joe!тАЭ + 

тАЬYou donтАЩt know what a mess IтАЩve made of things, Sebastian.тАЭ + 

тАЬI can imagine it,тАЭ said Sebastian. тАЬI always thought you would.тАЭ + 

Joe was silent a minute, then she said: + 

тАЬYou donтАЩt know what a comfort it is to see you, Sebastian. I have seen and known so many rotters. I didnтАЩt like your being strong and successful and cocksureтБатАФit annoyed me. But nowтБатАФoh, itтАЩs wonderful!тАЭ + 

He squeezed her hand. + 

тАЬThereтАЩs no one else in the world who would have comeтБатАФas youтАЩve comeтБатАФmilesтБатАФat once. Vernon, of course, but then heтАЩs a relationтБатАФa kind of brother. But youтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm just as much a brotherтБатАФmore than a brother. Ever since Abbots Puissants IтАЩve beenтБатАФwell, ready to stand by if you wanted me.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh! Sebastian.тАЭ Her eyes opened wideтБатАФhappily. тАЬI never dreamt that youтАЩd feel like that still.тАЭ + 

He started ever so slightly. He hadnтАЩt meant that exactly. He had meant something that he couldnтАЩt explainтБатАФnot at any rate to Joe. It was a feeling peculiarly and exclusively Jewish. The undying gratitude of the Jew who never forgets a benefit conferred. As a child he had been an outcast and Joe had stood by himтБатАФshe had been willing to defy her world. The child Sebastian had never forgottenтБатАФwould never forget. He would, as he had said, have gone to the ends of the earth if she had wanted him. + 

She went on. + 

тАЬThey moved me into this placeтБатАФfrom that horrible ward. Was that you?тАЭ + 

He nodded. + 

тАЬI cabled.тАЭ + 

Joe sighed. + 

тАЬYouтАЩre so terribly efficient, Sebastian.тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm afraid so.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut thereтАЩs nobody like youтБатАФnobody. IтАЩve thought of you so often lately.тАЭ + 

тАЬHave you?тАЭ + 

He thought of the lonely yearsтБатАФthe aching longingтБатАФthe baffled desire. Why did things always come to you at the wrong time? + 

She went on. + 

тАЬI never dreamt youтАЩd still think about me. I always fancied that some day you and JaneтБатАФтАЭ + 

A queer pang shot through him. JaneтБатАКтБатАж + 

He and JaneтБатАКтБатАж + 

He said gruffly: тАЬJane, to my mind, is one of the finest things God ever made. But she belongs body and soul to Vernon and always will.тАЭ + 

тАЬI suppose so. But itтАЩs a pity. You and she are the strong ones. You belong together.тАЭ + 

They did, in a curious way. He knew what she meant. + 

Joe said with a flickering smile: тАЬThis reminds me of the books one reads as a child. Edifying deathbed scenes. Friends and relations gathering round. Wan smiles of heroine.тАЭ + 

Sebastian had made up his mind. Why had he felt this wasnтАЩt love? It was. This passion of pure disinterested pity and tendernessтБатАФthis deep affection lasting through the years. A thousand times better worthwhile than those stormy or tepid affairs that occurred with monotonous regularityтБатАФthat punctuated his life without ever touching any real depths. + 

His heart went out to the childish figure. Somehow, heтАЩd bring it off. + 

He said gently: тАЬThere arenтАЩt going to be any deathbed scenes, Joe. YouтАЩre going to get well and marry me.тАЭ + 

тАЬDarling Sebastian! Tie you to a consumptive wife? Of course not.тАЭ + 

тАЬNonsense! YouтАЩll do one of two thingsтБатАФeither get well or die. If you die you die, and thereтАЩs an end of it. If you get cured you marry me. And no expense will be spared to cure you.тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm pretty bad, Sebastian dear.тАЭ + 

тАЬPossibly. But nothing is more uncertain than tubercleтБатАФany doctor will tell you so. YouтАЩve been just letting yourself go. I think myself youтАЩll get well. A long weary business, but it can be done.тАЭ + 

