ButJolyondidnotrespond。Hehadsomethingofhisfather’sbalance，andcouldseethingsimpartiallyevenwhenhisemotionswereroused。Irenewasright；Soames’positionwasasbadorworsethanherown。Asforthelaw——itcateredforahumannatureofwhichittookanaturallylowview。And，feelingthatifhestayedinhisdaughter’scompanyhewouldinonewayoranothercommitanindiscretion，hetoldherhemustcatchhistrainbacktoOxford；
andhailingacab，lefthertoTurner’swater-colours，withthepromisethathewouldthinkoverthatGallery。
ButhethoughtoverIreneinstead。Pity，theysaid，wasakintolove！Ifsohewascertainlyindangeroflovingher，forhepitiedherprofoundly。TothinkofherdriftingaboutEuropesohandicappedandlonely！’Ihopetogoodnessshe’llkeepherhead！’
hethought；’shemighteasilygrowdesperate。’Infact，nowthatshehadcutloosefromherpoorthreadsofoccupation，hecouldn’timaginehowshewouldgoon——sobeautifulacreature，hopeless，andfairgameforanyone！Inhisexasperationwasmorethanalittlefearandjealousy。Womendidstrangethingswhentheyweredrivenintocorners。’IwonderwhatSoameswilldonow！’hethought。’A
rotten，idioticstateofthings！AndIsupposetheywouldsayitwasherownfault。’Verypreoccupiedandsoreatheart，hegotintohistrain，mislaidhisticket，andontheplatformatOxfordtookhishatofftoaladywhosefaceheseemedtorememberwithoutbeingabletoputanametoher，notevenwhenhesawherhavingteaattheRainbow。