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All our notions about ghosts are wrong。 It is nothing so petty
as lost wills or deeds of violence that brings them back； and we
are not nearly so afraid of them as they are of us。
One by one the lights of the street went out； but still a lamp
burned steadily in the little window across the way。 I know not
how it happened； whether I had crossed first to him or he to me；
but； after being for a long time as the echo of each other's
steps； we were together now。 I can have had no desire to deceive
him； but some reason was needed to account for my vigil； and I
may have said something that he misconstrued； for above my words
he was always listening for other sounds。 But however it came
about he had conceived the idea that I was an outcast for a
reason similar to his own； and I let his mistake pass； it seemed
to matter so little and to draw us together so naturally。 We
talked together of many things； such as worldly ambition。 For
long ambition has been like an ancient memory to me； some
glorious day recalled from my springtime； so much a thing of the
past that I must make a railway journey to revisit it as to look
upon the pleasant fields in which that scene was laid。 But he
had been ambitious yesterday。
I mentioned worldly ambition。 〃Good God！〃 he said with a
shudder。
There was a clock hard by that struck the quarters； and one
o'clock passed and two。 What time is it now？ Twenty past two。
And now？ It is still twenty past two。
I asked him about his relatives； and neither he nor she had any。
〃We have a friend〃 he began and paused； and then rambled into a
not very understandable story about a letter and a doll's house
and some unknown man who had bought one of his pictures； or was
supposed to have done so； in a curiously clandestine manner。 I
could not quite follow the story。
〃It is she who insists that it is always the same person；〃 he
said。 〃She thinks he will make himself known to me if anything
happens to her。〃 His voice suddenly went husky。 〃She told me；〃
he said； 〃if she died and I discovered him； to give him her
love。〃
At this we parted abruptly； as we did at intervals throughout the
night； to drift together again presently。 He tried to tell me of
some things she had asked him to do should she not get over this；
but what they were I know not； for they engulfed him at the first
step。 He would draw back from them as ill…omened things； and
next moment he was going over them to himself like a child at
lessons。 A child！ In that short year she had made him entirely
dependent on her。 It is ever thus with women： their first
deliberate act is to make their husband helpless。 There are few
men happily married who can knock in a nail。
But it was not of this that I was thinking。 I was wishing I had
not degenerated so much。
Well； as you know； the little nursery governess did not die。 At
eighteen minutes to four we heard the rustle of David's wings。
He boasts about it to this day； and has the hour to a syllable as
if the first thing he ever did was to look at the clock。
An oldish gentleman had opened the door and waved congratulations
to my companion； who immediately butted at me； drove me against a
wall； hesitated for a second with his head down as if in doubt
whether to toss me； and then rushed away。 I followed slowly。 I
shook him by the hand； but by this time he was haw…haw…hawing so
abominably that a disgust of him swelled up within me； and with
it a passionate desire to jeer once more at Mary A
〃It is little she will care for you now；〃 I said to the fellow；
〃I know the sort of woman； her intellectuals （which are all she
has to distinguish her from the brutes） are so imperfectly
developed that she will be a crazy thing about that boy for the
next three years。 She has no longer occasion for you； my dear
sir； you are like a picture painted out。〃
But I question whether he heard me。 I returned to my home。
Home！ As if one alone can build a nest。 How often as I have
ascended the stairs that lead to my lonely； sumptuous rooms； have
I paused to listen to the hilarity of the servants below。 That
morning I could not rest： I wandered from chamber to chamber；
followed by my great dog； and all were alike empty and desolate。
I had nearly finished a cigar when I thought I heard a pebble
strike the window； and looking out I saw David's father standing
beneath。 I had told him that I lived in this street； and I
suppose my lights had guided him to my window。
〃I could not lie down；〃 he called up hoarsely； 〃until I heard
your news。 Is it all right？〃
For a moment I failed to understand him。 Then I said sourly：
〃Yes； all is right。〃
〃Both doing well？〃 he inquired。
〃Both；〃 I answered； and all the time I was trying to shut the
window。 It was undoubtedly a kindly impulse that had brought him
out； but I was nevertheless in a passion with him。
〃Boy or girl？〃 persisted the dodderer with ungentlemanlike
curiosity。
〃Boy；〃 I said； very furiously。
〃Splendid；〃 he called out； and I think he added something else；
but by that time I had closed the window with a slam。
V
The Fight For Timothy
Mary's poor pretentious babe screamed continually； with a note of
exultation in his din； as if he thought he was devoting himself
to a life of pleasure； and often the last sound I heard as I got
me out of the street was his haw…haw…haw； delivered triumphantly
as if it were some entirely new thing； though he must have
learned it like a parrot。 I had not one tear for the woman； but
Poor father； thought I； to know that every time your son is happy
you are betrayed。 Phew； a nauseous draught。
I have the acquaintance of a deliciously pretty girl； who is
always sulky； and the thoughtless beseech her to be bright； not
witting wherein lies her heroism。 She was born the merriest of
maids； but； being a student of her face； learned anon that
sulkiness best becomes it； and so she has struggled and
prevailed。 A woman's history。 Brave Margaret； when night falls
and thy hair is down； dost thou return； I wonder； to thy natural
state； or； dreading the shadow of indulgence； sleepest thou even
sulkily？
But will a male child do as much for his father？ This remains to
be seen； and so； after waiting several months； I decided to buy
David a rocking…horse。 My St。 Bernard dog accompanied me； though
I have always been diffident of taking him to toy…shops； which
over…excite him。 Hitherto the toys I had bought had always been
for him； and as we durst not admit this to the saleswoman we were
both horribly self…conscious when in the shop。 A score of times
I have told him that he had much better not come； I have
announced fiercely that he is not to come。 He then lets go of
his legs； which is how a St。 Bernard sits down； making the noise
of a sack of coals suddenly deposited； and； laying his head
between his front paws； stares at me throu