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〃Oh！ but why？〃
〃Because you are a witchand witches must be burned with all their
flowers。〃
〃Are you going to burn me？〃
He put his hand on her cool arm。
〃Feel！ The flames are lighted。〃
〃You may！ I don't care！〃
She took his hand and laid her cheek against it； yet； to the music；
which had begun again； the tip of her shoe was already beating
time。 And he said：
〃You ought to be dancing； child。〃
〃Oh； no！ Only it's a pity you don't want to。〃
〃Yes！ Do you understand that it must all be secretunderground？〃
She covered his lips with the fan； and said： 〃You're not to think；
you're not to thinknever！ When can I come？〃
〃I must find the best way。 Not to…morrow。 Nobody must know； Nell
for your sakefor hersnobody！〃
She nodded； and repeated with a soft； mysterious wisdom： 〃Nobody。〃
And then； aloud： 〃Here's Oliver！ It was awfully good of you to
come。 Good…night！〃
And as； on Oliver's arm； she left their little refuge； she looked
back。
He lingeredto watch her through this one dance。 How they made
all the other couples sink into insignificance； with that something
in them both that was better than mere good looksthat something
not outre or eccentric； but poignant； wayward。 They went well
together； those two Dromoreshis dark head and her fair head； his
clear； brown； daring eyes； and her grey； languorous； mesmeric eyes。
Ah！ Master Oliver was happy now； with her so close to him！ It was
not jealousy that Lennan felt。 Not quiteone did not feel jealous
of the young； something very deeppride； sense of proportion； who
knew whatprevented that。 She； too； looked happy； as if her soul
were dancing； vibrating with the music and the scent of the
flowers。 He waited for her to come round once more； to get for a
last time that flying glance turned back； then found his coat and
hat and went。
XIII
Outside； he walked a few steps； then stood looking back at the
windows of the hall through some trees； the shadows of whose
trunks； in the light of a street lamp； were spilled out along the
ground like the splines of a fan。 A church clock struck eleven。
For hours yet she would be there； going round and round in the arms
of Youth！ Try as he might he could never recapture for himself the
look that Oliver's face had wornthe look that was the symbol of
so much more than he himself could give her。 Why had she come into
his lifeto her undoing； and his own？ And the bizarre thought
came to him： If she were dead should I really care？ Should I not
be almost glad？ If she were dead her witchery would be dead； and I
could stand up straight again and look people in the face！ What
was this power that played with men； darted into them； twisted
their hearts to rags； this power that had looked through her eyes
when she put her fan； with his flowers； to her lips？
The thrumming of the music ceased； he walked away。
It must have been nearly twelve when he reached home。 Now； once
more； would begin the gruesome process of deceptionflinching of
soul； and brazening of visage。 It would be better when the whole
thievish business was irretrievably begun and ordered in its secret
courses！
There was no light in the drawing…room； save just the glow of the
fire。 If only Sylvia might have gone to bed！ Then he saw her；
sitting motionless out there by the uncurtained window。
He went over to her； and began his hateful formula：
〃I'm afraid you've been lonely。 I had to stay rather late。 A dull
evening。〃 And； since she did not move or answer； but just sat
there very still and white； he forced himself to go close； bend
down to her； touch her cheek； even to kneel beside her。 She looked
round then； her face was quiet enough； but her eyes were strangely
eager。 With a pitiful little smile she broke out：
〃Oh； Mark！ What is itwhat is it？ Anything is better than this！〃
Perhaps it was the smile； perhaps her voice or eyesbut something
gave way in Lennan。 Secrecy； precaution went by the board。 Bowing
his head against her breast； he poured it all out； while they
clung； clutched together in the half dark like two frightened
children。 Only when he had finished did he realize that if she had
pushed him away； refused to let him touch her； it would have been
far less piteous； far easier to bear； than her wan face and her
hands clutching him； and her words： 〃I never thoughtyou and I
oh！ Markyou and I〃 The trust in their life together； in
himself； that those words revealed！ Yet； not greater than he had
hadstill had！ She could not understandhe had known that she
could never understand； it was why he had fought so for secrecy；
all through。 She was taking it as if she had lost everything； and
in his mind she had lost nothing。 This passion； this craving for
Youth and Life； this madnesscall it what one wouldwas something
quite apart； not touching his love and need of her。 If she would
only believe that！ Over and over he repeated it； over and over
again perceived that she could not take it in。 The only thing she
saw was that his love had gone from her to anotherthough that was
not true！ Suddenly she broke out of his arms； pushing him from
her； and cried： 〃That girlhateful； horrible； false！〃 Never had
he seen her look like this； with flaming spots in her white cheeks；
soft lips and chin distorted； blue eyes flaming； breast heaving； as
if each breath were drawn from lungs that received no air。 And
then； as quickly； the fire went out of her； she sank down on the
sofa； covering her face with her arms； rocking to and fro。 She did
not cry； but a little moan came from her now and then。 And each
one of those sounds was to Lennan like the cry of something he was
murdering。 At last he went and sat down on the sofa by her and
said：
〃Sylvia！ Sylvia！ Don't！ oh！ don't！〃 And she was silent； ceasing
to rock herself； letting him smooth and stroke her。 But her face
she kept hidden； and only once she spoke； so low that he could
hardly hear： 〃I can'tI won't keep you from her。〃 And with the
awful feeling that no words could reach or soothe the wound in that
tender heart； he could only go on stroking and kissing her hands。
It was atrocioushorriblethis that he had done！ God knew that
he had not sought itthe thing had come on him。 Surely even in
her misery she could see that！ Deep down beneath his grief and
self…hatred； he knew； what neither she nor anyone else could know
that he could not have prevented this feeling； which went back to
days before he ever saw the girlthat no man could have stopped
that feeling in himself。 This craving and roving was as much part
of him as his eyes and hands； as overwhelming and natural a longing
as his hunger for work； or his need of the peace that Sylvia gave；
and alone could give him。 That was the tragedyit was all sunk
and rooted in the very nature of a man。 Since the girl had come
into their lives he was no more unfaithful to his wife in thought
than he had been before。 If only she could look into him； see him
exactly as he was； as； without part or lot in the process； he had
been madethen she would understand； and even might not suffer；
but she could not； and he could never make it plain。