Crome Yellow

8/17/2019 Crome Yellow

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CROME YELLOW By

ALDOUS HUXLEY

CHAPTER I .

Al ong thi s par t i cul ar st r et ch of l i ne no expr ess had ever passed.Al l t he t r ai ns- - t he f ew t hat t her e wer e- - st opped at al l t hest at i ons. Deni s knew t he names of t hose st at i ons by hear t .Bol e, Tr i t t on, Spavi n Del awar r , Kni pswi ch f or Ti mpany, WestBowl by, and, f i nal l y, Caml et - on- t he- Wat er. Caml et was wher e heal ways got out , l eavi ng t he t r ai n t o creep i ndol ent l y onwar d,goodness onl y knew whi t her , i nt o t he gr een heart of Engl and.

They wer e snor t i ng out of West Bowl by now. I t was t he nextst at i on, t hank Heaven. Deni s t ook hi s chat t el s of f t he r ack andpi l ed t hem neat l y i n t he cor ner opposi t e hi s own. A f ut i l eproceedi ng. But one must have somet hi ng t o do. When he hadf i ni shed, he sank back i nt o hi s seat and cl osed hi s eyes. I t wasext r emel y hot .

Oh, t hi s j our ney! I t was two hour s cut cl ean out of hi s l i f e;t wo hour s i n whi ch he mi ght have done so much, so much- - wr i t t ent he perf ect poem, f or exampl e, or r ead t he one i l l umi nat i ng book.I nst ead of whi ch- - hi s gor ge r ose at t he smel l of t he dust ycushi ons agai nst whi ch he was l eani ng.

Two hour s. One hundred and t wenty mi nut es. Anyt hi ng mi ght bedone i n t hat t i me. Anyt hi ng. Nothi ng. Oh, he had had hundr edsof hours, and what had he done wi t h t hem? Wast ed t hem, spi l t t hepr eci ous mi nut es as t hough hi s r eser voi r wer e i nexhaust i bl e.Deni s gr oaned i n t he spi r i t , condemned hi msel f ut t er l y wi t h al lhi s works. What r i ght had he t o si t i n t he sunshi ne, t o occupycor ner seat s i n t hi r d- cl ass car r i ages, t o be al i ve? None, none,none.

Mi sery and a namel ess nost al gi c di st r ess possessed hi m. He wast went y- t hr ee, and oh! so agoni zi ngl y consci ous of t he f act .

The t r ai n came bumpi ngl y t o a hal t . Her e was Caml et at l ast .Deni s j umped up, cr ammed hi s hat over hi s eyes, deranged hi s pi l eof baggage, l eaned out of t he wi ndow and shout ed f or a port er ,sei zed a bag i n ei t her hand, and had t o put t hem down agai n i norder t o open t he door . When at l ast he had saf el y bundl edhi msel f and hi s baggage on to t he pl at f orm, he ran up the t r ai nt owards t he van.

"A bi cycl e, a bi cycl e! " he sai d br eat hl essl y t o t he guar d. Hef el t hi msel f a man of act i on. The guar d pai d no at t ent i on, butcont i nued methodi cal l y t o hand out , one by one, t he packagesl abel l ed t o Caml et . "A bi cycl e! " Deni s r epeat ed. "A gr eenmachi ne, cr oss- f r amed, name of St one. S- T- O- N- E. "

"Al l i n good t i me, si r , " sai d t he guar d soot hi ngl y. He was a

l ar ge, st atel y man wi t h a naval beard. One pi ct ur ed hi m at home,dr i nki ng t ea, surr ounded by a numer ous f ami l y. I t was i n t hat



t one that he must have spoken t o hi s chi l dren when they weret i r esome. "Al l i n good t i me, si r . " Deni s' s man of act i oncol l apsed, punct ur ed.

He l ef t hi s l uggage to be cal l ed f or l at er , and pushed of f on hi sbi cycl e. He al ways took hi s bi cycl e when he went i nt o t he

count r y. I t was par t of t he t heory of exer ci se. One day onewoul d get up at si x o' cl ock and pedal away t o Keni l wor t h, orSt r at f or d- on- Avon- - anywhere. And wi t hi n a r adi us of t went y mi l est here wer e al ways Nor man chur ches and Tudor mansi ons t o be seeni n t he cour se of an af t ernoon' s excur si on. Somehow t hey neverdi d get seen, but al l t he same i t was ni ce t o f eel t hat t hebi cycl e was t her e, and t hat one f i ne mor ni ng one real l y mi ght getup at si x.

Once at t he top of t he l ong hi l l whi ch l ed up f r om Caml etst at i on, he f el t hi s spi r i t s mount i ng. The wor l d, he f ound, wasgood. The f ar - away bl ue hi l l s, t he har vest s whi t eni ng on t hesl opes of t he r i dge al ong whi ch hi s r oad l ed hi m, t he t r eel ess

sky- l i nes t hat changed as he moved- - yes, t hey were al l good. Hewas over come by t he beauty of t hose deepl y embayed combes,scooped i n t he f l anks of t he r i dge beneath hi m. Cur ves, cur ves:he repeated t he word sl owl y, t r yi ng as he di d so t o f i nd somet er m i n whi ch t o gi ve expr essi on t o hi s appr eci at i on. Cur ves- -no, t hat was i nadequate. He made a gest ure wi t h hi s hand, ast hough to scoop t he achi eved expr essi on out of t he ai r , andal most f el l of f hi s bi cycl e. What was t he wor d t o descr i be t hecur ves of t hose l i t t l e val l eys? They wer e as f i ne as the l i nesof a human body, t hey wer e i nf ormed wi t h t he subt l et y of ar t . . .

Gal be. That was a good word; but i t was Fr ench. Le gal be evasede ses hanches: had one ever r ead a Fr ench novel i n whi ch t hatphr ase di dn' t occur ? Some day he woul d compi l e a di ct i onary f ort he use of novel i st s. Gal be, gonf l e, goul u: par f um, peau,per ver s, pot el e, pudeur : ver t u, vol upt e.

But he r eal l y must f i nd t hat wor d. Cur ves cur ves. . . Those l i t t l eval l eys had the l i nes of a cup moul ded r ound a woman' s br east ;t hey seemed t he di nted i mpr i nts of some huge di vi ne body t hat hadr est ed on t hese hi l l s. Cumbr ous l ocut i ons, t hese; but t hr ought hemhe seemed t o be get t i ng near er t o what he want ed. Di nted,di mpl ed, wi mpl ed- - hi s mi nd wander ed down echoi ng cor r i dors ofassonance and al l i t er at i on ever f ur t her and f ur t her f r om t hepoi nt . He was enamour ed wi t h t he beaut y of words.

Becomi ng once more aware of t he out er wor l d, he f ound hi msel f ont he cr est of a descent . The r oad pl unged down, st eep andst r ai ght , i nt o a consi der abl e val l ey. Ther e, on t he opposi t esl ope, a l i t t l e hi gher up t he val l ey, st ood Cr ome, hi sdest i nat i on. He put on hi s br akes; t hi s vi ew of Cr ome waspl easant t o l i nger over . The f acade wi t h i t s three pr oj ect i ngt ower s r ose pr eci pi t ousl y f r om among the dar k t r ees of t hegar den. The house basked i n f ul l sunl i ght ; t he ol d br i ck r osi l ygl owed. How r i pe and r i ch i t was, how superbl y mel l ow! And att he same t i me, how aust ere! The hi l l was becomi ng st eeper andst eeper; he was gai ni ng speed i n spi t e of hi s br akes. He l oosedhi s gr i p of t he l evers, and i n a moment was r ushi ng headl ongdown. Fi ve mi nutes l ater he was passi ng t hr ough t he gat e of t hegr eat cour t yar d. The f r ont door st ood hospi t abl y open. He l ef t

hi s bi cycl e l eani ng agai nst t he wal l and wal ked i n. He woul dt ake t hem by sur pr i se.



