He does not know
anything
about anything.
Yeats
The light seemed gradually to dim his past and future, and to
make pale his good resolves. Was it not in itself that which all men
are seeking, and for which all else exists?
He leant forward and took her hand, timidly and doubtingly. She did
not draw it away. He leant nearer and kissed her on the forehead. She
gave a joyful cry, and, casting her arms round his neck, burst out,
'Ah! you--and I. We were made for each other. I hate Sherman. He is
an egotist. He is a beast. He is selfish and foolish. ' Releasing one
of her arms she struck the seat with her hand, excitedly, and went
on, 'How angry he will be! But it serves him right! How badly he is
dressing.
He does not know anything about anything. But you--you--I
knew you were meant for me the moment I saw you. '
That evening Howard flung himself into a chair in the empty
smoking-room. He lighted a cigarette; it went out. Again he lighted
it; again it went out. 'I am a traitor--and that good, stupid fellow,
Sherman, never to be jealous! ' he thought. 'But then, how could I
help it? And, besides, it cannot be a bad action to save her from a
man she is so much above in refinement and feeling. ' He was getting
into good-humour with himself. He got up and went over and looked
at the photograph of Raphael's Madonna, which he had hung over the
mantelpiece. 'How like Margaret's are her big eyes! '
VI
The next day when Sherman came home from his office he saw an envelope
lying on the smoking-room table. It contained a letter from Howard,
saying that he had gone away, and that he hoped Sherman would forgive
his treachery, but that he was hopelessly in love with Miss Leland, and
that she returned his love.
Sherman went downstairs. His mother was helping the servant to set the
table.
make pale his good resolves. Was it not in itself that which all men
are seeking, and for which all else exists?
He leant forward and took her hand, timidly and doubtingly. She did
not draw it away. He leant nearer and kissed her on the forehead. She
gave a joyful cry, and, casting her arms round his neck, burst out,
'Ah! you--and I. We were made for each other. I hate Sherman. He is
an egotist. He is a beast. He is selfish and foolish. ' Releasing one
of her arms she struck the seat with her hand, excitedly, and went
on, 'How angry he will be! But it serves him right! How badly he is
dressing.
He does not know anything about anything. But you--you--I
knew you were meant for me the moment I saw you. '
That evening Howard flung himself into a chair in the empty
smoking-room. He lighted a cigarette; it went out. Again he lighted
it; again it went out. 'I am a traitor--and that good, stupid fellow,
Sherman, never to be jealous! ' he thought. 'But then, how could I
help it? And, besides, it cannot be a bad action to save her from a
man she is so much above in refinement and feeling. ' He was getting
into good-humour with himself. He got up and went over and looked
at the photograph of Raphael's Madonna, which he had hung over the
mantelpiece. 'How like Margaret's are her big eyes! '
VI
The next day when Sherman came home from his office he saw an envelope
lying on the smoking-room table. It contained a letter from Howard,
saying that he had gone away, and that he hoped Sherman would forgive
his treachery, but that he was hopelessly in love with Miss Leland, and
that she returned his love.
Sherman went downstairs. His mother was helping the servant to set the
table.
