. . "
I couldn't refuse Marlow the tribute of a prolonged whistle "Phew! So
you suppose that . . . "
He waved his hand impatiently.
"I don't suppose. It was so. And anyhow why shouldn't you accept the
supposition. Do you look upon governesses as creatures above suspicion
or necessarily of moral perfection? I suppose their hearts would not
stand looking into much better than other people's. Why shouldn't a
governess have passions, all the passions, even that of libertinage, and
even ungovernable passions; yet suppressed by the very same means which
keep the rest of us in order: early training--necessity--circumstances--fear
of consequences; till there comes an age, a time when the restraint of
years becomes intolerable--and infatuation irresistible . . . "
"But if infatuation--quite possible I admit," I argued, "how do you
account for the nature of the conspiracy."
"You expect a cogency of conduct not usual in women," said Marlow. "The
subterfuges of a menaced passion are not to be fathomed. You think it is
going on the way it looks, whereas it is capable, for its own ends, of
walking backwards into a precipice.
Pages:
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169