imental aspect, and consider the practical logic of it. You might
as well see where you really stand, you know. It won't affect your
actions, really. You belong to the wrong division of the race. But
what are you doing to remedy your wife's case?'

I admitted I was doing nothing. I had tried in many directions,
including the clandestine administration of costly specifics, which
had merely seemed to rob poor Fanny of all appetite for food, without
in any way affecting the lamentable craving which wrecked her life.

'Precisely,' resumed Heron. 'You are doing nothing to remedy it,
because there is nothing you are in a position to do. You are merely
"standing by," as sailors say, from sentimental motives. It is
_laissez-faire_, of a sort; only, it's an infernally painful and
wearing sort for you. It reduces your life to something like her own,
without, so far as I can see, benefiting her in the least. I think the
police could do as well. In fact, in your place, I should clear out
altogether, and give Mrs. Pelly a show. But, failing that, I would at
least wash my hands, so to say. I would refuse the situation any
predominant place in my mind, join a club and use it, and-- O Lord!
what is the use of talking of absolutely hopeless things? I don't know
that I'd do anything of the sort, and I do know very well that you
won't.'

There fell another silence between us, which lasted several minutes.
And then Heron rose to his feet, knocked the ashes out of his pipe,
and said he must be going. I walked down the road with him, and paused
at its corner, where he would pick up an omnibus. The moon emerged
from behind a cloud, touching with a delicate sepia some fleecy edge
of cumuli.

'Has it ever occurred to you, my innocent, that there is anything in
England beyond the metropolitan radius?' asked Heron suddenly.
'Honest, now; have you ever been ten miles from Charing Cross since
you landed from that blessed ship?'

'Well, it does seem queer, now you mention it; but I don't believe I
have-- Except to Epping Forest, you know. I'm not sure how far that
is; but I used often to go there at one time, not lately, but----'

'Before you mortgaged your soul to the _Advocate_, eh? Though I
suppose the more serious mortgage was the one before that. Look here!
Bring your wife on Saturday, and meet me at Victoria at ten o'clock.
We'll go and have a look at Leith Hill. A tramp will do you both good.
Will you come?'

By doing a certain amoun