CHAPTER I I .

He t ook nobody by surpr i se; t here was nobody t o t ake. Al l wasqui et ; Deni s wandered f r omr oom t o empt y r oom, l ooki ng wi t h

pl easur e at t he f ami l i ar pi ctures and f ur ni t ur e, at al l t hel i t t l e unt i dy si gns of l i f e t hat l ay scat t er ed her e and t her e.He was r at her gl ad t hat t hey were al l out ; i t was amusi ng t owander t hrough t he house as t hough one were expl or i ng a dead,desert ed Pompei i . What sor t of l i f e woul d t he excavat orr econst r uct f r omt hese remai ns; how woul d he peopl e t hese emptychambers? There was t he l ong gal l ery, wi t h i t s rows ofr espect abl e and ( t hough, of cour se, one coul dn' t publ i cl y admi ti t ) rather bor i ng I t al i an pri mi t i ves, i t s Chi nese scul pt ures, i t sunobt r usi ve, dat el ess f ur ni t ur e. Ther e was the panel l ed dr awi ng-r oom, wher e t he huge chi ntz- covered arm- chai r s st ood, oases ofcomf or t among t he aust ere f l esh- mor t i f yi ng ant i ques. There wast he mor ni ng- r oom, wi t h i t s pal e l emon wal l s, i t s pai nt ed Venet i an

chai r s and r ococo t abl es, i t s mi r r or s, i t s moder n pi ct ur es. There was t he l i brar y, cool , spaci ous, and dark, book- l i ned f r omf l oor t o cei l i ng, r i ch i n por t ent ous f ol i os. Ther e was t hedi ni ng- r oom, sol i dl y, por t wi ni l y Engl i sh, wi t h i t s gr eat mahoganyt abl e, i t s ei ght eent h- cent ur y chai r s and si deboar d, i t sei ght eent h- cent ur y pi ct ur es- - f ami l y por t r ai t s, met i cul ous ani malpai nt i ngs. What coul d one r econst r uct f r omsuch dat a? There wasmuch of Henr y Wi mbush i n t he l ong gal l ery and t he l i br ary,somethi ng of Anne, per haps, i n t he morni ng- r oom. That was al l .Among t he accumul at i ons of t en generat i ons t he l i vi ng had l ef tbut f ew t r aces.

Lyi ng on the t abl e i n t he morni ng- r oom he saw hi s own book ofpoems. What t act ! He pi cked i t up and opened i t . I t was whatt he r evi ewer s cal l "a sl i m vol ume. " He r ead at hazar d:

". . . But si l ence and t he t opl ess dar kVaul t i n t he l i ght s of Luna Par k;And Bl ackpool f r om t he ni ght l y gl oomHol l ows a br i ght t umul t uous t omb. "

He put i t down agai n, shook hi s head, and si ghed. "What geni us Ihad t hen! " he r ef l ect ed, echoi ng t he aged Swi f t . I t was near l ysi x mont hs si nce t he book had been publ i shed; he was gl ad t ot hi nk he woul d never wr i t e anyt hi ng of t he same sor t agai n. Whocoul d have been r eadi ng i t , he wonder ed? Anne, perhaps; he l i kedt o t hi nk so. Per haps, t oo, she had at l ast r ecogni sed her sel f i nt he Hamadr yad of t he popl ar sapl i ng; t he sl i m Hamadr yad whosemovement s were l i ke the swayi ng of a young t r ee i n the wi nd."The Woman who was a Tr ee" was what he had cal l ed t he poem. Hehad gi ven her t he book when i t came out , hopi ng t hat t he poemwoul d t el l her what he hadn' t dar ed t o say. She had neverref err ed t o i t .

He shut hi s eyes and saw a vi si on of her i n a r ed vel vet cl oak,swayi ng i nt o t he l i t t l e r est aur ant wher e t hey somet i mes di nedt oget her i n London- - t hr ee quar t er s of an hour l at e, and he at hi st abl e, haggar d wi t h anxi et y, i r r i t at i on, hunger . Oh, she wasdamnabl e!

I t occur r ed t o hi m t hat per haps hi s host ess mi ght be i n herboudoi r . I t was a possi bi l i t y; he woul d go and see. Mr s.



Wi mbush' s boudoi r was i n t he cent r al t ower on t he garden f r ont .A l i t t l e stai r case cor k- scr ewed up t o i t f r om t he hal l . Deni smounted, t apped at t he door . "Come i n. " Ah, she was t her e; hehad r ather hoped she woul dn' t be. He opened t he door .

Pri sci l l a Wi mbush was l yi ng on t he sof a. A bl ot t i ng- pad r est ed

on her knees and she was t hought f ul l y sucki ng the end of a si l verpenci l .

"Hul l o, " she sai d, l ooki ng up. "I ' d f or got t en you wer e comi ng. "

"Wel l , her e I am, I ' m af r ai d, " sai d Deni s depr ecat i ngl y. "I ' mawf ul l y sor r y. "

Mr s. Wi mbush l aughed. Her voi ce, her l aught er , were deep andmascul i ne. Ever yt hi ng about her was manl y. She had a l arge,squar e, mi ddl e- aged f ace, wi t h a massi ve pr oj ect i ng nose andl i t t l e gr eeni sh eyes, t he whol e surmount ed by a l of t y andel abor at e coi f f ur e of a cur i ousl y i mpr obabl e shade of or ange.

Looki ng at her , Deni s al ways t hought of Wi l ki e Bar d as t hecant at r i ce.

"That ' s why I ' m goi ng t oSi ng i n op' r a, si ng i n op' r a,Si ng i n op- pop- pop- pop- pop- popera. "

Today she was wear i ng a purpl e si l k dress wi t h a hi gh col l ar anda r ow of pearl s. The cost ume, so r i chl y dowager i sh, sosuggest i ve of t he Royal Fami l y, made her l ook more than ever l i kesomet hi ng on the Hal l s.

"What have you been doi ng al l t hi s t i me?" she asked.

"Wel l , " sai d Deni s, and he hesi t at ed, al most vol upt uousl y. Hehad a t r emendousl y amusi ng account of London and i t s doi ngs al lr i pe and r eady i n hi s mi nd. I t woul d be a pl easur e t o gi ve i tut t er ance. "To begi n wi t h, " he sai d. . .

But he was t oo l at e. Mr s. Wi mbush' s quest i on had been what t hegr ammar i ans cal l r het or i cal ; i t asked f or no answer . I t was al i t t l e conver sat i onal f l our i sh, a gambi t i n t he pol i t e game.

"You f i nd me busy at my hor oscopes, " she sai d, wi t hout even bei ngaware t hat she had i nt err upted hi m.

A l i t t l e pai ned, Deni s deci ded t o reser ve hi s st or y f or mor er ecept i ve ears . He cont ent ed hi msel f , by way of r evenge, wi t hsayi ng "Oh?" r at her i ci l y.

"Di d I t el l you how I won f our hundr ed on t he Gr and Nat i onal t hi syear?"

"Yes, " he r epl i ed, st i l l f r i gi d and mono- syl l abi c. She must havet ol d hi m at l east s i x t i mes.

