soul from this very foolish, totally unnecessary, step. Alighting, he
put the matter aside, for good angels to support his counsel at the final
moment.

Bears, lions, tigers, eagles, monkeys: they suggested no more than he
would have had from prints; they sprang no reflection, except, that the
coming hour was a matter of indifference to them. They were about him,
and exercised so far a distraction. He took very kindly to an old mother
monkey, relinquishing her society at sight of Nataly's heave of the
bosom. Southward, across the park, the dread house rose. He began
quoting Colney Durance with relish while sarcastically confuting the
cynic, who found much pasture in these Gardens. Over Southward, too, he
would be addressing a popular assembly to-morrow evening. Between now
and then there was a ditch to jump. He put on the sympathetic face of
grief. 'After all, a caged wild beast hasn't so bad a life,' he said.
--To be well fed while they live, and welcome death as a release from the
maladies they develop in idleness, is the condition of wealthy people:--
creatures of prey? horrible thought! yet allied to his Idea, it seemed.
Yes, but these good caged beasts here set them an example, in not
troubling relatives and friends when they come to the gasp! Mrs.
Burman's invitation loomed as monstrous--a final act of her cruelty.
His skin pricked with dews. He thought of Nataly beside him, jumping
the ditch with him, as a relief--if she insisted on doing it. He hoped
she would not, for the sake of her composure.

It was a ditch void of bottom. But it was a mere matter of an hour,
less. The state of health of the invalid could bear only a few minutes.
In any case, we are sure that the hour will pass. Our own arrive?
Certainly.