far as I can help it, I will never see
Mrs. Mervill again."

Meg's eyes spoke her thanks. His avoidance of the woman's Christian
name showed his sensitiveness to her feelings. Speaking of her as
"Mrs. Mervill" put her pleasantly far away.

"I was weak and insincere--my kisses were really a dishonour to any
woman, and I hated myself."

While Meg admired her lover for refraining from the excuse which Adam
was not ashamed to offer His Maker, what was human in her longed to
make him denounce the woman she hated. She had tried to provoke a
justification of his own conduct from his lips by telling her what she
felt to be the truth--that the woman had tempted him.

It was getting late; they turned towards the hut.

"We must go in," Meg said. "Freddy will be wondering what has become
of us." She turned swiftly and took Michael's hands in hers. "Until
after the tomb is opened, let us remain as we were--I mean, don't let's
give Freddy any more to think about. Isn't he the dearest brother in
the world?" she said. "I love every glittering hair of his head!"

"Very well, you dearest woman," Mike said. "Besides, we've only
confessed that we love each other--I've asked for no promise, Meg--I've
no right to. Remember, you are free, absolutely free--this old drifter
isn't to count."

"Absolutely free!" Meg laughed. "Just as if words made us free! Four
walls do not a prison make! You know perfectly well that I am tied
hand and foot and bound all round about with the cords of your love. I
can never be free again, never belong only to myself, as I used to do."

"And will you remember that whatever happens to me, Meg, it will be
just the same?"

She knew that he was referring to his mystical journey, his unsettled
future.

"It would be so heavenly," she said dreamily, "if we could be content
to sit down and be happy and just live for the enjoyment of each
other's love!"

"You'd despise me if I did." He looked round at the eternal valley,
resting in the stillness of death.

"I suppose I should," Meg said. "I suppose I want you to take up arms
for what Freddy calls your 'Utopian Rule of Righteousness,' your
world-state."

"I think we should both feel slackers, just enjoying ourselves
intellectually, dear, when we could, if we chose, let a few others into
the great kingdom of God. You and I don't understand why they don't
all see it as we do, why they don't realize the things Akhnaton knew
three thousand yea