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than ever； but her manner implied the pressure of control； and her voice
was not quite steady as she greeted me。
〃You've been away a long time；〃 I said。
〃The dressmakers；〃 she answered。 Her colour rose a little。 〃I thought
they'd never get through。〃
〃But why didn't you drop me a line； let me know when you were coming？〃 I
asked； taking a chair beside her； and laying my hand on hers。 She drew
it gently away。
〃What's the matter？〃 I asked。
〃I've been thinking it all overwhat we're doing。 It doesn't seem
right； it seems terribly wrong。〃
〃But I thought we'd gone over all that；〃 I replied； as patiently as I
could。 〃You're putting it on an old…fashioned； moral basis。〃
〃But there must be same basis；〃 she urged。 〃There are responsibilities；
obligationsthere must be！that we can't get away from。 I can't help
feeling that we ought to stand by our mistakes； and by our bargains； we
made a choiceit's cheating； somehow； and if we take thiswhat we want…
…we shall be punished for it。〃
〃But I'm willing to be punished； to suffer； as I told you。 If you loved
me〃
〃Hugh！〃 she exclaimed； and I was silent。 〃You don't understand；〃 she
went on； a little breathlessly； 〃what I mean by punishment is
deterioration。 Do you remember once； long ago； when you came to me
before I was married； I said we'd both run after false gods； and that we
couldn't do without them？ Well； and now this has come； it seems so
wonderful to me； coming again like that after we had passed it by； after
we thought it had gone forever； it's opened up visions for me that I
never hoped to see again。 It ought to restore us； dearthat's what I'm
trying to sayto redeem us； to make us capable of being what we were
meant to be。 If it doesn't do that； if it isn't doing so； it's the most
horrible of travesties； of mockeries。 If we gain life only to
have it turn into deathslow death； if we go to pieces again； utterly。
For now there's hope。 The more I think； the more clearly I see that we
can't take any step without responsibilities。 If we take this； you'll
have me； and I'll have you。 And if we don't save each other〃
〃But we will；〃 I said。
〃Ah；〃 she exclaimed； 〃if we could start new； without any past。 I married
Ham with my eyes open。〃
〃You couldn't know that he would becomewell； as flagrant as he is。 You
didn't really know what he was then。〃
〃There's no reason why I shouldn't have anticipated it。 I can't claim
that I was deceived； that I thought my marriage was made in heaven。 I
entered into a contract； and Ham has kept his part of it fairly well。 He
hasn't interfered with my freedom。 That isn't putting it on a high
plane； but there is an obligation involved。 You yourself； in your law
practice； are always insisting upon the sacredness of contract as the
very basis of our civilization。〃
Here indeed would have been a home thrust； had I been vulnerable at the
time。 So intent was I on overcoming her objections； that I resorted
unwittingly to the modern argument I had more than once declared in court
to be anathema…the argument of the new reform in reference to the common
law and the constitution。
〃A contract； no matter how seriously entered into at the time it was
made； that later is seen to violate the principles of humanity should be
void。 And not only this； but you didn't consent that he should disgrace
you。〃
Nancy winced。
〃I never told you that he paid my father's debts； I never told anyone；〃
she said； in a low voice。
〃Even then；〃 I answered after a moment； 〃you ought to see that it's too
terrible a price to pay for your happiness。 And Ham hasn't ever
pretended to consider you in any way。 It's certain you didn't agree that
he should dowhat he is doing。〃
〃Suppose I admitted it；〃 she said； 〃there remain Maude and your children。
Their happiness； their future becomes my responsibility as well as
yours。〃
〃But I don't love Maude； and Maude doesn't love me。 I grant it's my
fault； that I did her a wrong in marrying her； but she is right in
leaving me。 I should be doing her a double wrong。 And the children will
be happy with her； they will be well brought up。 I； too； have thought
this out； Nancy；〃 I insisted； 〃and the fact is that in our respective
marriages we have been； each of us； victims of our time； of our
education。 We were born in a period of transition； we inherited views of
life that do not fit conditions to…day。 It takes courage to achieve
happiness； initiative to emancipate one's self from a morality that
begins to hamper and bind。 To stay as we are； to refuse to take what is
