is giving all the
manifestations ... how her face shines, how beautiful she has grown, as
she does, with a new heart interest!... and her taking my little cottage
... ousting me from it....

"If it was anyone else," and he fetched a deep sigh, with tears standing
in his eyes, leaving the sentence incomplete.

At that moment I was impelled almost to cast myself at his feet, to
confess, and beg forgiveness....

"I want to warn you," he went on, "of Hildreth ... once before this has
happened ... she is a varietist by nature, as I am essentially a
monogamist."

"--and the free love idea, it was you who taught her this, brought her
into contact with Havelock Ellis, Ellen Key, Rosa Von Mayerreder?"

"I deny that. I believe in human freedom ... divorce ... remarriage ...
but not in extreme sex-radicalism ... Hildreth has misinterpreted me ...
the people you mention are great idealists, but in many ways they go too
far ... true--I brought Hildreth into contact with these books; but only
that she might use her own judgment, not accept them wholly and blindly,
as she has done...."

I looked at the man. He was sincere. An incredible, naive, almost
idiotic purity shone in his face....

Again I was impelled to confess. Again I held my tongue. Again I lied.

"Penton, what you have just said about you and Hildreth and your lives
together, I shall consider as sacred between us."

He gave me his hand.

"Promise me one thing, that you will not take Hildreth as your
sweetheart ... be true to our friendship first, Johnnie."

"Penton, I am only flesh and blood; I will promise, if anything happens,
to tell you, ultimately, the truth."

He looked at me with close scrutiny again, at this ambiguous speech.

"Johnnie, _have_ you told me the absolute truth?"

"Yes!" evading his eyes.

"--because there is a wild strain in Hildreth that only needs a little
rousing--" He paused.

* * * * *

"Johnnie," as we walked away, "don't you think you had better pack up
and leave? _The next time_ I am going to sue for a divorce."

* * * * *

We walked home arm in arm. I simulated so well that it was Baxter who
begged pardon for even suspecting me.

But I felt like a dog. I, for my part, determined to bid farewell to
Hildreth that very evening, before she retired for the night, in her
cottage--take train to New York, and so to Paris, without first
finishing my _Judas_, as I