“I wonder what it is like at this moment at Folly Corner, in my garden,” Pamela said abstractedly. “Ah! Folly Corner. What a garden, what a dim old house, packed with ghosts, guilt, dead dreams, and delights! What a collection of furniture; I’d like Tim to see it. And you put all that behind you for a tinsel thing. My poor Pamela! But then you are a woman. Let us talk over your plans. You’ve got to finish your life--that is a piece of work we are not allowed to throw aside. Let us make plans.” “I haven’t any--only desires,” Pamela returned in a shamefaced way. “Desires! Are you thinking of Jethro? The dawn, the quiet has brought it all back--Folly Corner.” “That is past--impossible. I was thinking of Edred. I had better go back. You see, he didn’t mean to shame me. He didn’t know that she was alive all the time. He is a victim of circumstances. He needs pity. I’ll go back. I’ll say nothing about it. That will be the best. You don’t know how fond I am of him! It is terrible; it frightens me sometimes. Nothing kills it--not even last night; not even the bruises on my body. I’ll go back. You must forget to-night. I’m not a fit person for you--or any nice woman--to know.” A tinge of cold disgust came into Mrs. Clutton’s dark eyes. “I won’t wrong you by believing that you’re serious,” she said at last, with some distaste--with a great deal more seriousness than she usually allowed herself. “Go back! It would be immoral, horrible. You can’t do it. You can’t possibly mean what you say. We won’t mention him again. You must stay here; things will arrange themselves--they always do.” “But Mr. Clutton?” “Tim. He has gone abroad as war correspondent. It is as well. We quarrel if we are together too long, or we grow apathetic, which is worse. I’d rather have isolated episodes of rapture than a matter-of-fact, unbroken affection. I could never endure the kind of husband who calls you ‘my dear,’ who draws you a check without grumbling, who politely wishes you good-morning when you meet at the breakfast table and asks anxiously if you are sure his shirts are aired.