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we have all the luxuries。〃
Shelton returned to the kitchen； and directly after took leave of the
little Frenchman； who said； with a kind of moral button…holing； as if
trying to adopt him as a patron：
〃Trust me； monsieur； if he comes backthat young manhe shall have
your letter without fail。 My name is Carolan Jules Carolan； and I
am always at your service。〃
CHAPTER IV
THE PLAY
Shelton walked away； he had been indulging in a nightmare。 〃That old
actor was drunk；〃 thought he； 〃and no doubt he was an Irishman；
still； there may be truth in what he said。 I am a Pharisee； like all
the rest who are n't in the pit。 My respectability is only luck。
What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life？〃
and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares； trying to
pierce the mask of their serious； complacent faces。 If these ladies
and gentlemen were put into that pit into which he had been looking；
would a single one of them emerge again？ But the effort of picturing
them there was too much for him； it was too fartoo ridiculously
far。
One particular couple； a large； fine man and wife； who； in the midst
of all the dirt and rumbling hurry； the gloomy； ludicrous； and
desperately jovial streets； walked side by side in well…bred silence；
had evidently bought some article which pleased them。 There was
nothing offensive in their manner； they seemed quite unconcerned at
the passing of the other people。 The man had that fine solidity of
shoulder and of waist； the glossy self…possession that belongs to
those with horses； guns； and dressing…bags。 The wife； her chin
comfortably settled in her fur； kept her grey eyes on the ground；
and； when she spoke； her even and unruffled voice reached Shelton's
ears above all the whirring of the traffic。 It was leisurely
precise； as if it had never hurried； had never been exhausted； or
passionate； or afraid。 Their talk； like that of many dozens of fine
couples invading London from their country places； was of where to
dine； what theatre they should go to； whom they had seen； what they
should buy。 And Shelton knew that from day's end to end； and even in
their bed； these would be the subjects of their conversation。 They
were the best…bred people of the sort he met in country houses and
accepted as of course； with a vague discomfort at the bottom of his
soul。 Antonia's home； for instance； had been full of them。 They
were the best…bred people of the sort who supported charities； knew
everybody； had clear； calm judgment； and intolerance of all such
conduct as seemed to them 〃impossible；〃 all breaches of morality；
such as mistakes of etiquette； such as dishonesty； passion； sympathy
（except with a canonised class of objectsthe legitimate sufferings；
for instance； of their own families and class）。 How healthy they
were！ The memory of the doss…house worked in Shelton's mind like
poison。 He was conscious that in his own groomed figure； in the
undemonstrative assurance of his walk； he bore resemblance to the
couple he apostrophised。 〃Ah！〃 he thought； 〃how vulgar our
refinement is！〃 But he hardly believed in his own outburst。 These
people were so well mannered； so well conducted； and so healthy； he
could not really understand what irritated him。 What was the matter
with them？ They fulfilled their duties； had good appetites； clear
consciences； all the furniture of perfect citizens； they merely
lacked…feelers； a loss that； he had read； was suffered by plants and
animals which no longer had a need for using them。 Some rare
national faculty of seeing only the obvious and materially useful had
destroyed their power of catching gleams or scents to right or left。
The lady looked up at her husband。 The light of quiet； proprietary
affection shone in her calm grey eyes； decorously illumining her
features slightly reddened by the wind。 And the husband looked back
at her； calm； practical； protecting。 They were very much alike。 So
doubtless he looked when he presented himself in snowy shirt…sleeves
for her to straighten the bow of his white tie； so nightly she would
look； standing before the full…length mirror； fixing his gifts upon
her bosom。 Calm； proprietary； kind！ He passed them and walked
behind a second less distinguished couple； who manifested a mutual
dislike as matter…of…fact and free from nonsense as the unruffled
satisfaction of the first； this dislike was just as healthy； and
produced in Shelton about the same sensation。 It was like knocking
at a never…opened door； looking at a circlecouple after couple all
the same。 No heads； toes； angles of their souls stuck out anywhere。
In the sea of their environments they were drowned； no leg braved the
air； no arm emerged wet and naked waving at the skies； shop…persons；
aristocrats； workmen； officials； they were all respectable。 And he
himself as respectable as any。
He returned； thus moody； to his rooms and； with the impetuosity which
distinguished him when about to do an unwise thing； he seized a pen
and poured out before Antonia some of his impressions：
。 。 。 。 Mean is the word； darling； we are mean； that's what 's the
matter with us； dukes and dustmen； the whole human speciesas mean
as caterpillars。 To secure our own property and our own comfort； to
dole out our sympathy according to rule just so that it won't really
hurt us； is what we're all after。 There's something about human
nature that is awfully repulsive； and the healthier people are； the
more repulsive they seem to me to be 。 。 。 。
He paused； biting his pen。 Had he one acquaintance who would not
counsel him to see a doctor for writing in that style？ How would the
world go round； how could Society exist； without common…sense；
practical ability； and the lack of sympathy？
He looked out of the open window。 Down in the street a footman was
settling the rug over the knees of a lady in a carriage； and the
decorous immovability of both their faces； which were clearly visible
to him； was like a portion of some well…oiled engine。
He got up and walked up and down。 His rooms； in a narrow square
skirting Belgravia； were unchanged since the death of his father had
made him a man of means。 Selected for their centrality； they were
furnished in a very miscellaneous way。 They were not bare； but close
inspection revealed that everything was damaged； more or less； and
there was absolutely nothing that seemed to have an interest taken in
it。 His goods were accidents； presents； or the haphazard
acquisitions of a pressing need。 Nothing； of course； was frowsy； but
everything was somewhat dusty； as if belonging to a man who never
rebuked a servant。 Above all； there was nothing that indicated
hobbies。
Three days later he had her answer to his letter：
。 。 。 I don't think I understand what you mean by 〃the healthier
people are； the more repulsive they seem to be〃； one must be healthy
to be perfect； mus