"Wonder f ul , i sn' t i t ? Ever yt hi ng i s i n t he St ar s. I n t he Ol dDays, bef ore I had t he St ar s t o hel p me, I used t o l oset housands. Now" - - she paused an i nst ant - - "wel l , l ook at t hat f ourhundr ed on t he Gr and Nat i onal . That ' s t he St ars . "



Deni s woul d have l i ked t o hear more about t he Ol d Days. But hewas t oo di scr eet and, st i l l mor e, t oo shy t o ask. There had beensomet hi ng of a bust up; t hat was al l he knew. Ol d Pri sci l l a- - notso ol d t hen, of cour se, and spr i ght l i er - - had l ost a gr eat deal ofmoney, dr opped i t i n handf ul s and hat f ul s on every r ace- cour se i nt he count r y. She had gambl ed t oo. The number of t housands

var i ed i n t he di f f er ent l egends, but al l put i t hi gh. Henr yWi mbush was f orced t o sel l some of hi s Pr i mi t i ves- - a Taddeo daPoggi bonsi , an Ami co di Taddeo, and f our or f i ve namel essSi enese- - t o t he Amer i cans. Ther e was a cr i si s. For t he f i r stt i me i n hi s l i f e Henr y asser t ed hi msel f , and wi t h good ef f ect , i tseemed.

Pr i sci l l a' s gay and gaddi ng exi st ence had come to an abr upt end.Nowadays she spent al most al l her t i me at Cr ome, cul t i vat i ng ar at her i l l - def i ned mal ady. For consol at i on she dal l i ed wi t h New Thought and t he Occul t . Her passi on f or r aci ng st i l l possessedher , and Henr y, who was a ki nd- hear t ed f el l ow at bot t om, al l owedher f ort y pounds a mont h bet t i ng money. Most of Pr i sci l l a' s days

wer e spent i n cast i ng the hor oscopes of horses, and she i nvest edher money sci ent i f i cal l y, as t he st ar s di ct at ed. She bet t ed onf ootbal l t oo, and had a l ar ge not ebook i n whi ch she r egi st eredt he hor oscopes of al l t he pl ayer s i n al l t he teams of t he League. The process of bal anci ng t he horoscopes of t wo el evens oneagai nst t he ot her was a ver y del i cat e and di f f i cul t one. A mat chbet ween t he Spur s and t he Vi l l a ent ai l ed a conf l i ct i n t heheavens so vast and so compl i cat ed t hat i t was not t o be wonder edat i f she somet i mes made a mi st ake about t he out come.

"Such a pi t y you don' t bel i eve i n t hese t hi ngs, Deni s, such api t y, " sai d Mr s. Wi mbush i n her deep, di st i nct voi ce.

" I can' t say I f eel i t so. "

"Ah, t hat ' s because you don' t know what i t ' s l i ke t o have f ai t h. You' ve no i dea how amusi ng and exci t i ng l i f e becomes when you dobel i eve. Al l t hat happens means somethi ng; nothi ng you do i sever i nsi gni f i cant . I t makes l i f e so j ol l y, you know. Her e am Iat Cr ome. Dul l as di t chwat er , you' d t hi nk; but no, I don' t f i ndi t so. I don' t r egr et t he Ol d Days a bi t . I have t he St ar s. . . "She pi cked up t he sheet of paper t hat was l yi ng on t he bl ot t i ng-pad. "I nman' s hor oscope, " she expl ai ned. "( I t hought I ' d l i ket o have a l i t t l e f l i ng on t he bi l l i ar ds champi onshi p t hi saut umn. ) I have t he I nf i ni t e t o keep i n t une wi t h, " she wavedher hand. "And t hen t her e' s t he next wor l d and al l t he spi r i t s,and one' s Aur a, and Mr s. Eddy and sayi ng you' r e not i l l , and t heChr i st i an Myst er i es and Mr s. Besant . I t ' s al l spl endi d. One' snever dul l f or a moment . I can' t t hi nk how I used t o get onbef or e- - i n t he Ol d Days. Pl easur e- - r unni ng about , t hat ' s al l i twas; j ust r unni ng about . Lunch, t ea, di nner , t heat r e, supperever y day. I t was f un, of cour se, whi l e i t l ast ed. But t her ewasn' t much l ef t of i t af t er war ds. Ther e' s rat her a good t hi ngabout t hat i n Barbecue- Smi t h' s new book. Wher e i s i t ?"

She sat up and r eached f or a book t hat was l yi ng on t he l i t t l et abl e by the head of t he sof a.

"Do you know hi m, by the way?" she asked.

"Who?"



"Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h. "

Deni s knew of hi m vaguel y. Barbecue- Smi t h was a name i n t heSunday paper s. He wr ote about t he Conduct of Li f e. He mi ghteven be t he aut hor of "What a Young Gi r l Ought t o Know".

"No, not per sonal l y, " he sai d.

" I ' ve i nvi t ed hi m f or next week- end. " She t ur ned over t he pagesof t he book. "Her e' s t he passage I was t hi nki ng of . I mar kedi t . I al ways mar k t he t hi ngs I l i ke. "

Hol di ng t he book al most at arm' s l ength, f or she was somewhatl ong- si ght ed, and maki ng sui t abl e gest ur es wi t h her f r ee hand,she began t o r ead, sl owl y, dr amat i cal l y.

" ' What are t housand pound f ur coats, what ar e quar t er mi l l i oni ncomes?' " She l ooked up f r om t he page wi t h a hi st r i oni cmovement of t he head; her orange coi f f ur e nodded port ent ousl y.

Deni s l ooked at i t , f asci nat ed. Was i t t he Real Thi ng and henna,he wonder ed, or was i t one of t hose Compl ete Tr ansf ormat i ons onesees i n t he adver t i sement s?

" ' What ar e Thr ones and Scept r es?' "

The or ange Tr ansf or mat i on- - yes, i t must be a Tr ansf or mat i on- -bobbed up agai n.

" ' What ar e t he gai et i es of t he Ri ch, t he spl endour s of t hePower f ul , what i s t he pr i de of t he Gr eat , what are t he gaudypl easur es of Hi gh Soci et y?' "

The voi ce, whi ch had r i sen i n t one, quest i oni ngl y, f r om sentencet o sent ence, dropped suddenl y and boomed r epl y.

"' They ar e not hi ng. Vani t y, f l uf f , dandel i on seed i n t he wi nd,t hi n vapour s of f ever. The t hi ngs that matt er happen i n t heheart . Seen t hi ngs are sweet , but t hose unseen are a t housandt i mes mor e si gni f i cant . I t i s the unseen t hat count s i n Li f e. ' "

Mr s. Wi mbush l ower ed t he book. "Beaut i f ul , i sn' t i t ?" she sai d.

Deni s pr ef er r ed not t o hazar d an opi ni on, but ut t ered a non-commi t t al "H' m. "

"Ah, i t ' s a f i ne book t hi s , a beaut i f ul book, " sai d Pr i sci l l a, asshe l et t he pages f l i ck back, one by one, f r om under her t humb."And her e' s t he passage about t he Lot us Pool . He compar es theSoul t o a Lotus Pool , you know. " She hel d up t he book agai n andr ead. " ' A Fr i end of mi ne has a Lot us Pool i n hi s gar den. I tl i es i n a l i t t l e del l embower ed wi t h wi l d r oses and egl ant i ne,among whi ch the ni ght i ngal e pour s f or t h i t s amor ous descant al lt he summer l ong. Wi t hi n t he pool t he Lotuses bl ossom, and t hebi r ds of t he ai r come t o dr i nk and bathe t hemsel ves i n i t scrystal wat er s. . . ' Ah, and t hat r emi nds me, " Pr i sci l l aexcl ai med, shut t i ng t he book wi t h a cl ap and ut t er i ng her bi gprof ound l augh- - " t hat r emi nds me of t he thi ngs t hat have beengoi ng on i n our bathi ng- pool si nce you were here l ast . We gavet he vi l l age peopl e l eave t o come and bathe her e i n t he eveni ngs.