She looked at him. He saw the colour rising and falling in her thin cheeks. He knew then that she loved himтБатАФand a queer little stir of warmth woke round his heart. His mother had died two years ago. Since then no one had really cared. + 

Joe said in a low voice: тАЬSebastian, do you really need me? IтБатАФIтАЩve made such a mess of things.тАЭ + 

He said with sincerity: тАЬNeed you? IтАЩm the loneliest man on earth.тАЭ + 

And suddenly he broke down. It was a thing he had never done in his lifeтБатАФnever thought he would do. He knelt by JoeтАЩs bed, his face buried, his shoulders heaving. + 

Her hand stroked his head. He knew she was happyтБатАФher proud spirit appeased. Dear JoeтБатАФso impulsive, so warmhearted, so wrongheaded. She was dearer to him than anyone on earth. They could help one another. + 

The nurse came inтБатАФthe visitor had been there long enough. She withdrew again for Sebastian to say goodbye. + 

тАЬBy the way,тАЭ he said. тАЬThat French fellowтБатАФwhatтАЩs his name?тАЭ + 

тАЬFran├зois? HeтАЩs dead.тАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs all right. You could have got a divorce, of course. But being a widow makes it easier.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou do think I shall get well?тАЭ + 

Pathetic, the way she said that! + 

тАЬOf course.тАЭ + 

The nurse reappeared and he took his departure. He called on the doctorтБатАФhad a long talk. The doctor was not hopeful. But he agreed that there was a chance. They decided on Florida. + 

Sebastian left the home. He walked along the street deep in thought. He saw a placard with тАЬTerrible Disaster to ResplendentтАЭ on it, but it conveyed nothing to his mind. + 

He was too busy with his own thoughts. What was really best for Joe? To live or to die? He wondered. + 

SheтАЩd had such a rotten life. He wanted the best for her. + 

He went to bed and slept heavily. + 

II + 

He awoke to a vague uneasiness. There was somethingтБатАФsomething. For the life of him he couldnтАЩt put a name to it. + 

It wasnтАЩt Joe. Joe was in the foreground of his mind. This was something in the backgroundтБатАФshoved awayтБатАФsomething that he hadnтАЩt been able to give consideration to at the time. + 

He thought: тАЬI shall remember presently.тАЭ But he didnтАЩt. + 

As he dressed, he thought out the problem of Joe. He was all for moving her to Florida as soon as possible. Later, perhaps, Switzerland. She was very weak, but not too weak to be moved. As soon as she had seen Vernon and JaneтБатАКтБатАж + 

They were arrivingтБатАФwhen? The Resplendent, wasnтАЩt it? The ResplendentтБатАКтБатАж + 

The razor he was holding dropped from his hand. HeтАЩd got it now! Before his eyes rose the vision of a newspaper placard. + 

The ResplendentтБатАФTerrible Disaster. + 

Vernon and Jane were on the Resplendent. + 

He rang furiously. A few minutes later he was scanning the morning newspaper. There were now full details to hand. His eyes scanned them rapidly. The Resplendent had struck an icebergтБатАФthe death rollтБатАФsurvivors. + 

A list of namesтБатАКтБатАж survivors. He found the name there of Groen, Vernon was alive anyway. Then he searched the other list and found at last what he was looking for, fearingтБатАФthe name of Jane Harding. + 

III + 

He stood quite still, staring at the newssheet in his hand. Presently he folded it up neatly, laid it on a side table and rang the bell. In a few minutes a curt order given to the bellhop sent his secretary hurrying to him. + 

тАЬIтАЩve got an appointment at ten oтАЩclock I canтАЩt break. There are some things youтАЩve got to find out for me. Have the information ready for me when I return.тАЭ + 

He detailed the points succinctly. The fullest particulars as to the Resplendent were to be collected, and certain radios were to be sent off. + 

