oman has had to learn
to dissemble charmingly, but in the bottom of her heart she has never
believed that her mission is intrinsically shameful. That's why every
woman feels her special case of sinning is right--until she gets caught.
Do you follow me?"

"I think so," said Lewis.

"Well, if you've followed me, you begin to realize why a superfluity of
women threatens conventional life. There are an awful lot of women in
this town, Lew."

Leighton rose to his feet and started walking up and down, his hands
clasped behind him, his head dropped.

"I haven't been feeding you on all these generalities just to kill time.
A generality would be worth nothing if it weren't for its exceptions.
Women are remarkable for the number of their exceptions. You are
crossing a threshold into a peculiarly lax section and age of woman. I
want you to believe and to remember that the world still breeds noble
and innocent women."

Leighton stopped, threw up his head, and fixed Lewis with his eyes.

"Do you know what innocence is? Ask the average clergyman to describe
innocence to you, and when he gets through, think a bit, take off the
tinsel words with which he has decked out his graven image, and you'll
find what? Ignorance enshrined. Every clergy the world has seen has
enshrined ignorance, and ignorance has no single virtue that a sound
turnip does not share."

Leighton stopped and faced his son.

"Now, my boy," he said, "here comes the end of the sermon. Beware of the
second-best in women. Many a man trades his soul not for the whole
world, but for a bed-fellow." He paused. "I believe," he continued,
flushing, "I still believe that for every man there is an all-embracing
woman to whom he is all-embracing. Thank God! I'm childish enough to
believe in her still, though I speak through soiled lips--the
all-embracing woman who alone can hold you and that you alone can hold."

Lewis stared absently into the fire.

"'The worlds of women are seven,'" he repeated, half to himself:
"'spirit, weed, flower, the blind, the visioned, libertine, and saint.
None of these is for thee. For each child of love there is a woman that
holds the seven worlds within a single breast. Hold fast to thy
birthright, even though thou journey with thy back unto the light.'"

"What--where--what's that?" stammered Leighton, staring at his son.

Lewis looked up and smiled.

"Only Old Immortality. Do you remember her? The old woman who told my
fortune. She