René swung round and struck his father full on the mouth, thrilled sickeningly to the impact and raised his hand to strike again. Mr. Fourmy caught him by the wrist and dragged him up so that their faces were close together, both breathing heavily: "Steady," whispered the older man, "steady! steady on, boy. It's the women bitching at you got into your blood. You're a good boy, a virtuous boy. Things are hard for virtue. Listen to me. Do you hear?" René nodded. "Very well then. Life's a damn dirty business, and it grows damneder and damneder as time goes on. It got so damned for me that I cleared out. See?" René nodded. "I cleared out till I could see that it was damn funny. Then I came back. It was grinding me as it is grinding you." He patted his son's arm so affectionately that René choked and the tears ran down his cheeks. They walked on, René lurching, until his father took his arm again and led him. There was a moon over them, and as he led, Mr. Fourmy said: "On a night like this even Thrigsby is beautiful. Lord! How I used to hate the place. But when I had seen things I came to know that it is like any other. There are good men in it and good things, and over all the same slime of meanness and fear that only very few can penetrate. We live in a world of women, boy, and we must make the best of it." René hardly heard him, but he could feel the pressure of his hand and was glad that here, at last, was one nature that did not bar him out. It was so astonishing as to be repellent, but he was so hungry for comfort that he could not withdraw. X HONEYMOON That God forbid that made me first your slave I should in thought control your times of pleasure. MRS. BROCK granted René an interview. From the worldly standpoint it was satisfactory. No great objection to the projected alliance was made, and he learned that Linda had a fortune of her own which provided her with an income of seven hundred a year. If anything, he was distressed by the information. He did not regard money as in itself desirable. The lack of it was a nuisance to be avoided if possible, but not otherwise to be considered. The past year had led him to believe that such a lack was easily repaired. It was disturbing to the few ideas he had on the subject to think that he would not be able to satisfy any desires in his beloved which she could not herself supply. However that did not occupy him long, for he was comforted by Mrs. Brock's explaining that she had discussed the matter with her daughter--a good, sensible maiden, who admitted that there was a practical side even to romance--and they had agreed to postpone the marriage until Mr. Fourmy was settled in a profession. To make this easier, Linda had consented to go to her relatives in Hamburg for an indefinite period, though, of course, she would go there as a betrothed. He said: "Thank you very much, Mrs. Brock."