You' ve no i dea of t he t hi ngs t hat happened. "



She l eaned f or ward, speaki ng i n a conf i dent i al whi sper ; every nowand t hen she ut t er ed a deep gur gl e of l aught er . " . . . mi xedbat hi ng. . . saw t hem out of my wi ndow. . . sent f or a pai r of f i el d-gl asses t o make sur e. . . no doubt of i t . . . " The l aught er broke outagai n. Deni s l aughed t oo. Barbecue- Smi t h was t ossed on t hef l oor .

I t ' s t i me we went t o see i f t ea' s r eady, " sai d Pr i sci l l a. Shehoi st ed her sel f up f r om t he sof a and went swi shi ng of f acr oss t her oom, st r i di ng beneat h t he t r ai l i ng si l k. Deni s f ol l owed her ,f ai nt l y hummi ng to hi msel f :

"That ' s why I ' m goi ng t oSi ng i n op' r a, si ng i n op' r a,Si ng i n op- pop- pop- pop- popera. "

And t hen t he l i t t l e t wi ddl y bi t of accompani ment at t he end:" ra- ra. "

CHAPTER I I I .

The t er r ace i n f r ont of t he house was a l ong nar r ow st r i p oft ur f , bounded al ong i t s out er edge by a gr acef ul st onebal ust r ade. Two l i t t l e summer - houses of br i ck st ood at ei t herend. Bel ow t he house t he ground sl oped very st eepl y away, andt he t err ace was a r emar kabl y hi gh one; f r omt he bal ust er s t o t hesl opi ng l awn beneat h was a dr op of t hi r t y f eet . Seen f r om bel ow,t he hi gh unbr oken t er r ace wal l , bui l t l i ke t he house i t sel f ofbr i ck, had t he al most menaci ng aspect of a f or t i f i cat i on- - acast l e bast i on, f r om whose par apet one l ooked out acr oss ai r ydept hs t o di st ances l evel wi t h t he eye. Bel ow, i n t hef or egr ound, hedged i n by sol i d masses of scul pt ur ed yew t r ees,l ay t he st one- br i mmed swi mmi ng- pool . Beyond i t st r etched t hepar k, wi t h i t s massi ve el ms, i t s gr een expanses of gr ass, and, att he bot t om of t he val l ey, t he gl eam of t he nar r ow r i ver . On t hef ar t her si de of t he st r eam t he l and r ose agai n i n a l ong sl ope,chequer ed wi t h cul t i vat i on. Looki ng up t he val l ey, t o t he r i ght ,one saw a l i ne of bl ue, f ar - of f hi l l s.

The t ea- t abl e had been pl anted i n t he shade of one of t he l i t t l esummer- houses, and the r est of t he par t y was al r eady assembl edabout i t when Deni s and Pr i sci l l a made t hei r appearance. Henr yWi mbush had begun t o pour out t he t ea. He was one of t hoseagel ess, unchangi ng men on t he f art her s i de of f i f t y, who mi ghtbe t hi r t y, who mi ght be anyt hi ng. Deni s had known hi m al most asl ong as he coul d r emember . I n al l t hose year s hi s pal e, r at herhandsome f ace had never grown any ol der ; i t was l i ke t he pal egrey bowl er hat whi ch he al ways wore, wi nter and summer- -unagei ng, cal m, serenel y wi t hout expr essi on.

Next hi m, but separ at ed f r om hi m and f r om t he r est of t he wor l dby the al most i mpenetr abl e barr i ers of her deaf ness, sat J ennyMul l i on. She was per haps t hi r t y, had a t i l t ed nose and a pi nk-andwhi t e compl exi on, and wore her br own hai r pl ai t ed and coi l edi n t wo l at er al buns over her ear s. I n t he secr et t ower of herdeaf ness she sat apart , l ooki ng down at t he worl d thr ough sharpl ypi erci ng eyes. What di d she t hi nk of men and women and t hi ngs? That was somet hi ng t hat Deni s had never been abl e t o di scover .

I n her eni gmat i c remot eness J enny was a l i t t l e di squi et i ng. Evennow some i nter i or j oke seemed t o be amusi ng her , f or she was



smi l i ng t o her sel f , and her br own eyes wer e l i ke ver y br i ghtr ound marbl es.

On hi s ot her si de the ser i ous, moonl i ke i nnocence of Mar yBr acegi r dl e' s f ace shone pi nk and chi l di sh. She was near l yt went y- t hr ee, but one woul dn' t have guessed i t . Her shor t hai r ,

cl i pped l i ke a page' s, hung i n a bel l of el ast i c gol d about hercheeks. She had l arge bl ue chi na eyes, whose expr essi on was oneof i ngenuous and of t en puzzl ed earnest ness.

Next t o Mary a smal l gaunt man was si t t i ng, r i gi d and er ect i nhi s chai r . I n appearance Mr . Scogan was l i ke one of t hoseext i nct bi r d- l i zar ds of t he Ter t i ar y. Hi s nose was beaked, hi sdar k eye had t he shi ni ng qui ckness of a r obi n' s. But t here wasnot hi ng sof t or gr aci ous or f eat her y about hi m. The ski n of hi swr i nkl ed brown f ace had a dr y and scal y l ook; hi s hands were thehands of a cr ocodi l e. Hi s movement s were marked by t he l i zar d' sdi sconcer t i ngl y abr upt cl ockwor k speed; hi s speech was t hi n,f l ut y, and dr y. Henr y Wi mbush' s school - f el l ow and exact

cont emporary, Mr . Scogan l ooked f ar ol der and, at t he same t i me,f ar mor e yout hf ul l y al i ve t han di d t hat gent l e ar i st ocrat wi t ht he f ace l i ke a gr ey bowl er .

Mr . Scogan mi ght l ook l i ke an ext i nct saur i an, but Gombaul d wasal t oget her and essent i al l y human. I n t he ol d- f ashi oned nat ur alhi st or i es of t he ' t hi r t i es he mi ght have f i gur ed i n a st eelengravi ng as a t ype of Homo Sapi ens- - an honour whi ch at t hat t i mecommonl y f el l t o Lor d Byron. I ndeed, wi t h mor e hai r and l esscol l ar , Gombaul d woul d have been compl etel y Byr oni c- - more t hanByroni c, even, f or Gombaul d was of Provencal descent , a bl ack-hai r ed young cor sai r of t hi r t y, wi t h f l ashi ng teet h and l umi nousl ar ge dar k eyes. Deni s l ooked at hi m envi ousl y. He was j eal ousof hi s t al ent : i f onl y he wr ot e ver se as wel l as Gombaul dpai nt ed pi ct ur es! St i l l more, at t he moment , he envi ed Gombaul dhi s l ooks, hi s vi t al i t y, hi s easy conf i dence of manner . Was i tsur pr i si ng t hat Anne shoul d l i ke hi m? Li ke hi m?- - i t mi ght evenbe somet hi ng wor se, Deni s r ef l ect ed bi t t er l y, as he wal ked atPr i sci l l a' s si de down t he l ong gr ass t er r ace.

Bet ween Gombaul d and Mr . Scogan a very much l ower ed deck- chai rpresented i t s back t o t he new arr i val s as t hey advanced t owardst he t ea- t abl e. Gombaul d was l eani ng over i t ; hi s f ace movedvi vaci ousl y; he smi l ed, he l aughed, he made qui ck gestur es wi t hhi s hands. From t he dept hs of t he chai r came up a sound of sof t ,l azy l aught er . Deni s st ar t ed as he hear d i t . That l aught er - - howwel l he knew i t ! What emot i ons i t evoked i n hi m! He qui ckenedhi s pace.

