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himself as respectable as any。
He returned； thus moody； to his rooms and； with the impetuosity which
distinguished him when about to do an unwise thing； he seized a pen
and poured out before Antonia some of his impressions：
。 。 。 。 Mean is the word； darling； we are mean； that's what 's the
matter with us； dukes and dustmen； the whole human speciesas mean
as caterpillars。 To secure our own property and our own comfort； to
dole out our sympathy according to rule just so that it won't really
hurt us； is what we're all after。 There's something about human
nature that is awfully repulsive； and the healthier people are； the
more repulsive they seem to me to be 。 。 。 。
He paused； biting his pen。 Had he one acquaintance who would not
counsel him to see a doctor for writing in that style？ How would the
world go round； how could Society exist； without common…sense；
practical ability； and the lack of sympathy？
He looked out of the open window。 Down in the street a footman was
settling the rug over the knees of a lady in a carriage； and the
decorous immovability of both their faces； which were clearly visible
to him； was like a portion of some well…oiled engine。
He got up and walked up and down。 His rooms； in a narrow square
skirting Belgravia； were unchanged since the death of his father had
made him a man of means。 Selected for their centrality； they were
furnished in a very miscellaneous way。 They were not bare； but close
inspection revealed that everything was damaged； more or less； and
there was absolutely nothing that seemed to have an interest taken in
it。 His goods were accidents； presents； or the haphazard
acquisitions of a pressing need。 Nothing； of course； was frowsy； but
everything was somewhat dusty； as if belonging to a man who never
rebuked a servant。 Above all； there was nothing that indicated
hobbies。
Three days later he had her answer to his letter：
。 。 。 I don't think I understand what you mean by 〃the healthier
people are； the more repulsive they seem to be〃； one must be healthy
to be perfect； must n't one？ I don't like unhealthy people。 I had
to play on that wretched piano after reading your letter； it made me
feel unhappy。 I've been having a splendid lot of tennis lately； got
the back…handed lifting stroke at lasthurrah！ 。 。 。
By the same post； too； came the following note in an autocratic
writing：
DEAR BIRD ＇for this was Shelton's college nickname＇；
My wife has gone down to her people； so I'm 'en garcon' for a few
days。 If you've nothing better to do； come and dine to…night at
seven； and go to the theatre。 It's ages since I saw you。
Yours as ever；
B。 M。 HALIDOME。
Shelton had nothing better to do； for pleasant were his friend
Halidome's well…appointed dinners。 At seven； therefore； he went to
Chester Square。 His friend was in his study； reading Matthew Arnold
by the light of an electric lamp。 The walls of the room were hung
with costly etchings； arranged with solid and unfailing taste； from
the carving of the mantel…piece to the binding of the books； from the
miraculously…coloured meerschaums to the chased fire…irons；
everything displayed an unpretentious luxury； an order and a finish
significant of life completely under rule of thumb。 Everything had
been collected。 The collector rose as Shelton entered； a fine figure
of a man； clean shaven；with dark hair； a Roman nose； good eyes； and
the rather weighty dignity of attitude which comes from the assurance
that one is in the right。
Taking Shelton by the lapel； he drew him into the radius of the lamp；
where he examined him； smiling a slow smile。 〃Glad to see you； old
chap。 I rather like your beard；〃 he said with genial brusqueness；
and nothing； perhaps； could better have summed up his faculty for
forming independent judgments which Shelton found so admirable。 He
made no apology for the smallness of the dinner； which； consisting of
eight courses and three wines； served by a butler and one footman；
smacked of the same perfection as the furniture； in fact； he never
apologised for anything； except with a jovial brusqueness that was
worse than the offence。 The suave and reasonable weight of his
dislikes and his approvals stirred Shelton up to feel ironical and
insignificant； but whether from a sense of the solid； humane； and
healthy quality of his friend's egoism； or merely from the fact that
