indeed he preferred to show for asinine. It was
the plain truth: he was on Mrs. Lowder's basis,
the only one in question a very small quantity,
and he did know, damnably, what made quantities
large. He desired to be perfectly simple; yet in
the midst of that effort a deeper apprehension
throbbed. Aunt Maud clearly conveyed it, though
he couldn't later on have said how. " You don't
really matter, I believe, so much as you think, and
I'm not going to make you a martyr by banishing
you. Your performances with Kate in the Park are
ridiculous so far as they re meant as consideration
for me; and I had much rather see you myself
since you re, in your way, my dear young man, de
lightful and arrange with you, count with you,
as I easily, as I perfectly should. Do you suppose
me so stupid as to quarrel with you if it's not really
necessary? It won't it would be too absurd! be
necessary. I can bite your head off any day, any
day I really open my mouth; and I'm dealing with
you now, see and successfully judge without
opening it. I do things handsomely all round I
place you in the presence of the plan with which,
from the moment it's a case of taking you seriously,
you re incompatible. Come then as near it as you
like, walk all round it don't be afraid you ll hurt
it! and live on with it before you."

He afterwards felt that if she hadn't absolutely
phrased all this it was because she so soon made
him out as going with her far enough. He was so

[[94]]

p093 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p094w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p095

v?