Sebastian telephoned himself to the hospital and warned them that no mention of the Resplendent disaster was to be made to the patient. He had a few words with Joe herself which he managed to make normal and commonplace. + 

He stopped at a florist to send her some flowers and then went off to embark on a long day of meetings and business appointments. It is to be doubted if anyone noticed that the great Sebastian Levinne was unlike himself in the smallest detail. He had never been more shrewd in driving a bargain and his power of getting his own way was never more in evidence. + 

It was six oтАЩclock when he returned to the Biltmore. + 

His secretary met him with all the information available. The survivors had been picked up by a Norwegian ship. They would be due in New York in three daysтАЩ time. + 

Sebastian nodded, his face unchanged. He gave further instructions. + 

On the evening of the third day following that, he returned to his hotel to be met by the information that Mr.┬аGroen had arrived and was installed in the suite adjoining his own. + 

Sebastian strode there. + 

Vernon was standing by the window. He turned round. Sebastian felt something like a shock. In some strange way, he no longer recognized his friend. Something had happened to him. + 

They stood staring at each other. Sebastian spoke first. He said the thing that all day had been present in his mind. + 

тАЬJaneтАЩs dead,тАЭ he said. + 

Vernon noddedтБатАФgravelyтБатАФunderstandingly. + 

тАЬYes,тАЭ he said quietly. тАЬJaneтАЩs deadтБатАФand I killed her.тАЭ + 

The old unemotional Sebastian revived and protested. + 

тАЬFor GodтАЩs sake, Vernon, donтАЩt take it like that. She came with youтБатАФnaturally. DonтАЩt be morbid about it.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou donтАЩt understand,тАЭ said Vernon. тАЬYou donтАЩt know what happened.тАЭ + 

He paused and then went on, speaking very quietly and collectedly. + 

тАЬI canтАЩt describe the thing. It happened quite suddenly, you knowтБатАФin the middle of the night. There was very little time. The boat heeled over, you know, at an appalling angle. The two of them came togetherтБатАФslippingтБатАФsliding down the deck. They couldnтАЩt save themselves.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat two?тАЭ + 

тАЬNell and Jane, of course.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhatтАЩs Nell got to do with it?тАЭ + 

тАЬShe was on board.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes. I didnтАЩt know. Jane and I were second-class, of course, and I donтАЩt think we ever glanced at a passenger list. Yes, Nell and George Chetwynd were on board. ThatтАЩs what IтАЩm telling you, if you wouldnтАЩt interrupt. It happenedтБатАФa sort of nightmareтБатАФno time for life boats or anything. I was hanging on to a stanchionтБатАФor whatever you call itтБатАФto save myself from falling into the sea. + 

тАЬAnd they came drifting along the deck, those two, right by meтБатАФslipping, slidingтБатАФfaster and fasterтБатАФand the sea waiting for them below. + 

тАЬIтАЩd no idea Nell was on board till I saw her drifting down to destruction, and crying out, тАШVernon!тАЩ + 

тАЬThere isnтАЩt time to think on these occasions, I tell you. One can just make an instinctive gesture. I could grab on to one or other of themтБатАФNell or Jane. I grabbed Nell and held her, held her like grim death.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd Jane?тАЭ + 

Vernon said quietly: + 

тАЬI can see her face still, looking at me as she wentтБатАФdown into that green swirlтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬMy God!тАЭ said Sebastian hoarsely. + 

Then suddenly his impassivity forsook him. His voice rang out bellowing like a bull. + 

тАЬYou saved Nell? You bloody fool! To save NellтБатАФand let Jane drown. Why, Nell isnтАЩt worth the tip of JaneтАЩs little finger. Damn you!тАЭ + 

тАЬI know that.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou know it? ThenтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬI tell you, it isnтАЩt what you knowтБатАФitтАЩs some blind instinct that takes hold of you.тАЭ + 

тАЬDamn you! Damn you!тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm damned all right. You neednтАЩt worry. I let Jane drownтБатАФand I love her.тАЭ + 

