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the exquisite； living； palpitating picture beside me。 A composite
photograph of all the Madonnas ever painted； from the Sistine to
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Bodenhausen's； could not have been more lovely； more ineffably womanly
than that young girl； radiant with the divine glow of artistic delight … at
least； that is my opinion； which； by the bye； I should； perhaps； have stated
a little more gingerly； inasmuch as you are yourself acquainted with the
young lady。 Now； don't look incredulous ＇noticing my surprise＇。 Black
hair … not brown； black； clear pink and white complexion； large； deep
violet eyes with a remarkable poise to them。〃 … Here I continued the
description for him： 〃Slight of figure； a full； honest waist； without a
suggestion of that execrable death…trap； Dame Fashion's hideous cuirass； a
little above middle height； deliberate； and therefore graceful； in all her
movements； carries herself in a way to impress one with the idea that she
is innocent； without that time…honoured concomitant； ignorance； half girl；
half woman； shy； yet strong； and in a word； very beautiful … that's Gwen
Darrow。〃 I paused here； and Maitland went on somewhat dubiously： 〃Yes；
it's not hard to locate such a woman。 She makes her presence as clearly
felt among a million of her sex as does a grain of fuchsine in a hogshead
of water。 If； with a few ounces of this； Tyndall could colour Lake
Geneva； so with Gwen Darrow one might； such is the power of the ideal；
change the ethical status of a continent。〃
He then told me how he had made a study of Miss Darrow's
movements； and had met her many times since； in fact； so often that he
fancied； from something in her manner； that she had begun to wonder if
his frequent appearance were not something more than a coincidence。
The fear that she might think him dogging her footsteps worried him； and
he began as sedulously to avoid the places he knew she frequented； as he
previously had sought them。 This； he confessed； made him utterly
miserable。 He had； to be sure； never spoken to her； but it was everything
to be able to see her。 When he could endure it no longer he had come to
me under pretence of feeling ill； that he might； when he had made my
acquaintance； get me to introduce him to the Darrows。
You will understand； of course； that I did not learn all this at our first
interview。 Maitland did not take me into his confidence until we had had
a conference at his laboratory devoted entirely to scientific speculations。
On this occasion he surprised me not a little by turning to me suddenly and
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saying： 〃Some of the grandest sacrifices the world has ever known； if one
may judge by the fortitude they require；=20and the pain they cause； have
occurred in the laboratory。〃 I looked at him inquiringly； and he continued：
〃When a man； simply for the great love of truth that is in him； has given
his life to the solution of some problem； and has at last arrived； after years
of closest application； at some magnificent generalisation … when he has；
perhaps； published his conclusions； and received the grateful homage of
all lovers of truth； his life has； indeed； borne fruit。 Of him may it then be
justly said that his
〃'。 。 。 life hath blossomed downward like The purple bell…flower。'
But suddenly； in the privacy of his laboratory； a single fact arises from
the test…tube in his trembling hand and confronts him！ His brain reels；
the glass torment falls upon the floor； and shatters into countless pieces；
but he is not conscious of it； for he feels it thrust through his heart。 When
he recovers from the first shock； he can only ejaculate： 'Is it possible？'
After a little he is able to reason。 'I was fatigued；' he says； 'perhaps my
senses erred。 I can repeat the experiment again； and be sure。 But if it
overthrow those conclusions for which I have given my life？' he gasps。
'My generalisation is firmly established in the minds of all … all but myself
… no one will ever chance upon this particular experiment； and it may not
disprove my theory after all； better； much better； that the floor there keep
the secret of it all both from me and from others！' But even as he says
this to himself he has taken a new tube from the rack and crawled … ten
years older for that last ten minutes … to his chemical case。 The life…long
habit of truth is so strong in him that self…interest cannot submerge it。 He
repeats the experiment； and confirms his fears。 The battle between his
life and a few drops of liquid in a test…tube has been mercilessly fought；
and he has lost！ The elasticity of the man is gone forever； and the only
indication the world ever receives of this terrible conflict between a
human soul and its destiny is some half a dozen lines in Nature； giving the
experiment and stating that it utterly refutes its author's previous
conclusions。 Half a dozen lines … the epitaph of a dead； though unburied；
life！〃
My companion paused there； but I found myself unable to reply。 He
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had spoken with such intensity； such dramatic fervour； that I was
completely swept away by his eloquence； so much so； indeed； that it did
not even occur to me to ask myself why he should have burst out in this
peculiar strain。 I have given you the incident in order that you may see
the strange moods into which Maitland occasionally relapsed … at least； at
that time。 After a quick glance at me he continued； in a quieter vein： 〃All
of us men of science have felt something； however little； of this； and I
believe； as a class； scientists transcend all other men in their respect for
absolute truth。〃 He cast another one of his searching glances at me； and
said quickly： 〃This is precisely why I am going to confide in you and rely
upon your assistance in a matter； the successful termination of which
would please me as much as the discovery of an absolute standard of
measurement。〃
He then made the confession which I have already given you； and
ended by asking me to secure him an introduction to Miss Darrow。 I
cheerfully promised to bring this about at the first opportunity。 He asked
me if I thought； on account of his having met her so frequently； she would
be likely to think it was all a 〃put up job。〃
〃I do not know；〃 I replied。 〃Miss Darrow is a singularly close
observer。 On the whole I think you had better reach her through her
father。 Do you play croquet？〃 He replied that he was considered
something of an expert in that line。 That； then； was surely the best way。
John Darrow was known in the neighbourhood as a 〃crank〃 on the subject
of croquet。 He had spent many hundreds of do