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es¡¡of¡¡his¡¡strong¡¡figure¡¡were¡¡braced¡¡to¡¡give¡¡and¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡a¡¡shock¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Burroughs£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨your¡¡daughter¡¡is¡¡mistaken¡£¡¡¡¡Perhaps¡¡it¡¡is¡¡my¡¡fault¡¡in¡¡having¡¡helped¡¡her¡¡to¡¡mislead¡¡herself¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡plain¡¡truth¡¡is£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡become¡¡infatuated¡¡with¡¡a¡¡young¡¡woman¡£¡¡She¡¡cares¡¡nothing¡¡about¡¡mehas¡¡repulsed¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡and¡¡am¡¡making¡¡a¡¡fool¡¡of¡¡myself¡¡about¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡I've¡¡been¡¡hoping¡¡to¡¡cure¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡still¡¡hope¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡cured¡£¡¨

There¡¡was¡¡absolute¡¡silence¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡Norman¡¡stole¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡at¡¡Josephine¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡sitting¡¡erect£»¡¡a¡¡greenish¡¡pallor¡¡over¡¡her¡¡ghastly¡¡face¡£

He¡¡said£º¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡she¡¡will¡¡take¡¡me£»¡¡now¡¡that¡¡she¡¡knows¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡gratefuland¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡make¡¡what¡¡effort¡¡I¡¡can¡¡to¡¡do¡¡my¡¡best¡£¡¨

He¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡her¡¡and¡¡she¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡for¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡softened¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡the¡¡appeal¡¡of¡¡weak¡¡human¡¡heart¡¡to¡¡weak¡¡human¡¡heart¡¡in¡¡his¡¡gaze¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡lip¡¡quivered¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡brief¡¡struggle¡¡between¡¡vanity¡¡and¡¡love¡¡and¡¡vanity£»¡¡the¡¡stronger£»¡¡the¡¡strongest¡¡force¡¡in¡¡her¡¡life£»¡¡dominating¡¡it¡¡since¡¡earliest¡¡babyhood¡¡and¡¡only¡¡seeming¡¡to¡¡give¡¡way¡¡to¡¡love¡¡when¡¡love¡¡cameit¡¡was¡¡vanity¡¡that¡¡won¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡stiffened¡¡herself¡¡and¡¡her¡¡mouth¡¡curled¡¡with¡¡proud¡¡scorn¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡laugheda¡¡sneer¡¡of¡¡jealous¡¡rage¡£¡¡¡¨Father£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡lady¡¡in¡¡the¡¡case¡¡is¡¡a¡¡common¡¡typewriter¡¡in¡¡his¡¡office¡£¡¨

But¡¡to¡¡menespecially¡¡to¡¡practical¡¡men¡¡differences¡¡of¡¡rank¡¡and¡¡position¡¡among¡¡women¡¡are¡¡not¡¡fundamentally¡¡impressive¡£¡¡¡¡Man¡¡is¡¡in¡¡the¡¡habit¡¡of¡¡taking¡¡what¡¡he¡¡wants¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡womankind¡¡wherever¡¡he¡¡finds¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡understands¡¡that¡¡habit¡¡in¡¡other¡¡men¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡furious¡¡with¡¡Norman£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡sympathize¡¡with¡¡his¡¡daughter's¡¡extreme¡¡attitude¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡said¡¡to¡¡Norman¡¡sharply£º

¡¨You¡¡say¡¡you¡¡have¡¡broken¡¡with¡¡the¡¡woman£¿¡¨

¡¨She¡¡has¡¡broken¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡Norman¡£

