a highly interesting, impersonal, scientific account of what happened after my flight.  Her testimony was all the more valuable in that she was, as she said, only ‘psychologically interested.’  She reminded me that Empedocles is said to have recalled a young woman from death by the same means, i.e., the insistent repetition of her name; which proved to Miss Ransome that the poor old ancients had ’anticipated, though of course unscientifically, some of the principles of modern psychology.’ Eheu!

“It proved something else to me, Sophy—­that I had too willingly underestimated Mr. Nicholas Jelnik.  There is very much more to that young man than I like to admit.

“He would have made such a perfect villain:  I could have made a work of art of him, as a villain!  And now I can’t, because he isn’t.  This chagrins me.  It upsets my notions of the fitness of things.  More yet:  he loves you, Sophy, more than I do, or ever could.

“Does this astound you?  Come and let us reason together:  the spirit moves me to speak out in meeting.

“You are the only woman I have ever been willing to marry.  That I should wish to marry you astonished me far, far more than it did you.  At the same time it delighted me by its very unexpectedness.  It gave me a brand-new emotion, and brand-new emotions aren’t every-day affairs, let me tell you!  You brought something naive, unusual, fresh, perplexing, into a bored existence.  And then you refused to spoil it!  That added to the quality of the unusualness.  The ninety and nine would have subjected me to the acid test of matrimony, with the later and inevitable alimony.  The saving hundredth sees to it that I shall keep my illusions!  O rare dear wise Sophy!  How shall I repay you?

“For I shall be able to indulge in day-dreams now.  I shall not grow old cynically.  There are unselfish, true-hearted, valiant women.  There are women who will not marry men for position, name, fame, power, money; no, nor for anything but love.  How do I know?  Because you don’t love me, my dear.  But you do love Nicholas Jelnik.  You had not come back from the gates of death else, Sophy.

“Marry him.  You will bring him the quiet strength and sureness he needs.  A temperamental man, a finely organized, highly gifted, sensitive, and intellectual man needs just such affection as yours, as unshakable as the sun, as faithful as the fixed stars.  That you should love him almost makes me believe in the direct intervention of divine Providence in his behalf.  My own innate and troublesome decency forces me to add that he is worth it.  He has altogether too much, confound him!

“Do you know that while you lay ill, he came and told me about the finding of Jessamine Hynds, showed me her statement, told me, in short, the whole story?  I was consumed with envy, malice, and all uncharitableness; to think that such a thing should or could happen right under my nose, and I all unwitting!  And you, too, Sophy, went through such an experience!  I’d give a year of my life to have been with you.