“No.IfIgetalittlethin,itiswithayaboutmyprospects,yetuled—mydeparture,tinuallyprocrastinated.Onlythism,Ireceivedintelligethesuccessor,whosearrivalIhavebeensolongexpeg,otbereadytoreplacemeforthreemonthstoeyet;andperhapsthethreemonthsmayextendtosix.”

    “YoutrembleandbeeflushedwheneverMissOlivereheschoolroom.”

    Againthesurprisedexpressioncrossedhisface.Hehadnotimagihatawomanwoulddaretospeaksotoaman.Forme,Ifeltathomeinthissortofdiscourse.Icouldneverrestinunicationwithstrong,discreet,andrefinedminds,whethermaleorfemale,tillIhadpassedtheoutworksofventionalreserve,andcrossedthethresholdoffidendlacebytheirheart’sveryhearthstone.

    “Youareinal,”saidhe,“andnottimid.Thereissomethingbraveinyourspirit,aseinginyoureye;butallowmetoassureyouthatyoupartiallymisinterpretmyemotions.Youthinkthemmoreprofoundandpotentthantheyare.YougivemealargerallowanpathythanIhaveajustclaimto.WhenIcolour,andwhenIshadebeforeMissOliver,Idonotpitymyself.Istheweakness.Iknowitisignoble:amerefeveroftheflesh:not,Ideclare,thevulsionofthesoul.Thatisjustasfixedasarock,firmsetihsofarestlesssea.KobewhatIam—acoldhardman.”

    Ismiledincredulously.

    “Youhavetakenmyfideorm,”hetinued,“andnowitismuchatyourservice.Iamsimply,inmyinalstate—strippedofthatblood-bleachedrobewithwhichChristianitycovershumandeformity—acold,hard,ambitiousman.Naturalaffeonly,ofalltheses,haspermapoweroverme.Reason,andnotfeeling,ismyguide;myambitionisunlimited:mydesiretorisehigher,todomorethanothers,insatiable.Ihonourendurance,per