¡¨At¡¡any¡¡rate£»¡¡everything¡¡is¡¡broken¡¡off¡£¡¨

¡¨Apparently¡£¡¨

¡¨Then¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡reason¡¡why¡¡the¡¡marriage¡¡should¡¡not¡¡go¡¡on¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡He¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡his¡¡daughter¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡you¡¡understood¡¡men£»¡¡you¡¡would¡¡attach¡¡no¡¡importance¡¡to¡¡this¡¡matter¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡you¡¡yourself¡¡said£»¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡isn't¡¡a¡¡lady¡¡isn't¡¡in¡¡our¡¡class¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡thing¡¡amounts¡¡to¡¡nothing¡£¡¡¡¡Norman¡¡has¡¡acted¡¡well¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡has¡¡shown¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡honestyhas¡¡been¡¡truthful¡¡where¡¡most¡¡men¡¡would¡¡have¡¡shifted¡¡and¡¡lied¡£¡¡¡¡Anyhow£»¡¡things¡¡have¡¡gone¡¡too¡¡far¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Not¡¡without¡¡the¡¡soundest¡¡reasons¡¡had¡¡Burroughs¡¡accepted¡¡Norman¡¡as¡¡his¡¡son¡­in¡­law£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡no¡¡fancy¡¡for¡¡giving¡¡him¡¡up£»¡¡when¡¡men¡¡of¡¡his¡¡pre¡­eminent¡¡fitness¡¡were¡¡so¡¡rare¡£

There¡¡was¡¡another¡¡profound¡¡silence¡£¡¡¡¡Josephine¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Norman¡£¡¡¡¡Had¡¡he¡¡returned¡¡her¡¡gaze£»¡¡the¡¡event¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡different£»¡¡for¡¡within¡¡her¡¡there¡¡was¡¡now¡¡going¡¡on¡¡a¡¡struggle¡¡between¡¡two¡¡nearly¡¡evenly¡¡matched¡¡vanitiesthe¡¡vanity¡¡of¡¡her¡¡own¡¡outraged¡¡pride¡¡and¡¡the¡¡vanity¡¡of¡¡what¡¡the¡¡world¡¡would¡¡say¡¡and¡¡think£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡engagement¡¡were¡¡broken¡¡off¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡¡and¡¡in¡¡those¡¡circumstances¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡look¡¡at¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡kept¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡fixed¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡wall£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡emotion¡¡of¡¡any¡¡kind¡¡in¡¡his¡¡stony¡¡features¡£¡¡¡¡Josephine¡¡rose£»¡¡suppressed¡¡a¡¡sob£»¡¡looked¡¡arrogant¡¡scorn¡¡from¡¡eyes¡¡shining¡¡with¡¡tearstears¡¡of¡¡self¡­¡¡pity¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Send¡¡him¡¡away£»¡¡father£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡has¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡degrade¡¡ME£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡done¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡And¡¡she¡¡rushed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡her¡¡father¡¡half¡¡starting¡¡from¡¡his¡¡chair¡¡to¡¡detain¡¡her¡£

He¡¡turned¡¡angrily¡¡on¡¡Norman¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡hell¡¡of¡¡a¡¡mess¡¡you've¡¡made£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡cried¡£

¡¨A¡¡hell¡¡of¡¡a¡¡mess£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man¡£

¡¨Of¡¡course¡¡she'll¡¡come¡¡round¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡you've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡do¡¡your¡¡part¡£¡¨

¡¨It's¡¡settled£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Norman¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡he¡¡threw¡¡his¡¡cigar¡¡into¡¡the¡¡fireplace¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Good¡¡night¡£¡¨

¡¨Hold¡¡on£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡Burroughs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Before¡¡you¡¡go£»¡¡you¡¡must¡¡see¡¡Josie¡¡alone¡¡and¡¡talk¡¡with¡¡her¡£¡¨

¡¨It¡¡would¡¡be¡¡useless£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Norman¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡know¡¡her¡£¡¨

Burroughs¡¡laid¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡friendlily¡¡but¡¡heavily¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man's¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨This¡¡outburst¡¡of¡¡nonsense¡¡might¡¡cost¡¡you¡¡two¡¡young¡¡people¡¡your¡¡happiness¡¡for¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡is¡¡no¡¡time¡¡for¡¡jealousy¡¡and¡¡false¡¡pride¡£¡¡Wait¡¡a¡¡moment¡£¡¨

¡¨Very¡¡well£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Norman¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡it¡¡is¡¡useless¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡understood¡¡Josephine¡¡nowhe¡¡who¡¡had¡¡become¡¡a¡¡connoisseur¡¡of¡¡love¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡her¡¡vanity¡­founded¡¡love¡¡had¡¡vanished¡£

Burroughs¡¡disappeared¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡his¡¡daughter¡¡had¡¡taken¡£¡¡¡¡Norman¡¡waited¡¡several¡¡minuteslong¡¡enough¡¡slowly¡¡to¡¡smoke¡¡a¡¡cigarette¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡went¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡and¡¡put¡¡on¡¡his¡¡coat¡¡with¡¡deliberation¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡one¡¡appeared£»¡¡not¡¡even¡¡a¡¡servant¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡went¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡street¡£

In¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡papers¡¡he¡¡found¡¡the¡¡announcement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡withdrawal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡invitationsand¡¡from¡¡half¡¡a¡¡column¡¡to¡¡several¡¡columns¡¡of¡¡comment£»¡¡much¡¡of¡¡it¡¡extremely¡¡unflattering¡¡to¡¡him¡£



XIII


WHEN¡¡a¡¡¡¨high¡¡life¡¨¡¡engagement¡¡such¡¡as¡¡that¡¡of¡¡Norman¡¡and¡¡Miss¡¡Burroughs£»¡¡collapses¡¡on¡¡the¡¡eve¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wedding£»¡¡the¡¡gossip¡¡and¡¡the¡¡scandal£»¡¡however¡¡great£»¡¡are¡¡but¡¡a¡¡small¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mess¡£¡¡¡¡Doubtless¡¡many¡¡a¡¡marriageand¡¡not¡¡in¡¡high¡¡life¡¡alone£»¡¡eitherhas¡¡been¡¡put¡¡through£»¡¡although¡¡the¡¡one¡¡party¡¡or¡¡the¡¡other¡¡or¡¡both¡¡have¡¡discovered¡¡that¡¡disaster¡¡was¡¡inevitablesolely¡¡because¡¡of¡¡the¡¡appalling¡¡muddle¡¡the¡¡sensible¡¡course¡¡would¡¡precipitate¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡case¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Norman¡­Burroughs¡¡fiasco£»¡¡there¡¡wereto¡¡note¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡big¡¡items¡¡such¡¡difficulties¡¡as¡¡several¡¡car¡¡loads¡¡of¡¡presents¡¡from¡¡all¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡to¡¡be¡¡returned£»¡¡a¡¡house¡¡furnished¡¡throughout¡¡and¡¡equipped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡last¡¡scullery¡¡maid¡¡and¡¡stable¡¡boy¡¡to¡¡be¡¡disposed¡¡of£»¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡Burroughs¡¡domestic¡¡economy¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡reconstructed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡put¡¡back¡¡upon¡¡its¡¡former¡¡basis¡£

It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡surprising¡¡that£»¡¡as¡¡Ursula¡¡Fitzhugh¡¡was¡¡credibly¡¡informed£»¡¡Josephine¡¡almost¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡send¡¡for¡¡Bob¡¡Culver¡¡and¡¡marry¡¡him¡¡on¡¡the¡¡day¡¡before¡¡the¡¡day¡¡appointed¡¡for¡¡her¡¡marriage¡¡to¡¡Fred¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡reason¡¡given¡¡for¡¡her¡¡not¡¡doing¡¡this¡¡sounded¡¡plausible¡£¡¡¡¡Culver£»¡¡despairing¡¡of¡¡making¡¡the¡¡match¡¡on¡¡which¡¡his¡¡ambition¡¡and¡¡therefore¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡was¡¡setand¡¡seeing¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡get¡¡suddenly¡¡rich£»¡¡had¡¡embarked¡¡for¡¡a¡¡career¡¡as¡¡a¡¡blackmailer¡¡of¡¡corporations¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡is£»¡¡he¡¡nosed¡¡about¡¡for¡¡a¡¡big¡¡corporation¡¡stealthily¡¡doing¡¡or¡¡arranging¡¡to¡¡do¡¡some¡¡unlawful¡¡but¡¡highly¡¡profitable¡¡acts£»¡¡he¡¡bought¡¡a¡¡few¡¡shares¡¡of¡¡its¡¡stock£»¡¡using¡¡a¡¡fake¡¡client¡¡as¡¡a¡¡blind£»¡¡he¡¡then¡¡proceeded¡¡to¡¡threaten¡¡it¡¡with¡¡exposure£»¡¡expensive¡¡hindrances¡¡and¡¡the¡¡like£»¡¡unless¡¡it¡¡bought¡¡him¡¡off¡¡at¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡profit¡¡to¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡business¡¡was¡¡regarded¡¡as¡¡most¡¡disreputable¡¡andthanks¡¡to¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡the¡¡big¡¡corporations¡¡over¡¡the¡¡courtshad¡¡resulted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sending¡¡of¡¡several¡¡of¡¡its¡¡practisers¡¡to¡¡jail¡¡or¡¡on¡¡hasty¡¡journeys¡¡to¡¡foreign¡¡climes¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡Culver£»¡¡almost¡¡if¡¡not¡¡quite¡¡as¡¡good¡¡a¡¡lawyer¡¡as¡¡Norman£»¡¡was¡¡too¡¡clever¡¡to¡¡be¡¡caught¡¡in¡¡that¡¡way¡£¡¡¡¡However£»¡¡while¡¡he¡¡was¡¡getting¡¡very¡¡rich¡¡rapidly£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡far¡¡from¡¡rich¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡overcome¡¡the¡¡detestation¡¡of¡¡old¡¡Burroughs£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡be¡¡eligible¡¡for¡¡the¡¡daughter¡£

