Tories. She is the daughter of socialism, syndicalism, pacifism,
internationalism--everything that is most apart from my
traditions. But she brings to me beauty, innocence, the feminine
solution of all intellectual concepts. She, the woman, is the soul
of conflicting England. She is torn both ways. But as she has to
breed men, some day, she is instinctively on our side. She is
invaluable to me. She inspires my poems. You may not believe it,
but she is at the back of my political articles. You must really
be a little more broad-minded, Major, and look at these things
from the right point of view. From the point of view of my work,
she is merely a symbol."

"And you?" said I, wrathfully. "What are you to her? Do you
suppose she takes you for a symbol? I wish to Heaven she did. A
round cipher of naught, the symbol of inanity. She takes you for
an honourable gentleman. I've known the child since she was born.
As good a little girl as you could wish to meet."

He drew himself up. "That's the opinion of her I am endeavouring
to express."

"Quite so. You win a good decent girl's affection,--if you
hadn't, she would never have let you walk about with her at
nightfall, with your arm round her waist,--and you have the
cynical audacity to say that she's only a symbol."

"When you asked me to come in this evening," said he, "I naturally
concluded you would broach this subject. I came prepared to give
you a complete explanation of what I am ready to admit was a
compromising situation."