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must practise a tainted goodness。〃
These questions need discussiona magnificent frankness of
discussionif any standards are again to establish an effective
hold upon educated people。 Discretions； as I have said already；
will never hold any one worth holdinglonger than they held us。
Against every 〃shalt not〃 there must be a 〃why not〃 plainly put；
the 〃why not〃 largest and plainest； the law deduced from its
purpose。 〃You and I； Isabel；〃 I said； 〃have always been a little
disregardful of duty； partly at least because the idea of duty comes
to us so ill…clad。 Oh！ I know there's an extravagant insubordinate
strain in us； but that wasn't all。 I wish humbugs would leave duty
alone。 I wish all duty wasn't covered with slime。 That's where the
real mischief comes in。 Passion can always contrive to clothe
itself in beauty； strips itself splendid。 That carried us。 But for
all its mean associations there is this duty。 。 。 。
〃Don't we come rather late to it？〃
〃Not so late that it won't be atrociously hard to do。〃
〃It's queer to think of now；〃 said Isabel。 〃Who could believe we
did all we have done honestly？ Well； in a manner honestly。 Who
could believe we thought this might be hidden？ Who could trace it
all step by step from the time when we found that a certain boldness
in our talk was pleasing？ We talked of love。 。 。 。 Master； there's
not much for us to do in the way of Apologia that any one will
credit。 And yet if it were possible to tell the very heart of our
story。 。 。 。
〃Does Margaret really want to go on with you？〃 she asked〃shield
youknowing of 。 。 。 THIS？〃
〃I'm certain。 I don't understandjust as I don't understand
Shoesmith； but she does。 These people walk on solid ground which is
just thin air to us。 They've got something we haven't got。
Assurances？ I wonder。〃 。 。 。
Then it was； or later； we talked of Shoesmith； and what her life
might be with him。
〃He's good；〃 she said； 〃he's kindly。 He's everything but magic。
He's the very image of the decent； sober； honourable life。 You
can't say a thing against him or Iexcept that somethingsomething
in his imagination； something in the tone of his voicefails for
me。 Why don't I love him？he's a better man than you！ Why don't
you？ IS he a better man than you？ He's usage； he's honour； he's
the right thing； he's the breed and the tradition；a gentleman。
You're your erring； incalculable self。 I suppose we women will
trust this sort and love your sort to the very end of time。 。 。 。〃
We lay side by side and nibbled at grass stalks as we talked。 It
seemed enormously unreasonable to us that two people who had come to
the pitch of easy and confident affection and happiness that held
between us should be obliged to part and shun one another； or murder
half the substance of their lives。 We felt ourselves crushed and
beaten by an indiscriminating machine which destroys happiness in
the service of jealousy。 〃The mass of people don't feel these
things in quite the same manner as we feel them；〃 she said。 〃Is it
because they're different in grain； or educated out of some
primitive instinct？〃
〃It's because we've explored love a little； and they know no more
than the gateway；〃 I said。 〃Lust and then jealousy； their simple
conceptionand we have gone past all that and wandered hand in
hand。 。 。 。〃
I remember that for a time we watched two of that larger sort of
gull； whose wings are brownish…white； circle and hover against the
blue。 And then we lay and looked at a band of water mirror clear
far out to sea； and wondered why the breeze that rippled all the
rest should leave it so serene。
〃And in this State of ours；〃 I resumed。
〃Eh！〃 said Isabel； rolling over into a sitting posture and looking
out at the horizon。 〃Let's talk no more of things we can never see。
Talk to me of the work you are doing and all we shall doafter we
have parted。 We've said too little of that。 We've had our red
life； and it's over。 Thank Heaven！though we stole it！ Talk about
your work； dear； and the things we'll go on doingjust as though we
were still together。 We'll still be together in a sensethrough
all these things we have in common。〃
And so we talked of politics and our outlook。 We were interested to
the pitch of self…forgetfulness。 We weighed persons and forces；
discussed the probabilities of the next general election； the steady
drift of public opinion in the north and west away from Liberalism
towards us。 It was very manifest that in spite of Wardenham and the
EXPURGATOR； we should come into the new Government strongly。 The
party had no one else； all the young men were formally or informally
with us； Esmeer would have office； Lord Tarvrille； I 。 。 。 and very
probably there would be something for Shoesmith。 〃And for my own
part；〃 I said； 〃I count on backing on the Liberal side。 For the
last two years we've been forcing competition in constructive
legislation between the parties。 The Liberals have not been long in
following up our Endowment of Motherhood lead。 They'll have to give
votes and lip service anyhow。 Half the readers of the BLUE WEEKLY；
they say； are Liberals。 。 。 。
〃I remember talking about things of this sort with old Willersley；〃
I said； 〃ever so many years ago。 It was some place near Locarno；
and we looked down the lake that shone welteringjust as now we
look over the sea。 And then we dreamt in an indistinct featureless
way of all that you and I are doing now。〃
〃I！〃 said Isabel； and laughed。
〃Well； of some such thing；〃 I said； and remained for awhile silent；
thinking of Locarno。
I recalled once more the largeness； the release from small personal
things that I had felt in my youth； statecraft became real and
wonderful again with the memory； the gigantic handling of gigantic
problems。 I began to talk out my thoughts； sitting up beside her；
as I could never talk of them to any one but Isabel； began to
recover again the purpose that lay under all my political ambitions
and adjustments and anticipations。 I saw the State； splendid and
wide as I had seen it in that first travel of mine； but now it was
no mere distant prospect of spires and pinnacles； but populous with
fine…trained； bold…thinking； bold…doing people。 It was as if I had
forgotten for a long time and now remembered with amazement。
At first； I told her； I had been altogether at a loss how I could do
anything to battle against the aimless muddle of our world； I had
wanted a clueuntil she had come into my life questioning；
suggesting； unconsciously illuminating。 〃But I have done nothing；〃
she protested。 I declared she had done everything in growing to
education under my eyes； in reflecting again upon all the processes
that had made myself； so that instead of abstractions and blue…books
and bills and devices； I had realised the world of mankind as a
crowd needing before all things fine women and men。 We'd spoilt
ourselves in learning that； but anyhow we had our lesson。 Before
her I was in a nineteenth…century darkness； dealing with the nation
as if it were a crowd of selfish men； forgetful of women and
children and that shy wild thing in the hearts of men； love； which
must be drawn upon as it has never been drawn upon before； if the
State is to live。 I saw now how it is possible to bring the loose
factors of a great realm together； to create a mind of literature
and thought in it； and the expression of a purpose to make it self…
conscious and fine。 I had it all clear before me； so that at a
score of points I could presently begin。 The BLUE WEEKLY was a
centre of force。 Already we had given Imperialism a criticism； and
leavened half the press from our columns。 Our movement consolidated
and spread。 We should presently come into power。 Everything moved
towards our hands。 We should be able to get at the schools； the
services； the universities； the church； enormously increase the
endowment of research； and organise what was sorely wanted； a
criticism of research； contrive a closer contact between the press
and creative intellectual life； foster literature； clarify；
strengthen the public consciousness； develop social organisation and
a sense of the State。 Men were coming to us every day； brilliant
young peers like Lord Dentonhill； writers like Carnot and Cresswell。
It filled me with pride to win such men。 〃We stand for so much more
than we seem to stand for；〃 I said。 I opened my heart to her； so
freely that I hesitate to open my heart even to the reader； telling
of projects and ambitions I cherished； of my consciousness of great
powers and widening opportunities。 。 。 。
Isabel watched me as I talked。
She too； I think； had forgotten these things for a while。 For it is
curious and I think a very significa