on the outside once more。 She was going to give a tea…party。 It
made him frightened and furious and miserable。 He was afraid all
would be lost that he had so newly e into: like the youth in
the fairy tale; who was king for one day in the year; and for
the rest a beaten herd: like Cinderella also; at the feast。 He
was sullen。 But she blithely began to make preparations for her
tea…party。 His fear was too strong; he was troubled; he hated
her shallow anticipation and joy。 Was she not forfeiting the
reality; the one reality; for all that was shallow and
worthless? Wasnt she carelessly taking off her crown to be an
artificial figure having other artificial women to tea: when she
might have been perfect with him; and kept him perfect; in the
land of intimate connection? Now he must be deposed; his joy
must be destroyed; he must put on the vulgar; shallow death of
an outward existence。
He ground his soul in uneasiness and fear。 But she rose to a
real outburst of house…work; turning him away as she shoved the
furniture aside to her broom。 He stood hanging miserable near。
He wanted her back。 Dread; and desire for her to stay with him;
and shame at his own dependence on her drove him to anger。 He
began to lose his head。 The wonder was going to pass away again。
All the love; the magnificent new order was going to be lost;
she would forfeit it all for the outside things。 She would admit
the outside world again; she would throw away the living fruit
for the ostensible rind。 He began to hate this in her。 Driven by
fear of her departure into a state of helplessness; almost of
imbecility; he wandered about the house。
And she; with her skirts kilted up; flew round at her work;
absorbed。
〃Shake the rug then; if you must hang round;〃 she said。
And fretting with resentment; he went to shake the rug。 She
was blithely unconscious of him。 He came back; hanging near to
her。
〃Cant you do anything?〃 she said; as if to a child;