I n her l ow deck- chai r Anne was near er t o l yi ng t han t o si t t i ng.Her l ong, sl ender body r eposed i n an at t i t ude of l i st l ess andi ndol ent gr ace. Wi t hi n i t s set t i ng of l i ght br own hai r her f acehad a pr et t y r egul ar i t y t hat was al most dol l - l i ke. And i ndeedt here wer e moments when she seemed nothi ng mor e t han a dol l ; whent he oval f ace, wi t h i t s l ong- l ashed, pal e bl ue eyes, expr essednot hi ng; when i t was no more than a l azy mask of wax. She wasHenr y Wi mbush' s own ni ece; t hat bowl er - l i ke countenance was oneof t he Wi mbush hei r l ooms; i t r an i n t he f ami l y, appear i ng i n i t sf emal e member s as a bl ank dol l - f ace. But acr oss t hi s dol l i shmask, l i ke a gay mel ody danci ng over an unchangi ng f undament al

bass, passed Anne' s ot her i nher i t ance- - qui ck l aught er , l i ghti r oni c amusement , and t he changi ng expr essi ons of many moods.



She was smi l i ng now as Deni s l ooked down at her : her cat ' ssmi l e, he cal l ed i t , f or no ver y good r eason. The mout h wascompr essed, and on ei t her si de of i t t wo t i ny wr i nkl es had f ormedt hemsel ves i n her cheeks. An i nf i ni t y of sl i ght l y mal i ci ousamusement l ur ked i n t hose l i t t l e f ol ds, i n t he pucker s about t hehal f - cl osed eyes, i n t he eyes t hemsel ves, br i ght and l aughi ng

bet ween t he narr owed l i ds.

The prel i mi nary greet i ngs spoken, Deni s f ound an empt y chai rbet ween Gombaul d and J enny and sat down.

"How are you, J enny?" he shouted t o her.

J enny nodded and smi l ed i n myst er i ous si l ence, as t hough t hesubj ect of her heal t h wer e a secr et t hat coul d not be publ i cl ydi vul ged.

"How' s London been si nce I went away?" Anne i nqui r ed f r omt hedept h of her chai r .

The moment had come; t he t r emendousl y amusi ng narr at i ve waswai t i ng f or ut t er ance. "Wel l , " sai d Deni s, smi l i ng happi l y, "t obegi n wi t h. . . "

"Has Pr i sci l l a t ol d you of our gr eat ant i quar i an f i nd?" Henr yWi mbush l eaned f orward; t he most promi si ng of buds was ni pped.

"To begi n wi t h, " sai d Deni s desper at el y, " t her e was t heBal l et . . . "

"Last week, " Mr . Wi mbush went on sof t l y and i mpl acabl y, "we dugup f i f t y yar ds of oaken dr ai n- pi pes; j ust t r ee t r unks wi t h a hol ebor ed t hr ough t he mi ddl e. Very i nt er est i ng i ndeed. Whet her theywer e l ai d down by t he monks i n the f i f t eent h cent ur y, orwhet her . . . "

Deni s l i st ened gl oomi l y. "Ext r aor di nar y!" he sai d, when Mr .Wi mbush had f i ni shed; "qui t e ext r aordi nary! " He hel ped hi msel ft o anot her sl i ce of cake. He di dn' t even want t o t el l hi s tal eabout London now; he was damped.

For some t i me past Mary' s gr ave bl ue eyes had been f i xed uponhi m. "What have you been wr i t i ng l at el y?" she asked. I t woul dbe ni ce t o have a l i t t l e l i t er ar y conver sat i on.

"Oh, ver se and pr ose, " sai d Deni s- - "j ust ver se and pr ose. "

"Prose?" Mr . Scogan pounced al armi ngl y on t he word. "You' ve beenwr i t i ng pr ose?"

"Yes. "

"Not a novel ?"

"Yes. "

"My poor Deni s! " excl ai med Mr . Scogan. "What about ?"

Deni s f el t r at her uncomf or t abl e. "Oh, about t he usual t hi ngs,

you know. "



"Of cour se, " Mr . Scogan gr oaned. "I ' l l descri be t he pl ot f or

you. Li t t l e Per cy, t he her o, was never good at games, but he wasal ways cl ever. He passes t hr ough t he usual publ i c school and t heusual uni versi t y and comes t o London, wher e he l i ves among theart i st s. He i s bowed down wi t h mel anchol y t hought ; he car r i es

t he whol e wei ght of t he uni ver se upon hi s shoul der s. He wr i t es anovel of dazzl i ng br i l l i ance; he dabbl es del i cat el y i n Amour anddi sappear s, at t he end of t he book, i nt o t he l umi nous Fut ur e. "

Deni s bl ushed scar l et . Mr . Scogan had descr i bed t he pl an of hi snovel wi t h an accur acy t hat was appal l i ng. He made an ef f ort t ol augh. "You' r e ent i r el y wr ong, " he sai d. "My novel i s not i nt he l east l i ke t hat . " I t was a her oi c l i e. Lucki l y, her ef l ect ed, onl y t wo chapt er s were wr i t t en. He woul d t ear t hemupt hat very eveni ng when he unpacked.

Mr . Scogan pai d no at t ent i on t o hi s deni al , but went on: "Whywi l l you young men cont i nue t o wr i t e about t hi ngs t hat ar e so

ent i r el y uni nt er est i ng as t he ment al i t y of adol escent s andar t i sts? Pr of essi onal ant hr opol ogi sts mi ght f i nd i t i nt er esti ngt o t ur n somet i mes f r om t he bel i ef s of t he Bl ackf el l ow t o t hephi l osophi cal pr eoccupat i ons of t he under gr aduat e. But you can' texpect an ordi nar y adul t man, l i ke mysel f , t o be much moved byt he story of hi s spi r i t ual t r oubl es. And af t er al l , even i nEngl and, even i n Germany and Russi a, t her e ar e more adul t s t hanadol escent s. As f or t he ar t i st , he i s pr eoccupi ed wi t h pr obl emst hat ar e so ut t er l y unl i ke t hose of t he or di nar y adul t man- -probl ems of pure aest het i cs whi ch don' t so much as pr esentt hemsel ves t o peopl e l i ke mysel f - - t hat a descr i pt i on of hi sment al pr ocesses i s as bori ng t o t he or di nar y reader as a pi eceof pur e mathemat i cs. A ser i ous book about art i st s r egar ded asar t i st s i s unr eadabl e; and a book about ar t i st s r egar ded asl over s, husbands, di psomani acs, her oes, and t he l i ke i s r eal l ynot wor t h wr i t i ng agai n. J ean- Chr i st ophe i s t he st ock ar t i st ofl i t er at ur e, j ust as Pr of essor Radi um of "Comi c Cut s" i s i t s stockman of sci ence. "

' I ' m sor ry to hear I ' m as uni nt er est i ng as al l t hat , " sai dGombaul d.