offered us； is to remain between wind and water。 I don't mean that we
should do anythinghastily。 We can afford to take a reasonable time； to
be dignified about it。 But I have come to the conclusion that the only
thing that matters in the world is a love like ours； and its fulfilment。
Achievement； success； are empty and meaningless without it。 And you do
love meyou've admitted it。〃
〃Oh； I don't want to talk about it；〃 she exclaimed； desperately。
〃But we have to talk about it；〃 I persisted。 〃We have to thrash it out；
to see it straight； as you yourself have said。〃
〃You speak of convictions； Hugh；new convictions； in place of the old we
have discarded。 But what are they？ And is there no such thing as
conscienceeven though it be only an intuition of happiness or
unhappiness？ I do care for you； I do love you〃
〃Then why not let that suffice？〃 I exclaimed； leaning towards her。
She drew back。
〃But I want to respect you； too；〃 she said。
I was shocked； too shocked to answer。
〃I want to respect you；〃 she repeated； more gently。 〃I don't want to
think thatthat what we feel for each other isunconsecrated。〃
〃It consecrates itself；〃 I declared。
She shook her head。
〃Surely it has its roots in everything that is fine in both of us。〃
〃We both went wrong；〃 said Nancy。 〃We both sought to wrest power and
happiness from the world； to make our own laws。 How can we assert that
this is not merely a continuation of it？〃
〃But can't we work out our beliefs together？〃 I demanded。 〃Won't you
trust me； trust our love for one another？〃
Her breath came and went quickly。
〃Oh； you know that I want you； Hugh； as much as you want me； and more。
The time may come when I can't resist you。〃
〃Why do you resist me？〃 I cried； seizing her hands convulsively； and
swept by a gust of passion at her confession。
〃Try to understand that I am fighting for both of us！〃 she pleadedan
appeal that wrung me in spite of the pitch to which my feelings had been
raised。 〃Hugh； dear； we must think it out。 Don't now。〃
I let her hands drop。。。。
Beyond the range of hills rising from the far side of the Ashuela was the
wide valley in which was situated the Cloverdale Country Club； with its
polo field； golf course and tennis courts； and in this same valley some
of our wealthy citizens； such as Howard Ogilvy and Leonard Dickinson； had
bought 〃farms；〃 week…end playthings for spring and autumn。 Hambleton
Durrett had started the fashion。 Capriciously； as he did everything
else； he had become the owner of several hundred acres of pasture；
woodland and orchard； acquired some seventy…five head of blooded stock；
and proceeded to house them in model barns and milk by machinery； for
several months he had bored everyone in the Boyne Club whom he could
entice into conversation on the subject of the records of pedigreed cows；
and spent many bibulous nights on the farm in company with those
parasites who surrounded him when he was in town。 Then another interest
had intervened； a feminine one； of course； and his energies were
transferred （so we understood） to the reconstruction and furnishing of a
little residence in New York； not far from Fifth Avenue。 The farm
continued under the expert direction of a superintendent who was a
graduate of the State Agricultural College； and a select clientele； which
could afford to pay the prices； consumed the milk and cream and butter。
Quite consistent with their marital relations was the fact that Nancy
should have taken a fancy to the place after Ham's interest had waned。
Not that she cared for the Guernseys； or Jerseys； or whatever they may
have been； she evinced a sudden passion for simplicity；occasional
simplicity； at least；for a contrast to and escape from a complicated
life of luxury。 She built another house for the superintendent banished
him from the little farmhouse （where Ham had kept two rooms）； banished
along with the superintendent the stiff plush furniture； the yellow…red
carpets； the easels and the melodeon； and decked it out in bright
chintzes； with wall…papers to match； dainty muslin curtains； and rag…
carpet rugs on the hardwood floors。 The pseudo…classic porch over the
doorway； which had suggested a cemetery； was removed； and a wide piazza
added； furnished with wicker lounging chairs and tables； and shaded with
gay awnings。
Here； to the farm； accompanied by a maid； she had been in the habit of
retiring from time to time； and here she came in early July。 Here；
dressed in the simplest linen gowns of pink or blue or white； I found a
Nancy magically restored to girlhood；anew Nancy； betrayi