"I saw him take her in his arms. So he had found ... this, beyond what he had hoped. Another wave of irritation at his heartlessness swept over me. I turned away angrily—then paused a moment, considering the true nature of the phenomenon that had appeared before me as if out of the sky. I felt that he hadn’t sought this new entanglement. No, but he had evidently accepted it. Yet the woman had furnished the motive force, literally had flung herself at his head. Nonsense!—why be a prudish ass? It wasn’t in the least a matter of morals; why persist, then, in viewing it on the moral plane? Incurable habit of conventionality, never so strong as when we strive to be unconventional! Here was a meeting of instincts and elements, a transaction in lucid terms, according to a simple formula. It was a phase of God’s excruciating biological experiment. She wanted him alone, and had taken her way to get him. He was receptive, for he wanted love. Could she have awakened love in him, he would not have denied it. Failing that, he would be forced to seek elsewhere. In the meantime, why repel divine experience? ... But the shocking callousness of this experiment! While he dallied, detached and unconcerned, his life had been refreshed as if at a fountain of vitality. His heart sang with the knowledge that she loved him; he was happy, whole, and conscious of his power again. He’d said that he had recovered his self-respect—a curious choice of words, in view of the occasion; but now I understood what he had meant.... This had been her priceless gift to him. "A quick exclamation outside drew me again to the window—could you fellows have kept away? He was trying to disengage her arms from about his neck. ’It cannot be!’ said he decisively ’It is impossible! So, to save greater pain, I will go at once’ "She clung to him desperately. ’I do not understand’ she cried. "’Dear heart’ he answered ’I have seen too much, and failed too miserably, to want the spell to fall on you. All that I touch turns to ashes; whoever enters my life is cursed with my own pain’ "She gazed deeply into his eyes. ’I am not afraid’ said she ’It is for this I love. For what is past, I have no memory. To-day lives, to-morrow we carry with us like a child unborn, but yesterday is dead. What do you seek? Love? Have I not given you all?’ She threw out her arm in a sweeping gesture ’My love will never fail!’ she cried. "’I prize your love above all else’ said he. "’What do you seek?’ she cried again, springing away, confronting him with a savage crouching intensity. ’Faith? Happiness? Peace? All are here. My people will honour you, for I am noble in the hills. What do you seek? Ask, and I will give!’ "He leaned toward her, held her at arm’s length, returned her gaze. I heard him heave a sigh.