тАЬLove her?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, IтАЩve always loved her. I see that now. Always, from the beginning, I was afraid of herтБатАФbecause I loved her. I was a coward there, like everywhere elseтБатАФtrying to escape from reality. I fought against her. I was ashamed of the power she had over me. IтАЩve taken her through hell. + 

тАЬAnd now I want herтБатАФI want her. Oh! youтАЩll say thatтАЩs like me, to want a thing as soon as itтАЩs out of my reach. Perhaps itтАЩs trueтБатАФperhaps I am like that. + 

тАЬI only know that I love JaneтБатАФthat I love herтБатАФand that sheтАЩs gone from me forever.тАЭ + 

He sat down on a chair and said in his normal tone: тАЬI want to work. Get out of here, Sebastian, thereтАЩs a good fellow.тАЭ + 

тАЬMy God, Vernon, I didnтАЩt think I could ever hate youтБатАФтАЭ + 

Vernon repeated: тАЬI want to work.тАЭ + 

Sebastian turned on his heel and left the room. + 

IV + 

Vernon sat very still. + 

JaneтБатАКтБатАж + 

Horrible to suffer like thisтБатАФto want anyone so much. + 

JaneтБатАКтБатАж JaneтБатАКтБатАж + 

Yes, heтАЩd always loved her. After that very first meeting heтАЩd been unable to keep away. HeтАЩd been drawn towards her by something stronger than himself. + 

Fool and coward to be afraidтБатАФalways afraid. Afraid of any deep realityтБатАФof any violent emotion. + 

And she had knownтБатАФshe had always known, and been unable to help him. What had she said: тАЬDivided in timeтАЭ? That first evening at SebastianтАЩs party when she had sung: + 

тАЬI saw a Fairy lady there + 

With long white hands and drowning hair.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

Drowning hairтБатАКтБатАж no, no, not that. Queer she should have sung that song. And the statue of the drowned womanтБатАКтБатАж That was queer, too. + 

What was the other thing she had sung that night? + 

тАЬJтАЩai perdu mon amieтБатАФelle est morte. + 

Tout sтАЩen va cette fois, ├а jamais, + 

├А jamais, pour toujours elle emporte + 

Le dernier des amours que jтАЩaimais.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

He had lost Abbots Puissants, he had lost Nell. + 

But with Jane, he had indeed lost тАЬle dernier des amours que jтАЩaimais.тАЭ + 

For the rest of his life he would be able to see only one womanтБатАФJane. + 

He loved JaneтБатАКтБатАж he loved her.тБатАКтБатАж + 

And heтАЩd tortured her, slighted her, finally abandoned her to that green evil sea. + 

The statue in the South Kensington MuseumтБатАКтБатАж + 

GodтБатАФhe mustnтАЩt think of that. + 

YesтБатАФheтАЩd think of everything. This time he wouldnтАЩt turn away. + 

JaneтБатАКтБатАж JaneтБатАКтБатАж JaneтБатАКтБатАж + 

He wanted her. JaneтБатАКтБатАж + 

HeтАЩd never see her again. + 

HeтАЩd lost everything nowтБатАКтБатАж everything. + 

Those days, months, years in Russia. Wasted years. + 

FoolтБатАФto live beside her, to hold her body in his arms, and all the time to be afraidтБатАКтБатАж Afraid of his passion for her. + 

That old terror of the BeastтБатАКтБатАж + 

And suddenly, as he thought of the Beast, he knewтБатАКтБатАж + 

Knew that at last he had come into his heritage. + 

V + 

It was like the day he had come back from the Titanic Concert. It was the vision he had had then. He called it vision for it seemed more that than sound. Seeing and hearing were oneтБатАФcurves and spirals of soundтБатАФascending, descending, returning. + 

And now he knewтБатАФhe had the technical knowledge. + 

He snatched at paper, jotted down brief, scrawled hieroglyphics, a kind of frantic shorthand. There were years of work in front of him, but he knew that he should never again recapture this first freshness and clearness of vision. + 

