Part 5

Pursuant to some altogether private calculations she did not go up to

the Imperial College until after mid-day, and she found the laboratory

deserted, even as she desired. She went to the table under the end

window at which she had been accustomed to work, and found it swept and

garnished with full bottles of re-agents. Everything was very neat; it

had evidently been straightened up and kept for her. She put down the

sketch-books and apparatus she had brought with her, pulled out her

stool, and sat down. As she did so the preparation-room door opened

behind her. She heard it open, but as she felt unable to look round in

a careless manner she pretended not to hear it. Then Capes’ footsteps

approached. She turned with an effort.

“I expected you this morning,” he said. “I saw--they knocked off your

fetters yesterday.”

“I think it is very good of me to come this afternoon.”

“I began to be afraid you might not come at all.”

“Afraid!”

“Yes. I’m glad you’re back for all sorts of reasons.” He spoke a little

nervously. “Among other things, you know, I didn’t understand quite--I

didn’t understand that you were so keenly interested in this suffrage

question. I have it on my conscience that I offended you--”

“Offended me when?”

“I’ve been haunted by the memory of you. I was rude and stupid. We were

talking about the suffrage--and I rather scoffed.”

“You weren’t rude,” she said.

“I didn’t know you were so keen on this suffrage business.”

“Nor I. You haven’t had it on your mind all this time?”

“I have rather. I felt somehow I’d hurt you.”

“You didn’t. I--I hurt myself.”

“I mean--”

“I behaved like an idiot, that’s all. My nerves were in rags. I was

worried. We’re the hysterical animal, Mr. Capes. I got myself locked up

to cool off. By a sort of instinct. As a dog eats grass. I’m right again

now.”

“Because your nerves were exposed, that was no excuse for my touching

them. I ought to have seen--”

“It doesn’t matter a rap--if you’re not disposed to resent the--the way

I behaved.”

“_I_ resent!”

“I was only sorry I’d been so stupid.”

“Well, I take it we’re straight again,” said Capes with a note of

relief, and assumed an easier position on the edge of her table. “But

if you weren’t keen on the suffrage business, why on earth did you go to

prison?”

Ann Veronica reflected. “It was a phase,” she said.

He smiled. “It’s a new phase in the life history,” he remarked.

“Everybody seems to have it now. Everybody who’s going to develop into a

woman.”

“There’s Miss Garvice.”

“She’s coming on,” said Capes. “And, you know, you’re altering us all.

I’M shaken. The campaign’s a success.” He met her questioning eye, and

repeated, “Oh! it IS a success. A man is so apt to--to take women a

little too lightly. Unless they remind him now and then not to....

YOU did.”

“Then I didn’t waste my time in prison altogether?”

“It wasn’t the prison impressed me. But I liked the things you said

here. I felt suddenly I understood you--as an intelligent person. If

you’ll forgive my saying that, and implying what goes with it. There’s

something--puppyish in a man’s usual attitude to women. That is what

I’ve had on my conscience.... I don’t think we’re altogether to blame

if we don’t take some of your lot seriously. Some of your sex, I mean.

But we smirk a little, I’m afraid, habitually when we talk to you. We

smirk, and we’re a bit--furtive.”

He paused, with his eyes studying her gravely. “You, anyhow, don’t

deserve it,” he said.

Their colloquy was ended abruptly by the apparition of Miss Klegg at

the further door. When she saw Ann Veronica she stood for a moment as if

entranced, and then advanced with outstretched hands. “Veronique!” she

cried with a rising intonation, though never before had she called Ann

Veronica anything but Miss Stanley, and seized her and squeezed her and

kissed her with profound emotion. “To think that you were going to do

it--and never said a word! You are a little thin, but except for that

you look--you look better than ever. Was it VERY horrible? I tried to

get into the police-court, but the crowd was ever so much too big, push

as I would....

“I mean to go to prison directly the session is over,” said Miss Klegg.

“Wild horses--not if they have all the mounted police in London--shan’t

keep me out.”