So£»¡¡Josephine¡¡sailed¡¡away¡¡to¡¡Europe£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡consolation¡¡that¡¡her¡¡father¡¡was¡¡so¡¡chagrined¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fizzle¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡withdrawn¡¡his¡¡veto¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡purchase¡¡of¡¡a¡¡foreign¡¡titlethat¡¡veto¡¡having¡¡been¡¡the¡¡only¡¡reason¡¡she¡¡had¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡home¡¡for¡¡a¡¡husband¡£¡¡¡¡Strange¡¡indeed¡¡are¡¡the¡¡ways¡¡of¡¡lovenever¡¡stranger¡¡than¡¡when¡¡it¡¡comes¡¡into¡¡contact¡¡with¡¡the¡¡vanities¡¡of¡¡wealth¡¡and¡¡social¡¡position¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡things¡¡that¡¡cause¡¡a¡¡human¡¡being¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡that¡¡he¡¡or¡¡she¡¡is¡¡lifted¡¡clear¡¡of¡¡and¡¡high¡¡above¡¡the¡¡human¡¡condition¡£¡¡¡¡Josephine¡¡had¡¡her¡¡consolation¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡Norman¡¡the¡¡only¡¡consolation¡¡was¡¡escape¡¡from¡¡a¡¡marriage¡¡which¡¡had¡¡become¡¡so¡¡irksome¡¡in¡¡anticipation¡¡that¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡dare¡¡think¡¡what¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡in¡¡the¡¡reality¡£¡¡Over¡¡against¡¡this¡¡consolation¡¡was¡¡set¡¡a¡¡long¡¡list¡¡of¡¡disasters¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡immediately¡¡shunned¡¡by¡¡all¡¡his¡¡friends¡£¡¡¡¡Their¡¡professed¡¡reason¡¡was¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡acted¡¡shabbily¡¡in¡¡the¡¡breaking¡¡of¡¡the¡¡engagement£»¡¡for£»¡¡while¡¡it¡¡was¡¡assumed¡¡that¡¡Josephine¡¡must¡¡have¡¡done¡¡the¡¡actual¡¡breaking£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡also¡¡assumed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡must¡¡have¡¡given¡¡her¡¡provocation¡¡and¡¡to¡¡spare¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡virtuous¡¡indignation¡¡was¡¡in¡¡large¡¡part¡¡mere¡¡pretext£»¡¡as¡¡virtuous¡¡indignation¡¡in¡¡frail¡¡mortals¡¡toward¡¡frail¡¡mortals¡¡is¡¡apt¡¡to¡¡be¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡real¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡shying¡¡off¡¡from¡¡Norman¡¡was¡¡his¡¡atmosphere¡¡of¡¡impending¡¡downfall¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡certainly¡¡that¡¡atmosphere¡¡had¡¡eaten¡¡away¡¡and¡¡dissipated¡¡all¡¡his¡¡former¡¡charm¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡dull¡¡and¡¡boresomeand¡¡he¡¡was¡£

But¡¡the¡¡chief¡¡disaster¡¡was¡¡material¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡has¡¡been¡¡said£»¡¡old¡¡Burroughs£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡person¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡enterprises¡¡he¡¡controlled£»¡¡gave¡¡Norman's¡¡firm¡¡about¡¡half¡¡its¡¡income¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡day¡¡Josephine¡¡sailed£»¡¡Lockyer£»¡¡senior¡¡partner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡firm£»¡¡got¡¡an¡¡intimation¡¡that¡¡unless¡¡Norman¡¡left£»¡¡Bur

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