ear
to my very mundane mind. Look here, Morris, it just comes to this: If
this exceedingly attractive young lady had made love to you, or had
induced you to make love to her, so that you ran away with her, or
anything else, of course you would have behaved badly and cruelly to me,
but at least your conduct would be natural, and to be explained. We all
know that men do this kind of thing, and women too, for the matter of
that, under the influence of passion--and are often very sorry for it
afterwards. But she didn't do this; she took you on your weak side,
which she understood thoroughly--probably because it was her own weak
side--and out-Heroded Herod, or, rather, out-mysticised the mystic,
finishing up with some spiritual marriage, which, if it is anything at
all, is impious. What right have we to make bargains for the Beyond,
about which we know nothing?"

"She did know something," said Morris, with a sullen conviction.

"You think she did because you were reduced to a state of mind in which,
if she had told you that the sun goes round the earth, you would quite
readily have believed her. My dearest Morris, that way madness lies.
Perhaps you understand now what I have been driving at, and the best
proof of the absurdity of the whole thing is that I, stupid as I am,
from my intimate knowledge of your character since childhood, was able
to predict that something of this sort would certainly happen to you.
You will admit that is a little odd, won't you?"

"Yes, it's odd; or, perhaps, it shows that you have more of the inner
sight than you know. But there were circumstances about the story which
you would find difficult to explain."

"Not in the least. In your own answer lies the explanation--your
tendency to twist things. I prophesy certain developments from my
knowledge of your character, whereupon you at once credit me with second
sight, which is absurd."

"I don't see the analogy," said Morris.

"Don't you? I do. All this soul business is just a love affair gone
wrong. If circumstances had been a little different--if, for instance,
there had been no Mary Porson--I doubt whether anybody would have heard
much about spiritual marriages. Somehow I think that things would have
settled down into a more usual groove."

Morris did not attempt to answer. He felt that Mary held all the cards,
and, not unnaturally, was in a mood to play them. Moreover, it was
desecration to him to discuss Stella's most secret beliefs wit