wo, Frida found herself in the fields.
But, early as she went to fulfil her tryst, Bertram was there before
her. He took her hand in his with a gentle pressure, and Frida felt a
quick thrill she had never before experienced course suddenly through
her. She looked around to right and left, to see if they were observed.
Bertram noticed the instinctive movement. "My darling," he said in a low
voice, "this is intolerable, unendurable. It's an insult not to be borne
that you and I can't walk together in the fields of England without
being subjected thus to such a many-headed espionage. I shall have to
arrange something before long so as to see you at leisure. I can't be so
bound by all the taboos of your country."

She looked up at him trustfully. "As you will, Bertram," she answered,
without a moment's hesitation. "I know I'm yours now. Let it be what it
may, I can do what you tell me."

He looked at her and smiled. He saw she was pure woman. He had met at
last with a sister soul. There was a long, deep silence.

Frida was the first to break it with words. "Why do you always call them
taboos, Bertram?" she asked at last, sighing.

"Why, Frida, don't you see?" he said, walking on through the deep grass.
"Because they ARE taboos; that's the only reason. Why not give them
their true name? We call them nothing else among my own people. All
taboos are the same in origin and spirit, whether savage or civilised,
eastern or western. You must see that now: for I know you are
emancipated. They begin with belief in some fetich or bogey or other
non-existent supernatural being; and they mostly go on to regard
certain absolutely harmless--nay, sometimes even praiseworthy or morally
obligatory--acts as proscribed by him and sure to be visited with his
condign displeasure. So South Sea Islanders think, if they eat some
particular luscious fruit tabooed for the chiefs, they'll be instantly
struck dead by the mere power of the taboo in it; and English people
think, if they go out in the country for a picnic on a tabooed day,
or use certain harmless tabooed names and words, or inquire into the
historical validity of certain incredible ancient documents, accounted
sacred, or even dare to think certain things that no reasonable man can
prevent himself from thinking, they'll be burned for ever in eternal
fire for it. The common element is the dread of an unreal sanction. So
in Japan and West Africa the people believe the whole existence of