"Not at al l , my dear Gombaul d, " Mr . Scogan hast ened t o expl ai n."As a l over or a di psomani ac, I ' ve no doubt of your bei ng a mostf asci nat i ng speci men. But as a combi ner of f orms, you musthonest l y admi t i t , you' r e a bor e. "

" I ent i r el y di sagr ee wi t h you, " excl ai med Mary. She was somehowal ways out of breat h when she t al ked. And her speech waspunct uat ed by l i t t l e gasps. "I ' ve known a gr eat many ar t i st s,and I ' ve al ways f ound t hei r ment al i t y ver y i nt er est i ng.Especi al l y i n Par i s. Tschupl i t ski , f or exampl e- - I saw a gr eatdeal of Tschupl i t ski i n Par i s thi s spri ng. . . "

"Ah, but t hen you' r e an except i on, Mar y, you' r e an except i on, "sai d Mr . Scogan. "You are a f emme super i eur e. "

A f l ush of pl easure t ur ned Mary' s f ace i nt o a harvest moon.

CHAPTER I V.



Deni s woke up next morni ng t o f i nd t he sun shi ni ng, t he skyser ene. He deci ded t o wear whi t e f l annel t r ouser s- - whi t e f l annelt r ouser s and a bl ack j acket , wi t h a si l k shi r t and hi s new peach-col our ed t i e. And what shoes? Whi t e was t he obvi ous choi ce, butt here was somethi ng rat her pl easi ng about t he not i on of bl ack

pat ent l eat her . He l ay i n bed f or sever al mi nut es consi der i ngt he pr obl em.

Bef or e he went down- - patent l eather was hi s f i nal choi ce- - hel ooked at hi msel f cri t i cal l y i n t he gl ass. Hi s hai r mi ght havebeen mor e gol den, he r ef l ect ed. As i t was, i t s yel l owness hadt he hi nt of a gr eeni sh t i nge i n i t . But hi s f or ehead was good.Hi s f orehead made up i n hei ght what hi s chi n l acked i npromi nence. Hi s nose mi ght have been l onger , but i t woul d pass.Hi s eyes mi ght have been bl ue and not green. But hi s coat wasver y wel l cut and, di scr eet l y padded, made hi m seem r obust er t hanhe act ual l y was. Hi s l egs, i n t hei r whi t e casi ng, wer e l ong andel egant . Sat i sf i ed, he descended t he st ai r s. Most of t he par t y

had al r eady f i ni shed t hei r breakf ast . He f ound hi msel f al onewi t h J enny.

"I hope you sl ept wel l , " he sai d.

"Yes, i sn' t i t l ovel y?" J enny r epl i ed, gi vi ng t wo rapi d l i t t l enods. "But we had such awf ul t hunder st orms l ast week. "

Par al l el str ai ght l i nes, Deni s ref l ected, meet onl y at i nf i ni t y.He mi ght t al k f or ever of car e- char mer sl eep and she ofmet eor ol ogy t i l l t he end of t i me. Di d one ever est abl i sh cont actwi t h anyone? We ar e al l par al l el st r ai ght l i nes. J enny was onl ya l i t t l e mor e par al l el t han most .

"They ar e ver y al armi ng, t hese thunderst or ms, " he sai d, hel pi nghi msel f t o por r i dge. "Don' t you t hi nk so? Or are you abovebei ng f r i ght ened?"

"No. I al ways go t o bed i n a st orm. One i s so much saf er l yi ngdown. "

"Why?"

"Because, " sai d J enny, maki ng a descr i pt i ve gestur e, "becausel i ght ni ng goes downwards and not f l at ways. When you' r e l yi ngdown you' r e out of t he cur r ent . "

"That ' s ver y i ngeni ous. "

" I t ' s t r ue. "

There was a si l ence. Deni s f i ni shed hi s por r i dge and hel pedhi msel f t o bacon. For l ack of anythi ng bet t er t o say, andbecause Mr . Scogan' s absurd phrase was f or some reason runni ng i nhi s head, he tur ned t o J enny and asked:

"Do you consi der your sel f a f emme super i eur e?" He had t o r epeatt he quest i on sever al t i mes bef or e J enny got t he hang of i t .

"No, " she sai d, r at her i ndi gnant l y, when at l ast she hear d what

Deni s was sayi ng. "Cert ai nl y not . Has anyone been suggest i ngt hat I am?"



"No, " sai d Deni s. "Mr . Scogan t ol d Mary she was one. "

"Di d he?" J enny l ower ed her voi ce. "Shal l I t el l you what It hi nk of t hat man? I t hi nk he' s sl i ght l y si ni ster. "

Havi ng made thi s pronouncement , she ent ered t he i vory t ower ofher deaf ness and cl osed t he door. Deni s coul d not i nduce her t osay anythi ng mor e, coul d not i nduce her even t o l i st en. She j ustsmi l ed at hi m, smi l ed and occasi onal l y nodded.

Deni s went out on t o t he t err ace t o smoke hi s af t erbr eakf astpi pe and t o r ead hi s morni ng paper . An hour l ater , when Annecame down, she f ound hi m st i l l r eadi ng. By t hi s t i me he had gott o t he Cour t Ci r cul ar and t he For t hcomi ng Weddi ngs. He got up t omeet her as she approached, a Hamadr yad i n whi t e musl i n, acrosst he gr ass.

"Why, Deni s, " she excl ai med, "you l ook per f ect l y sweet i n your

whi t e tr ouser s. "

Deni s was dr eadf ul l y t aken aback. Ther e was no possi bl e r etort ."You speak as t hough I were a chi l d i n a new f r ock, " he sai d,wi t h a show of i r r i t at i on.

"But t hat ' s how I f eel about you, Deni s dear . "

"Then you ought n' t t o. "

"But I can' t hel p i t . I ' m so much ol der t han you. "

"I l i ke t hat , " he sai d. "Four year s ol der . "

"And i f you do l ook per f ect l y sweet i n your whi t e t r ousers, whyshoul dn' t I say so? And why di d you put t hem on, i f you di dn' tt hi nk you were goi ng to l ook sweet i n them?"

"Let ' s go i nt o t he gar den, " sai d Deni s. He was put out ; t heconver sat i on had t aken such a pr epost erous and unexpect ed t ur n.He had pl anned a very di f f erent openi ng, i n whi ch he was t o l eadof f wi t h, "You l ook ador abl e thi s mor ni ng, " or somet hi ng of t heki nd, and she was t o answer , "Do I ?" and then ther e was t o be apr egnant si l ence. And now she had got i n f i r st wi t h t het r ouser s. I t was pr ovoki ng; hi s pr i de was hur t .

That par t of t he garden t hat sl oped down f r om t he f oot of t het err ace t o t he pool had a beaut y whi ch di d not depend on col ourso much as on f orms. I t was as beaut i f ul by moonl i ght as i n t hesun. The si l ver of wat er , t he dark shapes of yew and i l ex t r eesr emai ned, at al l hour s and seasons, t he domi nant f eatur es of t hescene. I t was a l andscape i n bl ack and whi t e. For col our t her ewas t he f l ower - gar den; i t l ay t o one si de of t he pool , separ at edf r omi t by a huge Babyl oni an wal l of yews. You passed t hrough at unnel i n the hedge, you opened a wi cket i n a wal l , and you f oundyour sel f , st ar t l i ngl y and suddenl y, i n t he wor l d of col our . The J ul y borders bl azed and f l ar ed under t he sun. Wi t hi n i t s hi ghbri ck wal l s t he garden was l i ke a gr eat t ank of warmt h andper f ume and col our .

Deni s hel d open t he l i t t l e i r on gat e f or hi s compani on. "I t ' sl i ke passi ng f r om a cl oi st er i nt o an Or i ent al pal ace, " he sai d,



and t ook a deep br eath of t he war m, f l ower - scent ed ai r . " ' I nf r agr ant vol l eys t hey l et f l y. . . ' How does i t go?

