shioned
way--How Nature mocks at us!--and now sees things somewhat
differently. At any rate, David and Vivie, fused into one
personality, are going abroad for a protracted period ... going out
of your life, my dearest, for it is better so. Linda has every right
to you and Science is a jealous mistress. Moreover poor, outcast
Vivie has her own bitter pride. She is resolved to show that a woman
_can_ cultivate strength of character and an unflinching sobriety of
conduct, even when born of such doubtful stock as mine, even when
devoid of all religious faith. I know you love me, I glory in the
knowledge, but I know that you likewise are more strongly bound by
principles of right conduct because like myself you have no sham
theology....

"Michael! _why_ are we tortured like this? Why mayn't we love where
we please? Is this discipline necessary to the improvement of the
race? I only know that if we sinned against these human laws and
conventions, your great career in Science--and again, why in
Science? Lightness in love does not seem to affect the career of
orchestral conductors, actors, singers, play-wrights and house
painters--why weren't you one of these, and not a High Priest of the
only real religion? I only know also that if I fell, so many people
would have the satisfaction of saying: 'There! _what_ did I say?
What's bred in the bone comes out in the flesh. _That's_ how the
Woman's Movement's goin' to end, you take my word for it! They'll
get a man somewhere, somehow, and then they'll clear out of it.'

"I think I said before--I meant to say, at any rate, so as to ease
your mind: I'm all right as regards financial matters. I have a life
annuity and some useful savings. I shall give Bertie Adams a year's
salary; and if you feel, dear friend, you _must_ put forth your hand
to help me, help _him_ instead to get another position. He has a
wife and a young family, and for his class is just about as good a
chap as I have ever met--this is 'David' speaking! If you can do
nothing you may be sure Vivie will, even if she has to borrow
unclean money from her wicked old mother to keep Bertie Adams from
financial anxiety and his pretty young wife and the child they are
so proud of....

"I must finish this gigantic letter somewhere, though I'm not going
to stop writing to you. I couldn't--I should lose all hold on life
if I did. For the purpose of correspondence and finishing up things,
I shall be 'David Williams' for some time