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           ButClifford,whilehewasbetterbredthanConnie,andmore’society’,wasinhisownwaymoreprovincialandmoretimid.Hewasathiseaseinthenarrow’greatworld’,thatis,landedaristocracysociety,buthewasshyandnervousofallthatotherbigworldwhichconsistsofthevasthordesofthemiddleandlowerclasses,andforeigners.Ifthetruthmustbetold,hewasjustalittlebitfrightenedofmiddle-andlower-classhumanity,andofforeignersnotofhisownclass.Hewas,insomeparalysingway,consciousofhisowndefencelessness,thoughhehadallthedefenceofprivilege.Whichiscurious,butaphenomenonofourday.

           ThereforethepeculiarsoftassuranceofagirllikeConstanceReidfascinatedhim.Shewassomuchmoremistressofherselfinthatouterworldofchaosthanhewasmasterofhimself.

           Neverthelesshetoowasarebel:rebellingevenagainsthisclass.Orperhapsrebelistoostrongaword;fartoostrong.Hewasonlycaughtinthegeneral,popularrecoiloftheyoungagainstconventionandagainstanysortofrealauthority.Fatherswereridiculous:hisownobstinateonesupremelyso.Andgovernmentswereridiculous:ourownwait-and-seesortespeciallyso.Andarmieswereridiculous,andoldbuffersofgeneralsaltogether,thered-facedKitchenersupremely.Eventhewarwasridiculous,thoughitdidkillratheralotofpeople.

           Infacteverythingwasalittleridiculous,orveryridiculous:certainlyeverythingconnectedwithauthority,whetheritwereinthearmyorthegovernmentortheuniversities,wasridiculoustoadegree.