DOI Artikel:
Traill, Henry D.: The papers of Basil Fillimer
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21806#0034
30 The Papers of Basil Fillimer
“ Yes,” said I, eagerly. “And surely that is the way in which
you must explain Eleanor’s refusal.”
“Pardon me,” said Basil, raising a deprecating hand, “it is not
quite so simple as that. But have you got that down ? If so,
please mark it Case B. Thirdly, we get a woman of a nobler
nature who would have too much faith in her lover’s generosity to
believe him capable of suspecting her motives, and who would wel-
come the opportunity of showing that faith. Have you got that
down ? ”
“Yes, every word,” said I. “But, my dear fellow, that is a
woman whose answer would be Yes.”
“ Exactly,” replied Basil, imperturbably. “Mark it Case C.
And now,” he continued, lighting a cigarette, “have the goodness
to favour me with your particular attention to this. There is a
woman of moral sensibilities yet more refined who would fear lest
her lover should suspect her of being actuated by motives really
mercenary, but veiled under the pretence of a desire to demonstrate
her reliance on his faith in her disinterestedness, and who would
consequently answer No. Do you follow that ? ”
“ No, Eil be damned if I do ! ” I cried, throwing down the
pencil.
“ Ah,” said Basil, sadly, “ I was afraid so. Nevertheless, for
convenience of reference, mark it Case D. There are of course
numberless others ; the series, as I have said, is infinite. There
is Case E, that of the woman who rises superior to this last-men-
tioned fear, and says Yes ; and there is Case F, that of the
woman who fears to be suspected of only feigning such superiority,
and says No. But it is probably unnecessary to carry the analysis
further. You believe that Miss Selden’s refusal of me comes under
Case B 3 I, on the other hand, from my experience of the singulär
subtlety and delicacy of her intellectual operations, am persuaded
that
“ Yes,” said I, eagerly. “And surely that is the way in which
you must explain Eleanor’s refusal.”
“Pardon me,” said Basil, raising a deprecating hand, “it is not
quite so simple as that. But have you got that down ? If so,
please mark it Case B. Thirdly, we get a woman of a nobler
nature who would have too much faith in her lover’s generosity to
believe him capable of suspecting her motives, and who would wel-
come the opportunity of showing that faith. Have you got that
down ? ”
“Yes, every word,” said I. “But, my dear fellow, that is a
woman whose answer would be Yes.”
“ Exactly,” replied Basil, imperturbably. “Mark it Case C.
And now,” he continued, lighting a cigarette, “have the goodness
to favour me with your particular attention to this. There is a
woman of moral sensibilities yet more refined who would fear lest
her lover should suspect her of being actuated by motives really
mercenary, but veiled under the pretence of a desire to demonstrate
her reliance on his faith in her disinterestedness, and who would
consequently answer No. Do you follow that ? ”
“ No, Eil be damned if I do ! ” I cried, throwing down the
pencil.
“ Ah,” said Basil, sadly, “ I was afraid so. Nevertheless, for
convenience of reference, mark it Case D. There are of course
numberless others ; the series, as I have said, is infinite. There
is Case E, that of the woman who rises superior to this last-men-
tioned fear, and says Yes ; and there is Case F, that of the
woman who fears to be suspected of only feigning such superiority,
and says No. But it is probably unnecessary to carry the analysis
further. You believe that Miss Selden’s refusal of me comes under
Case B 3 I, on the other hand, from my experience of the singulär
subtlety and delicacy of her intellectual operations, am persuaded
that