hustle and this constant striving? I think of Chicago now and I see a dark, grey city, all stone-it is like a prison-and a ceaseless turmoil. And what does all that activity amount to? Does one get there the best out of life? Is that what we come into the world for, to hurry to an office, and work hour after hour till night, then hurry home and dine and go to a theatre? Is that how I must spend my youth? Youth lasts so short a time, Bateman. And when I am old, what have I to look forward to? To hurry from my home in the morning to my office and work hour after hour till night, and then hurry home again, and dine and go to a theatre? That may be worth while if you make a fortune; I don’t know, it depends on your nature; but if you don’t, is it worth while then? I want to make more out of my life than that, Bateman.’
‘What do you value in life then?’
‘I’m afraid you’ll laugh at me. Beauty, truth, and goodness.’
‘Don’t you think you can have those in Chicago?’
‘Some men can, perhaps, but not I.’ Edward sprang up now ‘I tell you when I think of the life I led in the old days I am filled with horror,’ he cried violently. ‘I tremble with fear when I think of the danger I have escaped. I never knew I had a soul till I found it here. If I had remained a rich man I might have lost it for good and all.’
‘I don’t know how you can say that,’ cried Bateman indignantly. ‘We often used to have discussions about it.’
‘Yes, I know. They were about as effectual as the discussions of deaf mutes about harmony. I shall never come back to Chicago, Bateman.’
‘And what about Isabel?’
Edward walked to the edge of the veranda and leaning over looked intently at the blue magic of the night. There was a slight smile on his face when he turned back to Bateman.
‘Isabel is infinitely too good for me. I admire her more than any woman I have ever known. She has a wonderful brain and she’s as good as she’s beautiful. I respect her energy and her ambition. She was born to make a success of life. I am entirely unworthy of her.’
‘She doesn’t think so.’
‘But you must tell her so, Bateman.’
‘I?’ cried Bateman. ‘I’m the last person who could ever do that.’
Edward had his back to the vivid light of the moon and his face could not be seen. Is it possible that he smiled again?
‘It’s no good your trying to conceal anything from her, Bateman. With her quick intelligence she’ll turn you inside out in five minutes. You’d better make a clean breast of it right away.’
‘I don’t know what you mean. Of course I shall tell her I’ve seen you.’ Bateman spoke in some agitation. ‘Honestly I don’t know what to say to her.’
‘Tell her that I haven’t made good. Tell her that I’m not only poor, but that I’m content to be poor. Tell her I was fired from my job because I was idle and inattentive. Tell her all you’ve seen tonight and all I’ve told you.’
The idea which on a sudden flashed through Bateman’s brain brought him to his feet and in uncontrollable perturbation he faced Edward.
‘Man alive, don’t you want to marry her?’
Edward looked at him gravely.
‘I can never ask her to release me. If she wishes to hold me to my word I will do my best to make her a good and loving husband.’
‘Do you wish me to give her that message, Edward? Oh, I can’t. It’s terrible. It’s never dawned on her for a moment that you don’t want to marry her. She loves you. How can I inflict such a mortification on her?’
Edward smiled again.
‘Why don’t you marry her yourself, Bateman? You’ve been in love with her for ages. You’re perfectly suited to one another. You’ll make her very happy.’
‘Don’t talk to me like that. I can’t bear it.’
‘I resign in your favour, Bateman. You are the better man.’
There was something in Edward’s tone that made Bateman look up quickly, but Edward’s eyes were grave and unsmiling. Bateman did not know what to say. He was
‘What do you value in life then?’
‘I’m afraid you’ll laugh at me. Beauty, truth, and goodness.’
‘Don’t you think you can have those in Chicago?’
‘Some men can, perhaps, but not I.’ Edward sprang up now ‘I tell you when I think of the life I led in the old days I am filled with horror,’ he cried violently. ‘I tremble with fear when I think of the danger I have escaped. I never knew I had a soul till I found it here. If I had remained a rich man I might have lost it for good and all.’
‘I don’t know how you can say that,’ cried Bateman indignantly. ‘We often used to have discussions about it.’
‘Yes, I know. They were about as effectual as the discussions of deaf mutes about harmony. I shall never come back to Chicago, Bateman.’
‘And what about Isabel?’
Edward walked to the edge of the veranda and leaning over looked intently at the blue magic of the night. There was a slight smile on his face when he turned back to Bateman.
‘Isabel is infinitely too good for me. I admire her more than any woman I have ever known. She has a wonderful brain and she’s as good as she’s beautiful. I respect her energy and her ambition. She was born to make a success of life. I am entirely unworthy of her.’
‘She doesn’t think so.’
‘But you must tell her so, Bateman.’
‘I?’ cried Bateman. ‘I’m the last person who could ever do that.’
Edward had his back to the vivid light of the moon and his face could not be seen. Is it possible that he smiled again?
‘It’s no good your trying to conceal anything from her, Bateman. With her quick intelligence she’ll turn you inside out in five minutes. You’d better make a clean breast of it right away.’
‘I don’t know what you mean. Of course I shall tell her I’ve seen you.’ Bateman spoke in some agitation. ‘Honestly I don’t know what to say to her.’
‘Tell her that I haven’t made good. Tell her that I’m not only poor, but that I’m content to be poor. Tell her I was fired from my job because I was idle and inattentive. Tell her all you’ve seen tonight and all I’ve told you.’
The idea which on a sudden flashed through Bateman’s brain brought him to his feet and in uncontrollable perturbation he faced Edward.
‘Man alive, don’t you want to marry her?’
Edward looked at him gravely.
‘I can never ask her to release me. If she wishes to hold me to my word I will do my best to make her a good and loving husband.’
‘Do you wish me to give her that message, Edward? Oh, I can’t. It’s terrible. It’s never dawned on her for a moment that you don’t want to marry her. She loves you. How can I inflict such a mortification on her?’
Edward smiled again.
‘Why don’t you marry her yourself, Bateman? You’ve been in love with her for ages. You’re perfectly suited to one another. You’ll make her very happy.’
‘Don’t talk to me like that. I can’t bear it.’
‘I resign in your favour, Bateman. You are the better man.’
There was something in Edward’s tone that made Bateman look up quickly, but Edward’s eyes were grave and unsmiling. Bateman did not know what to say. He was
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