" ' Wel l shot , ye f i r emen! Oh how sweetAnd round your equal f i r es do meet ;Whose shr i l l r epor t no ear can t el l ,

But echoes t o t he eye and smel l . . . ' "

"You have a bad habi t of quot i ng, " sai d Anne. "As I never knowt he cont ext or aut hor , I f i nd i t humi l i at i ng. "

Deni s apol ogi zed. "I t ' s t he f aul t of one' s educat i on. Thi ngssomehow seem mor e r eal and vi vi d when one can appl y somebodyel se' s r eady- made phrase about t hem. And t hen t here are l ot s ofl ovel y names and words- - Monophysi t e, I ambl i chus, Pomponazzi ; youbr i ng t hem out t r i umphant l y, and f eel you' ve cl i nched t heargument wi t h t he mere magi cal sound of t hem. That ' s what comesof t he hi gher educat i on. "

"You may r egr et your educat i on, " sai d Anne; " I ' m ashamed of myl ack of i t . Look at t hose sunf l ower s! Ar en' t t hey magni f i cent ?"

"Dar k f aces and gol den cr owns- - t hey' r e ki ngs of Et hi opi a. And Il i ke t he way the t i t s cl i ng t o t he f l ower s and pi ck out t heseeds, whi l e t he ot her l out i sh bi r ds, gr ubbi ng di r t i l y for t hei rf ood, l ook up i n envy f r omt he gr ound. Do t hey l ook up i n envy? That ' s t he l i t er ar y t ouch, I ' m af r ai d. Educat i on agai n. I tal ways comes back t o t hat . " He was si l ent .

Anne had sat down on a bench t hat st ood i n t he shade of an ol dappl e t r ee. " I ' m l i steni ng, " she sai d.

He di d not si t down, but wal ked backwards and f orwards i n f r ontof t he bench, gest i cul at i ng a l i t t l e as he t al ked. "Books, " hesai d- - "books. One r eads so many, and one sees so f ew peopl e andso l i t t l e of t he wor l d. Gr eat t hi ck books about t he uni ver se andt he mi nd and ethi cs. You' ve no i dea how many t her e are. I musthave r ead t went y or t hi r t y t ons of t hem i n t he l ast f i ve year s. Twenty t ons of r at i oci nat i on. Wei ghted wi t h t hat , one' s pushedout i nt o t he wor l d. "

He went on wal ki ng up and down. Hi s voi ce r ose, f el l , was si l enta moment , and t hen t al ked on. He moved hi s hands, somet i mes hewaved hi s ar ms. Anne l ooked and l i st ened qui et l y, as t hough shewere at a l ectur e. He was a ni ce boy, and t o- day he l ookedchar mi ng- - char mi ng!

One ent ered t he wor l d, Deni s pur sued, havi ng r eady- made i deasabout ever ythi ng. One had a phi l osophy and t r i ed t o make l i f ef i t i nt o i t . One shoul d have l i ved f i r st and t hen made one' sphi l osophy t o f i t l i f e. . . Li f e, f act s, t hi ngs wer e horr i bl ycompl i cat ed; i deas, even t he most di f f i cul t of t hem, decept i vel ysi mpl e. I n t he wor l d of i deas ever yt hi ng was cl ear ; i n l i f e al lwas obscur e, embr oi l ed. Was i t surpr i si ng t hat one wasmi ser abl e, hor r i bl y unhappy? Deni s came t o a hal t i n f r ont oft he bench, and as he asked thi s l ast quest i on he st r et ched outhi s ar ms and st ood f or an i nst ant i n an at t i t ude of cruci f i xi on,t hen l et t hem f al l agai n t o hi s si des.



"My poor Deni s! " Anne was t ouched. He was r eal l y t oo pathet i cas he st ood t her e i n f r ont of her i n hi s whi t e f l annel t r ouser s."But does one suf f er about t hese t hi ngs? I t seems ver yext r aor di nar y. "

"You' r e l i ke Scogan, " cr i ed Deni s bi t t er l y. "You r egar d me as a

speci men f or an ant hr opol ogi st . Wel l , I suppose I am. "

"No, no, " she pr ot est ed, and dr ew i n her ski r t wi t h a gest ur et hat i ndi cat ed t hat he was to si t down besi de her. He sat down."Why can' t you j ust t ake thi ngs f or grant ed and as t hey come?"she asked. "I t ' s so much si mpl er . "

"Of cour se i t i s, " sai d Deni s. "But i t ' s a l esson t o be l ear ntgr adual l y. Ther e ar e t he t went y t ons of r at i oci nat i on t o be gotr i d of f i r st . "

" I ' ve al ways t aken t hi ngs as t hey come, " sai d Anne. " I t seems soobvi ous. One enj oys the pl easant t hi ngs, avoi ds the nast y ones.

There' s nothi ng mor e t o be sai d. "

"Not hi ng- - f or you. But , t hen, you wer e bor n a pagan; I am t r yi ngl abor i ousl y t o make mysel f one. I can t ake nothi ng f or gr ant ed,I can enj oy not hi ng as i t comes al ong. Beaut y, pl easur e, ar t ,women- - I have t o i nvent an excuse, a j ust i f i cat i on f or ever ythi ngt hat ' s del i ght f ul . Ot her wi se I can' t enj oy i t wi t h an easyconsci ence. I make up a l i t t l e st ory about beaut y and pr et endt hat i t has somethi ng t o do wi t h t r ut h and goodness. I have t osay t hat ar t i s t he pr ocess by whi ch one reconst r uct s t he di vi ner eal i t y out of chaos. Pl easur e i s one of t he myst i cal r oads t ouni on wi t h t he i nf i ni t e- - t he ecstasi es of dr i nki ng, danci ng,l ove- maki ng. As f or women, I amperpet ual l y assur i ng mysel f t hatt hey' r e t he br oad hi ghway t o di vi ni t y. And t o t hi nk t hat I ' monl y j ust begi nni ng t o see through t he si l l i ness of t he whol et hi ng! I t ' s i ncr edi bl e t o me t hat anyone shoul d have escapedt hese hor r or s. "

"I t ' s st i l l mor e i ncredi bl e t o me, " sai d Anne, "t hat anyoneshoul d have been a vi ct i m t o t hem. I shoul d l i ke t o see mysel fbel i evi ng t hat men are t he hi ghway t o di vi ni t y. " The amusedmal i ce of her smi l e pl ant ed t wo l i t t l e f ol ds on ei t her si de ofher mout h, and t hr ough t hei r hal f - cl osed l i ds her eyes shone wi t hl aught er . "What you need, Deni s, i s a ni ce pl ump young wi f e, af i xed i ncome, and a l i t t l e congeni al but r egul ar wor k. "

"What I need i s you. " That was what he ought t o have r etort ed,t hat was what he want ed passi onatel y t o say. He coul d not sayi t . Hi s desi r e f ought agai nst hi s shyness. "What I need i syou. " Ment al l y he shouted t he words, but not a sound i ssued f r omhi s l i ps. He l ooked at her despai r i ngl y. Coul dn' t she see whatwas goi ng on i nsi de hi m? Coul dn' t she under st and? "What I needi s you. " He woul d say i t , he woul d- - he woul d.

"I t hi nk I shal l go and bat he, " sai d Anne. "I t ' s so hot . " Theoppor t uni t y had passed.

CHAPTER V.

Mr . Wi mbush had t aken t hem t o see t he si ght s of t he Home Farm,and now t hey were st andi ng, al l si x of t hem- - Henr y Wi mbush, Mr .



Scogan, Deni s, Gombaul d, Anne, and Mary- - by t he l ow wal l of t hepi gger y, l ooki ng i nt o one of t he st yes.

"Thi s i s a good sow, " sai d Henr y Wi mbush. "She had a l i t t er off our t een.

