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I can quite understand it, I said. A man sucks in the
consolations of philosophy; a woman solaces herself with
religion.
I can do neither, she replied, changing her attitude with an
exaggerated shaking down of skirts. If I could, I shouldn't
want to go away.
Go away? I echud.
Yes. You mustn't be vexed with me. I haven't got a cook
No one would have thought it, from the luncheon you gave me, my
dear.
The alcoholized domestic, by the way, was sent out, bag and
baggage, last evening, when she was sober enough to walk.
And so it is a convenient opportunity, Judith continued,
ignoring my complimentand rightly so; for as soon as it had
been uttered, I was struck by an uneasy conviction that she had
herself disturbed the French caterers in the Tottenham Court Road
from their Sabbath repose in order to provide me with food.
I can shut up the flat without any fuss. I am never happy at
the beginning of a London season. I know I'm silly, she went
on, hurriedly. If I could stand your dreadful Marcus Aurelius I
might be wiserI don't mind the rest of the year; but in the
season everybody is in townpeople I used to know and mix with
I meet them in the streets and they cut me and ithurtsand
so I want to get away somewhere by myself. When I get sick of
solitude I'll come back.
One of her quick, graceful movements brought her to her knees by
my side. She caught my hand.
For pity's sake, Marcus, say that you understand why it is.
I said, I have been a blatant egoist all the afternoon, Judith.
I didn't guess. Of course I understand.
If you didn't, it would be impossible for us.
Have no doubt, said I, softly, and I kissed her hand.
I came into her life when she counted it as over and done with
at eight and twentyand was patiently undergoing premature
interment in a small pension in Rome. How long her patience
would have lasted I cannot say. If circumstances had been
different, what would have happened? is the most futile of
speculations. What did happen was the drifting together of us
two bits of flotsam and our keeping together for the simple
reason that there were no forces urging us apart. She was past
all care for social sanctions, her sacred cap of good repute
having been flung over the windmills long before; and I,
friendless unit in a world of shadows, why should I have rejected
the one warm hand that was held out to me? As I said to her this

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