Absolute. I should have thought that had by now been proved a futile research.'

'What I am looking for, or what I shall find, is my own affair. Please, do leave me to it.'

'I could say many things-but I won't. I will only ask that you stay with me a little longer. However you think about your music you do take it sufficiently seriously to make me want you. If I consent to the rest-won't you, for your sake and for mine, stay?'

'I want to go back to Nucleus now; I want to see my little sister. She is going to be mated soon. But afterwards, for a short time anyway, I will come back to you.'

'Ah, I remember her. Now what do you feel for her?'

Something I never have felt nor ever shall feel, for any other woman in the world; you see, she alone is a very part of me, of my own inner life. You need not mind; it is all so different from ordinary feelings, that; something I cannot explain; friendship, love, none of those words are adequate do you want me to go on . . .?'

'No. It does not interest me so much that you need torture yourself to explain. But if she is to be mated soon,' Lois smiled at him, and he could make little of her look-' if that is so, I do not doubt that you will return to me.'

Chapter 8

RECONSTRUCTION

The philosophy of art has no other aim than to
bring together as far as possible into one view all
that there is in the world's memory-to make a
history in which the characters shall speak for
themselves, become themselves the interpreters of
the history. It will regard the artists as helping
to create the mind of the ages in which they live-
the mind is only what it knows and worships, and
the artists are the means by which the different
nations and ages come to have characters of their

own. W. P. KER-ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF ART.

I

WHERE will you sit, Nicolette? '

'Oh, in a corner somewhere; I do dislike having the light pour into my eyes.'

Well, choose your own corner.

heard from Anna?'

'Yes, I spoke to her to-day.

with a marvellous new toy.

Have you

She's like a child

She can talk of

nothing but love, as if it had been invented for her special benefit.'

'Why, aren't you the same? Surely that is quite natural at your age.'

Is it? I feel rather bewildered. Raymond is

a dear-but a little-well, oppressive.'

'How so? '

Difficult to explain. He seems so young to me. We have hardly enough to talk about. He is

delicious to look at and to touch, but-is that enough, do you think?'

'If you respect him ardently and want a child, I should think it is.'

'Oh, he is brilliant at his job, but it is so technical, and Raymond gets bored with trying to explain physics to me. He is nice to play with, though. I have never met any one who could do everything so competently.

There is not a sport

at which he doesn't excel. I never knew what swimming and dancing could be like until now. Glorious !'

'That's splendid. It is so important to be able to play together, you know.'

'He's so clever at inventing new games, too. Every one likes him.'

'But you,' Emmeline added in her dry way.

'No, Emmeline, I do like him, really, very much. But-do I not like him enough, or is it that I am not yet ready?

How do you mean, child?'

There must be something not quite normal about me, I think, Emmeline. Perhaps it 's congenital, for I have been like it now for nearly two years. I love babies, I want to have them, yet as the opportunity comes nearer I shrink more from it. I don't feel ready. I feel as if I would not be ready for years. As long as it was a lovely vision, to be realized in the distant future, my imagina

tion leapt to meet it; I could hardly wait for the day. Now it is approaching, I recoil.'

'Have you told your mother?

'Emmeline! You know I can't tell Antonia things. I would like to, she is so sympathetic, she so wants to be consulted; but one can't, and there it is.'

'Well, perhaps Raymond is not the man for you.'

Perhaps not. And yet I like him so much; I like him physically too, to hold me in his arms, to touch and kiss me. He gives me tremendous pleasure. But something is lacking. I may have to wait; if it does not come, to renounce motherhood altogether. If only I could do something else in the meantime, just to see how things turn out.'

'That might be arranged, but it would be a little difficult. You know the regulations in these matters are rather stringent. They have to be. Either you become a mother or you must be immunized. It is the only safeguard that must be taken for the future of the race. As soon as you abandoned it, children would be born haphazard everywhere, would be bred by the pure and the impure; it would be impossible to exercise the necessary hygienic control, and those who had no vocation for motherhood would cheat and lie, would refuse or neglect the years of preparation, the pregnancy exercises-it would simply lead to

the dirty, bestial breeding of the past again. The race would be doomed.'

I quite agree. It would not do. And perhaps, if I am sensible, I shall find myself again. I shall be ready.'

'Well, see how matters shape. Do not try to force yourself to this union with Raymond, and do not repress your aversions, nor suggest longings that are not really there. If necessary I will consult the council about a respite for you; only it may not be simple to find an alternative, as it was always taken for granted that you would become a mother. I often thought Antonia might not have been quite so certain.'

'Emmeline, you are a dear! You are so helpful.'

When is Christopher due ? '

Nicolette's face betrayed none of her secret longing.

Any time, now.'

'If I were you, I would not make any decision until you have talked the matter over with him.' 'I don't know if I can; he has such a lot to think of just now.'

'Must, nonsense.' Nicolette smiled, for Emmeline's briskness was wonderfully stimulating. 'Will you come for a ride in one of the cars?' 'No, you might break my neck.'

'Well, what would it matter? However, Ray