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anything to help you。〃
〃I thought I'd just like to talk it over with you。〃
〃Why； of course； I'm only too happy； Mary darling。〃
Mary coughed and drew a deep breath。 〃I presume；〃 she began
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sententiously； 〃I presume we may take for granted that an intelligent
young woman of twenty…three who has lived in civilised society in the
twentieth century has no prejudices。〃
〃Well； I confess I still have a few。〃
〃But not about repressions。〃
〃No； not many about repressions； that's true。〃
〃Or； rather； about getting rid of repressions。〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃So much for our fundamental postulate；〃 said Mary。 Solemnity was
expressed in every feature of her round young face； radiated from her large
blue eyes。 〃We come next to the desirability of possessing experience。
I hope we are agreed that knowledge is desirable and that ignorance is
undesirable。〃
Obedient as one of those complaisant disciples from whom Socrates
could get whatever answer he chose； Anne gave her assent to this
proposition。
〃And we are equally agreed； I hope； that marriage is what it is。〃
〃It is。〃
〃Good！〃 said Mary。 〃And repressions being what they are。。。〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃There would therefore seem to be only one conclusion。〃
〃But I knew that；〃 Anne exclaimed； 〃before you began。〃
〃Yes； but now it's been proved；〃 said Mary。 〃One must do things
logically。 The question is now。。。〃
〃But where does the question come in？ You've reached your only
possible conclusionlogically； which is more than I could have done。 All
that remains is to impart the information to someone you likesomeone
you like really rather a lot； someone you're in love with； if I may express
myself so baldly。〃
〃But that's just where the question comes in；〃 Mary exclaimed。 〃I'm
not in love with anybody。〃
〃Then； if I were you； I should wait till you are。〃
〃But I can't go on dreaming night after night that I'm falling down a
well。 It's too dangerous。〃
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〃Well； if it really is TOO dangerous； then of course you must do
something about it； you must find somebody else。〃
〃But who？〃 A thoughtful frown puckered Mary's brow。 〃It must be
somebody intelligent； somebody with intellectual interests that I can share。
And it must be somebody with a proper respect for women； somebody
who's prepared to talk seriously about his work and his ideas and about my
work and my ideas。 It isn't； as you see； at all easy to find the right
person。〃
〃Well〃 said Anne； 〃there are three unattached and intelligent men in
the house at the present time。 There's Mr。 Scogan； to begin with； but
perhaps he's rather too much of a genuine antique。 And there are
Gombauld and Denis。 Shall we say that the choice is limited to the last
two？〃
Mary nodded。 〃I think we had better；〃 she said； and then hesitated；
with a certain air of embarrassment。
〃What is it？〃
〃I was wondering；〃 said Mary； with a gasp； 〃whether they really were
unattached。 I thought that perhaps you might。。。you might。。。〃
〃It was very nice of you to think of me； Mary darling；〃 said Anne；
smiling the tight cat's smile。 〃But as far as I'm concerned； they are both
entirely unattached。〃
〃I'm very glad of that；〃 said Mary； looking relieved。 〃We are now
confronted with the question： Which of the two？〃
〃I can give no advice。 It's a matter for your taste。〃
〃It's not a matter of my taste；〃 Mary pronounced； 〃but of their merits。
We must weigh them and consider them carefully and dispassionately。〃
〃You must do the weighing yourself；〃 said Anne； there was still the
trace of a smile at the corners of her mouth and round the half…closed eyes。
〃I won't run the risk of advising you wrongly。〃
〃Gombauld has more talent；〃 Mary began； 〃but he is less civilised than
Denis。〃 Mary's pronunciation of 〃civilised〃 gave the word a special and
additional significance。 She uttered it meticulously； in the very front of
her mouth； hissing delicately on the opening sibilant。 So few people
were civilised； and they； like the first…rate works of art； were mostly
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French。 〃Civilisation is most important； don't you think？〃
Anne held up her hand。 〃I won't advise；〃 she said。 〃You must make
the decision。〃
〃Gombauld's family；〃 Mary went on reflectively； 〃comes from
Marseilles。 Rather a dangerous heredity； when one thinks of the Latin
attitude towards women。 But then； I sometimes wonder whether Denis is
altogether serious…minded； whether he isn't rather a dilettante。 It's very
difficult。 What do you think？〃
〃I'm not listening；〃 said Anne。 〃I refuse to take any responsibility。〃
Mary sighed。 〃Well；〃 she said； 〃I think I had better go to bed and
think about it。〃
〃Carefully and dispassionately；〃 said Anne。
At the door Mary turned round。 〃Good…night；〃 she said； and
wondered as she said the words why Anne was smiling in that curious way。
It was probably nothing； she reflected。 Anne often smiled for no
apparent reason； it was probably just a habit。 〃I hope I shan't dream of
falling down wells again to…night；〃 she added。
〃Ladders are worse；〃 said Anne。
Mary nodded。 〃Yes； ladders are much graver。〃
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CHAPTER VIII。
Breakfast on Sunday morning was an hour later than on week…days；
and Priscilla； who usually made no public appearance before luncheon；
honoured it by her presence。 Dressed in black silk； with a ruby cross as
well as her customary string of pearls round her neck； she presided。