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and left them filled with a great peace。
Sellers had had the most confident faith that with the new reinforcement
victory would be at this last moment snatched from the jaws of defeat；
but it was an error。 The talk was as stubbornly disjointed as ever。
He was proud of Gwendolen； and liked to show her off； even against Miss
Belle Thompson； and here had been a great opportunity； and what had she
made of it？ He felt a good deal put out。 It vexed him to think that
this Englishman； with the traveling Briton's everlasting disposition to
generalize whole mountain ranges from single sample…grains of sand； would
jump to the conclusion that American girls were as dumb as himself
generalizing the whole tribe from this single sample and she at her
poorest； there being nothing at that table to inspire her； give her a
start； keep her from going to sleep。 He made up his mind that for the
honor of the country he would bring these two together again over the
social board before long。 There would be a different result another
time； he judged。 He said to himself； with a deep sense of injury；
〃He'll put in his diarythey all keep diarieshe'll put in his diary
that she was miraculously uninterestingdear； dear； but wasn't she！
I never saw the likeand yet looking as beautiful as Satan； tooand
couldn't seem to do anything but paw bread crumbs； and pick flowers to
pieces； and look fidgety。 And it isn't any better here in the Hall of
Audience。 I've had enough； I'll haul down my flag the others may fight
it out if they want to。〃
He shook hands all around and went off to do some work which he said was
pressing。 The idolaters were the width of the room apart； and apparently
unconscious of each other's presence。 The distance got shortened a
little； now。 Very soon the mother withdrew。 The distance narrowed
again。 Tracy stood before a chromo of some Ohio politician which had
been retouched and chain…mailed for a crusading Rossmore； and Gwendolen
was sitting on the sofa not far from his elbow artificially absorbed in
examining a photograph album that hadn't any photographs in it。
The 〃Senator〃 still lingered。 He was sorry for the young people； it had
been a dull evening for them。 In the goodness of his heart he tried to
make it pleasant for them now； tried to remove the ill impression
necessarily left by the general defeat； tried to be chatty； even tried to
be gay。 But the responses were sickly； there was no starting any
enthusiasm； he would give it up and quitit was a day specially picked
out and consecrated to failures。
But when Gwendolen rose up promptly and smiled a glad smile and said with
thankfulness and blessing； 〃Must you go？〃 it seemed cruel to desert； and
he sat down again。
He was about to begin a remark whenwhen he didn't。 We have all been
there。 He didn't know how he knew his concluding to stay longer had been
a mistake； he merely knew it； and knew it for dead certain； too。 And so
he bade goodnight； and went mooning out； wondering what he could have
done that changed the atmosphere that way。 As the door closed behind him
those two were standing side by side； looking at that doorlooking at it
in a waiting； second…counting； but deeply grateful kind of way。 And the
instant it closed they flung their arms about each other's necks； and
there； heart to heart and lip to lip
〃Oh； my God； she's kissing it！〃
Nobody heard this remark； because Hawkins； who bred it； only thought it；
he didn't utter it。 He had turned； the moment he had closed the door；
and had pushed it open a little； intending to re…enter and ask what ill…
advised thing he had done or said； and apologize for it。 But he didn't
re…enter； he staggered off stunned； terrified； distressed。
CHAPTER XXII。
Five minutes later he was sitting in his room； with his head bowed within
the circle of his arms； on the table…final attitude of grief and despair。
His tears were flowing fast； and now and then a sob broke upon the
stillness。 Presently he said：
〃I knew her when she was a little child and used to climb about my knees；
I love her as I love my own； and nowoh； poor thing； poor thing； I
cannot bear it！ she's gone and lost her heart to this mangy
materializee！ Why didn't we see that that might happen？ But how could
we？ Nobody could； nobody could ever have dreamed of such a thing。 You
couldn't expect a person would fall in love with a wax…work。 And this
one doesn't even amount to that。〃
He went on grieving to himself； and now and then giving voice to his
lamentations。
〃It's done； oh； it's done； and there's no help for it； no undoing the
miserable business。 If I had the nerve； I would kill it。 But that
wouldn't do any good。 She loves it； she thinks it's genuine and
authentic。 If she lost it she would grieve for it just as she would for
a real person。 And who's to break it to the family！ Not II'll die
first。 Sellers is the best human being I ever knew and I wouldn't any
more think ofoh； dear； why it'll break his heart when he finds it out。
And Polly's too。 This comes of meddling with such infernal matters！
But for this； the creature would still be roasting in Sheol where it
belongs。 How is it that these people don't smell the brimstone？
Sometimes I can't come into the same room with him without nearly
suffocating。〃
After a while he broke out again：
〃Well； there's one thing； sure。 The materializing has got to stop right
where it is。 If she's got to marry a spectre； let her marry a decent one
out of the Middle Ages； like this onenot a cowboy and a thief such as
this protoplasmic tadpole's going to turn into if Sellers keeps on
fussing at it。 It costs five thousand dollars cash and shuts down on the
incorporated company to stop the works at this point； but Sally Sellers's
happiness is worth more than that。〃
He heard Sellers coming； and got himself to rights。 Sellers took a seat；
and said：
〃Well； I've got to confess I'm a good deal puzzled。 It did certainly
eat； there's no getting around it。 Not eat； exactly； either； but it
nibbled； nibbled in an appetiteless way； but still it nibbled； and that's
just a marvel。 Now the question is； what does it do with those
nibblings？ That's itwhat does it do with them？ My idea is that we
don't begin to know all there is to this stupendous discovery yet。
But time will show…time and science…give us a chance； and don't get
impatient。〃
But he couldn't get Hawkins interested； couldn't make him talk to amount
to anything； couldn't drag him out of his depression。 But at last he
took a turn that arrested Hawkins's attention。
〃I'm coming to like him； Hawkins。 He is a person of stupendous
characterabsolutely gigantic。 Under that placid exterior is concealed
the most dare…devil spirit that was ever put into a manhe's just a
Clive over again。 Yes； I'm all admiration for him； on account of his
character； and liking naturally follows admiration； you know。 I'm coming
to like him immensely。 Do you know； I haven't the heart to degrade such
a character as that down to the burglar estate for money or for anything
else； and I've come to ask if you are willing to let the reward go； and
leave this poo