Part 51 (1/2)
”She therefore enjoys a certainty of considerable happiness if she marries A?”
”Ye--es; not perfect, because of--B, you know.”
”Quite so, quite so; but still a fair amount of happiness. Is it not so?”
”I don't--well, perhaps.”
”On the other hand, if B did ask her, we are to postulate a higher degree of happiness for her?”
”Yes, please, Mr. Jerningham--much higher.”
”For both of them?”
”For her. Never mind him.”
”Very well. That again simplifies the problem. But his asking her is a contingency only?”
”Yes, that's all.”
The philosopher spread out his hands.
”My dear young lady,” he said, ”it becomes a question of degree. How probable or improbable is it?”
”I don't know; not very probable--unless--”
”Well?”
”Unless he did happen to notice, you know.”
”Ah, yes; we supposed that, if he thought of it, he would probably take the desired step-at least, that he might be led to do so. Could she not--er--indicate her preference?”
”She might try--no, she couldn't do much. You see, he--he doesn't think about such things.”
”I understand precisely. And it seems to me, Miss May, that in that very fact we find our solution.”
”Do we?” she asked.
”I think so. He has evidently no natural inclination toward her--perhaps not toward marriage at all. Any feeling aroused in him would be necessarily shallow and, in a measure, artificial, and in all likelihood purely temporary. Moreover, if she took steps to arouse his attention one of two things would be likely to happen. Are you following me?”
”Yes, Mr. Jerningham.”
”Either he would be repelled by her overtures, which you must admit is not improbable, and then the position would be unpleasant, and even degrading, for her; or, on the other hand, he might, through a misplaced feeling of gallantry--”
”Through what?”
”Through a mistaken idea of politeness, or a mistaken view of what was kind, allow himself to be drawn into a connection for which he had no genuine liking. You agree with me that one or other of these things would be likely?”
”Yes, I suppose they would, unless he did come to care for her.”
”Ah, you return to that hypothesis. I think it's an extremely fanciful one. No, she need not marry A, but she must let B alone.”