248 DECEMBER 



because she can be not a little repellent when the 

 mood takes her. But last night she was her 

 brightest and gayest self. There was no coldness 

 displayed for Jim's benefit, as has been so often 

 the case for a long time past, and he was allowed 

 to enjoy her society, if he would, without stint or 

 reserve. I told her about Nancy's scene with 

 Meshach, who now regards himself as her fortunate 

 lover, and we all laughed over it together. 



"Come now, Magdalen," I said, " what would 

 you have done if you had been in Nancy's position?" 



" What should I have done ? I should certainly 

 not have done as Nancy did, though perhaps she 

 is almost justified by the event." 



" Wouldn't you have showed him that he cared, 

 and that you cared ? " 



" Most certainly not, for I should not have cared." 



" But if you had cared ? " 



"If I had cared for him no one would have 

 known it, not even myself. Or if myself had had 

 a faint suspicion of it I should have treated myself 

 as a foolish child." 



" But given the fact that they loved each other, 

 and that Nancy was convinced of it, don't you 

 think she did right ? " 



"Oh, I daresay she did right for Nancy," said 

 Magdalen carelessly. " People's ideas vary, that 

 is all." 



" But," I persisted, "you acknowledged that she 

 is justified by the event." 



u I said almost justified perhaps. I don't think 

 any woman is justified in risking rejection by a 

 man." 



