correctness of her beliefs might be relatively unimportant. Could any
more be required of a faith than its ability, like a life preserver on
water, to hold an individual safe from sinking? Strangely enough, the
one or two greatly powerful men with whom he had come in contact were
like Fanny, prejudiced, closed against all opinions contrary to their
own, impatient of doubt and self-questioning.

Fanny, Lee Randon recognized, was indefatigable in her efforts to form
him in her own unassailable mould; she insisted in the most trivial,
and often tiresome, ways, that he should reach and maintain her
standards. He had been in return, more often than not, rebellious,
humorously or with a suspicion of annoyance; but now, suddenly, it
seemed to him that just that, the limitation of Fanny's determined
attitude, was, perhaps, the most desirable thing possible. If it were
possible of acquisition! Such a certainty wasn't his naturally--those
two diverse strains in him again; but one, he added, had been
practically obliterated. The first step in such a course of practical
wisdom would be to put Cytherea out of his life, dislodge her finally
from his thoughts, and the over-mantel downstairs. This, diplomatically
with the doll, he could, of course, do now, whenever he chose. With
that, and whatever it represented, accomplished, Lee had a premonition,
his life would be secure, placid.

The disturbance caused by Fanny's searching tenderness subsided a
little; and, as it dwindled, the other restlessness, the sense, yes--of
wasted possibilities and years, once more grew evident. By God, if
Fanny insisted on being, at any cost, herself, it would be unreasonable
in her not to recognize the same need in him. But Lee was obliged to
add the old and familiar and increasingly heavy provision: any
individuality of being, of desire, must not be allowed to impair the