It was not of herself she was thinking.  It was for his work’s sake that she wanted to be near to him always:  that she might counsel him, encourage him.  For this she was prepared to sacrifice herself, give up her woman’s claim on life.  They would be friends, comrades—­nothing more.  That little lurking curiosity of hers, concerning what it would be like to feel his strong arms round her, pressing her closer and closer to him:  it was only a foolish fancy.  She could easily laugh that out of herself.  Only bad women had need to be afraid of themselves.  She would keep guard for both of them.  Their purity of motive, their high purpose, would save them from the danger of anything vulgar or ridiculous.

Of course they would have to be careful.  There must be no breath of gossip, no food for evil tongues.  About that she was determined even more for his sake than her own.  It would be fatal to his career.  She was quite in agreement with the popular demand, supposed to be peculiarly English, that a public man’s life should be above reproach.  Of what use these prophets without self-control; these social reformers who could not shake the ape out of themselves?  Only the brave could give courage to others.  Only through the pure could God’s light shine upon men.

It was vexing his having moved round the corner, into North Street.  Why couldn’t the silly woman have been content where she was.  Living under one roof, they could have seen one another as often as was needful without attracting attention.  Now, she supposed, she would have to be more than ever the bosom friend of Mrs. Phillips—­spend hours amid that hideous furniture, surrounded by those bilious wallpapers.  Of course he could not come to her.  She hoped he would appreciate the sacrifice she would be making for him.  Fortunately Mrs. Phillips would give no trouble.  She would not even understand.

What about Hilda?  No hope of hiding their secret from those sharp eyes.  But Hilda would approve.  They could trust Hilda.  The child might prove helpful.

It cast a passing shadow upon her spirits, this necessary descent into details.  It brought with it the suggestion of intrigue, of deceit:  robbing the thing, to a certain extent, of its fineness.  Still, what was to be done?  If women were coming into public life these sort of relationships with men would have to be faced and worked out.  Sex must no longer be allowed to interfere with the working together of men and women for common ends.  It was that had kept the world back.  They would be the pioneers of the new order.  Casting aside their earthly passions, humbly with pure hearts they would kneel before God’s altar.  He should bless their union.

A lark was singing.  She stood listening.  Higher and higher he rose, pouring out his song of worship; till the tiny, fragile body disappeared as if fallen from him, leaving his sweet soul still singing.  The happy tears came to her eyes, and she passed on.  She did not hear that little last faint sob with which he sank exhausted back to earth beside a hidden nest among the furrows.