this friendship had been long in bottle； he did not resent his mixed
sensations。
〃By the way； I congratulate you； old chap；〃 said Halidome； while
driving to the theatre； there was no vulgar hurry about his
congratulations； no more than about himself。 〃They're awfully nice
people； the Dennants。〃
A sense of having had a seal put on his choice came over Shelton。
〃Where are you going to live？ You ought to come down and live near
us； there are some ripping houses to be had down there； it's really a
ripping neighbourhood。 Have you chucked the Bar？ You ought to do
something； you know； it'll be fatal for you to have nothing to do。 I
tell you what； Bird： you ought to stand for the County Council。〃
But before Shelton had replied they reached the theatre； and their
energies were spent in sidling to their stalls。 He had time to pass
his neighbours in review before the play began。 Seated next to him
was a lady with large healthy shoulders； displayed with splendid
liberality； beyond her a husband； red…cheeked； with drooping； yellow…
grey moustache and a bald head； beyond him again two men whom he had
known at Eton。 One of them had a clean…shaved face； dark hair； and a
weather…tanned complexion； his small mouth with its upper lip pushed
out above the lower； his eyelids a little drooped over his watchful
eyes； gave him a satirical and resolute expression。 〃I've got hold
of your tail； old fellow；〃 he seemed to say； as though he were always
busy with the catching of some kind of fox。 The other's goggling
eyes rested on Shelton with a chaffing smile； his thick； sleek hair；
brushed with water and parted in the middle； his neat moustache and
admirable waistcoat； suggested the sort of dandyism that despises
women。 From his recognition of these old schoolfellows Shelton
turned to look at Halidome； who； having cleared his throat； was
staring straight before him at the curtain。 Antonia's words kept
running in her lover's head； 〃I don't like unhealthy people。〃 Well；
all these people； anyway； were healthy； they looked as if they had
defied the elements to endow them with a spark of anything but
health。 Just then the curtain rose。
Slowly； unwillingly； for he was of a trustful disposition； Shelton
recognised that this play was one of those masterpieces of the modern
drama whose characters were drawn on the principle that men were made
for morals rather than morals made by men； and he watched the play
unfold with all its careful sandwiching of grave and gay。
A married woman anxious to be ridded of her husband was the pivot of
the story； and a number of scenes； ingeniously contrived； with a
hundred reasons why this desire was wrong and inexpedient； were
revealed to Shelton's eyes。 These reasons issued mainly from the
mouth of a well…preserved old gentleman who seemed to play the part
of a sort of Moral Salesman。 He turned to Halidome and whispered：
〃Can you stand that old woman？〃
His friend fixed his fine eyes on him wonderingly。
〃What old woman？〃
〃Why； the old ass with the platitudes！〃
Halidome's countenance grew cold； a little shocked； as though he had
been assailed in person。
〃Do you mean Pirbright？〃 he said。 〃I think he's ripping。〃
Shelton turned to the play rebuffed； he felt guilty of a breach of
manners； sitting as he was in one of his friend's stalls； and he
naturally set to work to watch the play more critically than ever。
Antonia's words again recurred to him； 〃I don't like unhealthy
people；〃 and they seemed to throw a sudden light upon this play。 It
was healthy！
The scene was a drawing…room； softly lighted by electric lamps； with
a cat （Shelton could not decide whether she was real or not） asleep
upon the mat。
The husband； a thick…set； healthy man in evening dress； was drinking
off neat whisky。 He put down his tumbler； and deliberately struck a
match； then with even greater deliberation he lit a gold…tipped
cigarette。。。。
Shelton was no inexperienced play…goer。 He shifted his elbows； for
he felt that something was about to happen； and when the match was
pitched into the fire； he leaned forward in his seat。 The husband
poured more whisky out； drank it at a draught； and walked towards the
door； then； turning to the audience as if to admit them to the secret
of some tremendous resolution； he puffed at them a puff of smoke。 He
left the room； returned； and once more filled his glass。 A lady now
entered； pale of