light of hard common sense, and my ungrateful task seems to be to place it in that light for both your sakes.”

Still David watched the hedgerows with averted face.

“You are listening, David?”

“Yes, mother, yes. Common sense you said.”

“Can’t you see, that to bring her here, where she does not belong — where she never will be received as belonging, even though she is your wife — will only cause suffering to you both? Eventually misunderstandings will arise, then will come alienation and unhappiness. Then again, yours must be in a measure a public life, unless you mean to shirk responsibility. Has your country no claim on you?”

“I have no thought of shirking my duty, and am prepared to think and act also —