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tails in his hands； 〃it's all very well to talk； but wait until
you're married。 A man must be master； and show it； too。〃
An idea occurred to Shelton。
〃Look here； Hal；〃 he said： 〃what should you do if your wife got tired
of you？〃
The expression on Halidome's face was a mixture of amusement and
contempt。
〃I don't mean anything personal； of course； but apply the situation
to yourself。〃
Halidome took out a toothpick； used it brusquely； and responded：
〃I shouldn't stand any humbugtake her travelling； shake her mind
up。 She'd soon come round。〃
〃But suppose she really loathed you？〃
Halidome cleared his throat； the idea was so obviously indecent。 How
could anybody loathe him？ With great composure； however； regarding
Shelton as if he were a forward but amusing child； he answered：
〃There are a great many things to be taken into consideration。〃
〃It appears to me；〃 said Shelton； 〃to be a question of common pride。
How can you； ask anything of a woman who doesn't want to give it。
His friend's voice became judicial。
〃A man ought not to suffer；〃 he said； poring over his whisky；
〃because a woman gets hysteria。 You have to think of Society； your
children； house； money arrangements； a thousand things。 It's all
very well to talk。 How do you like this whisky？〃
〃The part of the good citizen； in fact；〃 said Shelton； 〃self…
preservation！〃
〃Common…sense；〃 returned his friend； 〃I believe in justice before
sentiment。〃 He drank； and callously blew smoke at Shelton。
〃Besides； there are many people with religious views about it。〃
〃It's always seemed to me；〃 said Shelton； 〃to be quaint that people
should assert that marriage gives them the right to 'an eye for an
eye；' and call themselves Christians。 Did you ever know anybody
stand on their rights except out of wounded pride or for the sake of
their own comfort？ Let them call their reasons what they like； you
know as well as I do that it's cant。〃
〃I don't know about that；〃 said Halidome； more and more superior as
Shelton grew more warm； 〃when you stand on your rights； you do it for
the sake of Society as well as for your own。 If you want to do away
with marriage； why don't you say so？〃
〃But I don't；〃 said Shelton：〃 is it likely？ Why； I'm going…〃 He
stopped without adding the words 〃to be married myself；〃 for it
suddenly occurred to him that the reason was not the most lofty and
philosophic in the world。 〃All I can say is；〃 he went on soberly；
〃that you can't make a horse drink by driving him。 Generosity is the
surest way of tightening the knot with people who've any sense of
decency； as to the rest； the chief thing is to prevent their
breeding。〃
Halidome smiled。
〃You're a rum chap；〃 he said。
Shelton jerked his cigarette into the fire。
〃I tell you what〃for late at night a certain power of vision came
to him〃it's humbug to talk of doing things for the sake of Society；
it's nothing but the instinct to keep our own heads above the water。〃
But Halidome remained unruffled。
〃All right；〃 he said； 〃call it that。 I don't see why I should go to
the wall； it wouldn't do any good。〃
〃You admit； then；〃 said Shelton； 〃that our morality is the sum total
of everybody's private instinct of self…preservation？〃
Halidome stretched his splendid frame and yawned。
〃I don't know；〃 he began； 〃that I should quite call it that〃
But the compelling complacency of his fine eyes； the dignified
posture of his healthy body； the lofty slope of his narrow forehead；
the perfectly humane look of his cultivated brutality； struck Shelton
as ridiculous。
〃Hang it； Hall〃 he cried； jumping from his chair； 〃what an old fraud
you are！ I'll be off。〃
〃No； look here！〃 said Halidome； the faintest shade of doubt had
appeared upon his face； he took Shelton by a lapel： 〃You're quite
wrong…〃
〃Very likely； good…night； old chap！〃
Shelton walked home； letting the spring wind into him。 It was
Saturday； and he passed many silent couples。 In every little patch
of shadow he could see two forms standing or sitting close together；
and in their presence Words the Impostors seemed to hold their
tongues。 The wind rustled the buds； the stars； one moment bright as
diamonds； vanished the next。 In the lower streets a large part of
the world was under the influence of drink； but by this Shelton was
far from being troubled。 It seemed better than Drama； than dressing…
bagged men； unruffled women； and padded points of view； better than
the immaculate solidity of his friend's possessions。
〃So；〃 he reflected； 〃it's right for every reason； social； religious；
and convenient； to inflict one's society where it's not desired。
There are obviously advantages about the married state； charming to
feel respectable while you're acting in a way that in any other walk
of life would bring on you contempt。 If old Halidome showed that he
was tired of me； and I continued to visit him； he'd think me a bit of
a cad； but if his wife were to tell him she couldn't stand him； he'd
still consider himself a perfect gentleman if he persisted in giving
her the burden of his society； and he has the cheek to bring religion
into ita religion that says； 'Do unto others！'〃
But in this he was unjust to Halidome； forgetting how impossible it
was for him to believe that a woman could not stand him。 He reached
his rooms； and； the more freely to enjoy the clear lamplight； the
soft； gusty breeze； and waning turmoil of the streets； waited a
moment before entering。
〃I wonder；〃 thought he； 〃if I shall turn out a cad when I marry； like
that chap in the play。 It's natural。 We all want our money's worth；
our pound of …flesh！ Pity we use such fine words'Society；
Religion； Morality。' Humbug！〃
He went in； and； throwing his window open； remained there a long
time； his figure outlined against the lighted room for the benefit of
the dark square below； his hands in his pockets； his head down； a
reflective frown about his eyes。 A half…intoxicated old ruffian； a
policeman； and a man in a straw hat had stopped below； and were
holding a palaver。
〃Yus；〃 the old ruffian said； 〃I'm a rackety old blank； but what I say
is； if we wus all alike； this would n't be a world！〃
They went their way； and before the listener's eyes there rose
Antonia's face； with its unruffled brow； Halidome's； all health and
dignity； the forehead of the goggle…eyed man； with its line of hair
parted in the centre； and brushed across。 A light seemed to illumine
the plane of their existence； as the electric lamp with the green
shade had illumined the pages of the Matthew Arnold； serene before
Shelton's vision lay that Elysium； untouched by passion or extremes
of any kind； autocratic； complacent； possessive； and well…kept as any
Midland landscape。 Healthy； wealthy； wise！ No room but for
perfection； self…preservation； the survival of the fittest！ 〃The