It must be soтБатАФand so: a whole weight of metalтБатАФbrassтБатАФall the brass in the world. + 

And those new glass soundsтБатАКтБатАж ringing, clear. + 

He was happy. + 

An hour passedтБатАКтБатАж two hours. + 

For a moment he came out of his frenzyтБатАФrememberedтБатАКтБатАж Jane! + 

He felt sickтБатАФashamed. CouldnтАЩt he even mourn her for one evening? There was something baseтБатАФcruelтБатАФin the way he was using his sorrow, his desireтБатАФtransmuting it into terms of sound. + 

That was what it meant being a creatorтБатАФruthlessness, using everything. + 

And people like Jane were the victims. + 

JaneтБатАКтБатАж + 

He felt torn in twoтБатАФagony and wild exultation. + 

He thought: тАЬPerhaps women feel like this when they have a child.тАЭ + 

Presently he bent again over his sheets of paper, writing frenziedly, flinging them on the floor as he finished them. + 

When the door opened he did not hear it. He was deaf to the rustle of a womanтАЩs dress. Only when a small frightened voice said, тАЬVernon,тАЭ did he look up. + 

With an effort he forced the abstracted look from his face. + 

тАЬHullo,тАЭ he said. тАЬNell.тАЭ + 

She stood there, twisting her hands togetherтБатАФher face white and ravaged. She spoke in breathless gasps. + 

тАЬVernonтБатАКтБатАж I found out. They told meтБатАКтБатАж where you wereтБатАКтБатАж and I came.тАЭ + 

He nodded. + 

тАЬYes,тАЭ he said. тАЬYou came?тАЭ + 

OboesтБатАФno, cut out oboes. Too soft a note. It must be stridentтБатАФbrazen. But harpsтБатАФyes, he wanted the liquidness of harpsтБатАФlike water. You wanted water as a source of power. + 

Bother! Nell was speaking. HeтАЩd have to listen. + 

тАЬVernon, after that awful escape from deathтБатАФI knew.тБатАКтБатАж ThereтАЩs only one thing that mattersтБатАФlove. IтАЩve always loved you. IтАЩve come back to youтБатАФfor always.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh!тАЭ he said stupidly. + 

She had come nearer, was holding out her hands to him. + 

He looked at her as if from a great distance. Really, Nell was extraordinarily pretty. He could well see why he had fallen in love with her. Queer, that he wasnтАЩt the least bit in love with her now. How awkward it all was. He did wish she would go away and let him get on with what he was doing. What about trombones? One could improve on a tromboneтБатАКтБатАж + 

тАЬVernon!тАЭ Her voice was sharpтБатАФfrightened. тАЬDonтАЩt you love me any more?тАЭ + 

It was really best to be truthful. He said with an odd formal politeness: + 

тАЬIтАЩm awfully sorry. IтБатАФIтАЩm afraid I donтАЩt. You see, I love Jane.тАЭ + 

тАЬYouтАЩre angry with meтБатАФbecause of that lie about theтБатАФthe child.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat lie? About what child?тАЭ + 

тАЬDonтАЩt you even remember? I said I was going to have a child and it wasnтАЩt true.тБатАКтБатАж Oh! Vernon, forgive meтБатАКтБатАж forgive me.тАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs quite all right, Nell. DonтАЩt you worry. IтАЩm sure everythingтАЩs for the best. George is an awfully good chap and youтАЩre really happiest with him. And now, for GodтАЩs sake, do go away. I donтАЩt want to be rude, but IтАЩm most awfully busy. The whole thing will go if I donтАЩt pin it down.тАЭ + 

She stared at him. + 

Then slowly she moved towards the door. She stopped, turned, flung out her hands towards him. + 

тАЬVernonтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

It was a last cry of despairing appeal. + 

He did not even look up, only shook his head impatiently. + 

She went out, shutting the door behind her. + 

Vernon gave a sigh of relief. + 

There was nothing now to come between him and his workтБатАКтБатАж + 

He bent over the table. + 