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but her classhis class。 She would be there always to make him look
on her and on himself； and all the people that they knew and all the
things they did； complacently； she would be there to make him feel
himself superior to everyone whose life was cast in other moral
moulds。 To feel himself superior； not blatantly； not consciously；
but with subconscious righteousness。
But his anger； which was like the paroxysm that two days before had
made him mutter at the Connoisseur； 〃I hate your d…d superiority；〃
struck him all at once as impotent and ludicrous。 What was the good
of being angry？ He was on the point of losing her！ And the anguish
of that thought； reacting on his anger； intensified it threefold。
She was so certain of herself； so superior to her emotions； to her
natural impulsessuperior to her very longing to be free from him。
Of that fact； at all events； Shelton had no longer any doubt。 It was
beyond argument。 She did not really love him； she wanted to be free
of him！
A photograph hung in his bedroom at Holm Oaks of a group round the
hall door； the Honourable Charlotte Penguin； Mrs。 Dennant； Lady
Bonington； Halidome； Mr。 Dennant； and the stained…glass manall were
there； and on the left…hand side； looking straight in front of her；
Antonia。 Her face in its youthfulness； more than all those others；
expressed their point of view： Behind those calm young eyes lay a
world of safety and tradition。 〃I am not as others are；〃 they seemed
to say。
And from that photograph Mr。 and Mrs。 Dennant singled themselves out；
he could see their faces as they talkedtheir faces with a peculiar
and uneasy look on them； and he could hear their voices； still
decisive； but a little acid； as if they had been quarrelling：
〃He 's made a donkey of himself！〃
〃Ah！ it's too distressin'！〃
They； too； thought him unsound； and did n't want him； but to save the
situation they would be glad to keep him。 She did n't want him； but
she refused to lose her right to say； 〃Commoner girls may break their
promises； I will not！〃 He sat down at the table between the candles；
covering his face。 His grief and anger grew and grew within him。 If
she would not free herself； the duty was on him！ She was ready
without love to marry him； as a sacrifice to her ideal of what she
ought to be！
But she had n't； after all； the monopoly of pride！
As if she stood before him； he could see the shadows underneath her
eyes that he had dreamed of kissing； the eager movements of her lips。
For several minutes he remained； not moving hand or limb。 Then once
more his anger blazed。 She was going to sacrifice herself andhim！
All his manhood scoffed at such a senseless sacrifice。 That was not
exactly what he wanted！
He went to the bureau； took a piece of paper and an envelope； and
wrote as follows：
There never was； is not； and never would have been any question of
being bound between us。 I refuse to trade on any such thing。 You
are absolutely free。 Our engagement is at an end by mutual consent。
RICHARD SHELTON。
He sealed it； and； sitting with his hands between his knees； he let
his forehead droop lower and lower to the table； till it rested on
his marriage settlement。 And he had a feeling of relief； like one
who drops exhausted at his journey's end。
End