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Candor compels me to admit that it is an open question。〃
BOOK V
Early the next morning； Brother Bones was brought home by
Policeman X； his hat crushed； his face haggard； his voice husky and
unintelligible。 He only said vaguely； 〃Washertime？〃
〃It is；〃 said John Gale timidly； in explanation to Policeman X； 〃a case
of spiritual exhaustion following a vigil。〃
〃That warn't her name；〃 said Policeman X sternly。 〃But don't let this
'ere appen again。〃
John Gale turned to Brother Bones。 〃Then you saw herGolly？〃
〃No；〃 said Brother Bones。
〃Why？ What on earth have you been doing？〃
〃Dunno！ Found myself in stashunzis morning！ Thashall！〃
Then John Gale sought the Superior in an agony of remorse； and
confessed all。 〃I am unfit to remain doorkeeper。 Remove me；〃 he
groaned bitterly。
The old man smiled gently。 〃On the contrary； I should have given
you the keys myself。 Hereafter you can keep them。 The ways of our
Brotherhood are mysterious；indeed； you may think idiotic；but we are
not responsible for them。 It's all Brother Caine's doingit's 'All Caine！〃
BOOK VI
Nevertheless； John Gale left the monastery。 〃The Bishopsgate
Street winter does not suit me；〃 he briefly explained to the Superior。 〃I
must go south or southwest。〃
But he did neither。 He saw Golly； who was living west。 He
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upbraided her for going on the stage。 She retorted： 〃Whose life is the
more artificial； yours or mine？ It is true that we are both imperfectly
clothed；〃 she added； glancing at a photograph of herself in a short skirt；
〃and not always in our right mindbut you've caught nothing but a cold！
Nevertheless； I love you and you love me。〃
Then he begged her to go with him to the South Seas and take the
place of Father Damien among the colony of lepers。 〃It is a beautiful
place； and inexpensive； for we shall live only a few weeks。 What do you
say； dearest？ You know；〃 he added； with a faint； sad smile； glancing at
another photograph of her；executing the high kick；〃you're quite a
leaper yourself。〃
But that night she received an offer of a new engagement。 She wrote
to John Gale： 〃The South Seas is rather an expensive trip to take simply to
die。 Couldn't we do it as cheaply at home？ Or couldn't you prevail on
your Father Superior to set up his monastery there？ I'm afraid I'm not up
to it。 Why don't you try the old 'Oilan；' nearer home？ There's lots of
measles and diphtheria about there lately。〃
When the heartbroken John Gale received this epistle； he also received
a letter from his uncle； the First Lord of the Admiralty。 〃I don't fancy this
Damien whim of yours。 If you're really in earnest about killing yourself；
why not take a brief trial trip in one of our latest ironclads？ It's just as
risky； althoughas we are obliged to keep these things quiet in the Office
you will not of course get that publicity your noble soul craves。〃
Abandoned by all in his noble purposes； John Gale took the first
steamer to the Isle of Man。
BOOK VII
But he did not remain there long。 Once back in that epistolary
island； he wrote interminable letters to Golly。 When they began to bore
each other； he returned to London and entered the Salvation Army。
Crowds flocked to hear him preach。 He inveighed against Society and
Wickedness as represented in his mind by Golly and her friends； and
praised a perfect Christianity represented by himself and HIS friends。 A
panic of the same remarkable character as the Bishopsgate Street winter
took possession of London。 Old Moore's； Zadkiel's； and Mother
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Shipton's prophecies were to be fulfilled at an early and fixed date； with
no postponement on account of weather。 Suddenly Society； John Drake；
and Antichrist generally combined by ousting him from his church； and
turning it into a music…hall for Golly！ Then John Gale took his last and
sublime resolve。 His duty as a perfect Christian was to kill Golly！ His
logic was at once inscrutable； perfect； andJohn Galish！
With this sublime and lofty purpose； he called upon Golly。 The
heroic girl saw his purpose in his eyean eye at once black； murderous；
and Christian…like。 For an instant she thought it was better to succumb at
once and thus end this remarkable attachment。 Suddenly through this
chaos of Spiritual； Religious； Ecstatic； Super…Egotistic whirl of confused
thought； darted a gleam of Common； Ordinary Horse Sense！ John Gale
saw it illumine her blue eyes； and trembled。 God in Mercy！ If it came
to THAT！
〃Sit down； John；〃 she said calmly。 Then； in her sweet； clear voice；
she said： 〃Did it ever occur to you； dearest； that a more ridiculous；
unconvincing； purposeless； insane； God…forsaken idiot than you never
existed？ That you eclipse the wildest dreams of insanity？ That you are
a mental and moral 'What…is…it？'〃
〃It has occurred to me；〃 he replied simply。 〃I began life with vast
asinine possibilities which fall to the lot of few men； yet I cannot say that I
have carried even THEM to a logical conclusion！ But YOU； love！ YOU；
darling！ conceived in extravagance； born to impossibility； a challenge to
credulity； a problem to the intellect； a 'missing word' for all ages；are you
aware of any one as utterly unsympathetic； unreal； and untrue to nature as
you are； existing on the face of the earth； or in the waters under the earth？〃
〃You are right； dearest； there are none；〃 she returned with the same
calm； level voice。 〃It is true that I have at times tried to do something
real and womanly； and not； you know； merely to complicate aa〃her
voice faltered〃theatrical situationbut I couldn't！ Something impelle