"Four t een?" Mary echoed i ncr edul ousl y. She t ur ned astoni shedbl ue eyes t owards Mr . Wi mbush, t hen l et t hem f al l ont o theseet hi ng mass of el an vi t al t hat f er ment ed i n t he st y.

An i mmense sow r eposed on her si de i n t he mi ddl e of t he pen. Herr ound, bl ack bel l y, f r i nged wi t h a doubl e l i ne of dugs, pr esent edi t sel f t o the assaul t of an ar my of smal l , br owni sh- bl ack swi ne.Wi t h a f r ant i c gr eed t hey t ugged at t hei r mot her ' s f l ank. Theol d sow st i r r ed somet i mes uneasi l y or ut t er ed a l i t t l e gr unt ofpai n. One smal l pi g, t he r unt , t he weakl i ng of t he l i t t er , hadbeen unabl e t o secur e a pl ace at t he banquet . Squeal i ng shr i l l y,he r an backwards and f orwards, t r yi ng t o push i n among hi sst r onger br ot her s or even t o cl i mb over t hei r t i ght l i t t l e bl ack

backs t owards t he mater nal r eser voi r .

"Ther e ARE f our t een, " sai d Mar y. "You' r e qui t e r i ght . Icount ed. I t ' s ext r aor di nar y. "

"The sow next door , " Mr . Wi mbush went on, "has done ver y badl y.She onl y had f i ve i n her l i t t er . I shal l gi ve her anot herchance. I f she does no bet t er next t i me, I shal l f at her up andki l l her . Ther e' s t he boar , " he poi nt ed t owar ds a f ar t her st y."Fi ne ol d beast , i sn' t he? But he' s get t i ng past hi s pr i me.He' l l have t o go t oo. "

"How cr uel ! " Anne excl ai med.

"But how pr act i cal , how emi nent l y r eal i st i c! " sai d Mr . Scogan." I n t hi s f arm we have a model of sound pat ernal government . Maket hembreed, make t hemwork, and when t hey' r e past worki ng orbr eedi ng or beget t i ng, sl aught er t hem. "

"Far mi ng seems t o be most l y i ndecency and cr uel t y, " sai d Anne.

Wi t h t he f er r ul e of hi s wal ki ngst i ck Deni s began t o scr at ch t heboar ' s l ong br i st l y back. The ani mal moved a l i t t l e so as tobr i ng hi msel f wi t hi n easi er r ange of t he i nst r ument t hat evokedi n hi m such del i ci ous sensat i ons; t hen he st ood st ock st i l l ,sof t l y gr unt i ng hi s cont ent ment . The mud of year s f l aked of f hi ssi des i n a gr ey powder y scur f .

"What a pl easur e i t i s, " sai d Deni s, " t o do somebody a ki ndness.I bel i eve I enj oy scrat chi ng t hi s pi g qui t e as much as he enj oysbei ng scrat ched. I f onl y one coul d al ways be ki nd wi t h so l i t t l eexpense or t r oubl e. . . "

A gat e sl ammed; t her e was a sound of heavy f oot st eps.

"Morni ng, Rowl ey!" sai d Henr y Wi mbush.

"Morni ng, si r , " ol d Rowl ey answered. He was t he most vener abl eof t he l abour er s on t he f ar m- - a t al l , sol i d man, st i l l unbent ,wi t h gr ey si de- whi sker s and a st eep, di gni f i ed pr of i l e. Gr ave,

wei ght y i n hi s manner, spl endi dl y respect abl e, Rowl ey had t he ai rof a gr eat Engl i sh st at esman of t he mi d- ni neteent h cent ur y. He



hal t ed on t he out ski r t s of t he gr oup, and f or a moment t hey al ll ooked at t he pi gs i n a si l ence that was onl y br oken by t he soundof grunt i ng or t he squel ch of a shar p hoof i n t he mi r e. Rowl eyt ur ned at l ast , sl owl y and ponder ousl y and nobl y, as he di dever yt hi ng, and addressed hi msel f t o Henr y Wi mbush.

"Look at t hem, si r , " he sai d, wi t h a mot i on of hi s hand t owar dst he wal l owi ng swi ne. "Ri ght l y i s t hey cal l ed pi gs. "

"Ri ght l y i ndeed, " Mr . Wi mbush agr eed.

" I amabashed by t hat man, " sai d Mr . Scogan, as ol d Rowl eypl odded of f sl owl y and wi t h di gni t y. "What wi sdom, what j udgment , what a sense of val ues! ' Ri ght l y ar e t hey cal l edswi ne. ' Yes. And I wi sh I coul d, wi t h as much j ust i ce, say,' Ri ght l y ar e we cal l ed men. ' "

They wal ked on t owar ds t he cowsheds and t he st abl es of t he car t -hor ses. Fi ve whi t e geese, t aki ng t he ai r t hi s f i ne mor ni ng, even

as t hey were doi ng, met t hemi n t he way. They hesi t at ed,cackl ed; t hen, conver t i ng t hei r l i f t ed necks i nt o r i gi d,hor i zont al snakes, t hey rushed of f i n di sor der , hi ssi ng hor r i bl yas t hey went . Red cal ves paddl ed i n t he dung and mud of aspaci ous yar d. I n anot her encl osure st ood t he bul l , massi ve as al ocomot i ve. He was a ver y cal m bul l , and hi s f ace wor e anexpr essi on of mel anchol y st upi di t y. He gazed wi t h r eddi sh- br owneyes at hi s vi si t or s, chewed t hought f ul l y at t he t angi bl ememori es of an ear l i er meal , swal l owed and regur gi t ated, chewedagai n. Hi s t ai l l ashed savagel y f r om si de t o si de; i t seemed t ohave not hi ng t o do wi t h hi s i mpassi ve bul k. Bet ween hi s shor thor ns was a tr i angl e of r ed cur l s, shor t and dense.

"Spl endi d ani mal , " sai d Henr y Wi mbush. "Pedi gr ee st ock. Buthe' s get t i ng a l i t t l e ol d, l i ke t he boar . "

"Fat hi m up and sl aught er hi m, " Mr . Scogan pr onounced, wi t h adel i cat e ol d- mai di sh pr eci si on of ut t er ance.

"Coul dn' t you gi ve t he ani mal s a l i t t l e hol i day f r om pr oduci ngchi l dr en?" asked Anne. "I ' m so sor r y f or t he poor t hi ngs. "

Mr . Wi mbush shook hi s head. "Per sonal l y, " he sai d, "I r at herl i ke seei ng f our t een pi gs gr ow wher e onl y one gr ew bef ore. Thespectacl e of so much crude l i f e i s r ef r eshi ng. "

" I ' m gl ad t o hear you say so, " Gombaul d br oke i n war ml y. "Lot sof l i f e: t hat ' s what we want . I l i ke pul l ul at i on; ever yt hi ngought t o i ncr ease and mul t i pl y as har d as i t can. "

Gombaul d grew l yr i cal . Everybody ought t o have chi l dr en- - Anneought t o have t hem, Mary ought t o have t hem- - dozens and dozens.He emphasi sed hi s poi nt by t humpi ng wi t h hi s wal ki ngst i ck on t hebul l ' s l eat her f l anks. Mr . Scogan ought t o pass on hi si nt el l i gence t o l i t t l e Scogans, and Deni s t o l i t t l e Deni ses. Thebul l t ur ned hi s head t o see what was happeni ng, r egarded thedrummi ng st i ck f or several seconds, t hen t ur ned back agai nsat i sf i ed, i t seemed, t hat not hi ng was happeni ng. St er i l i t y wasodi ous , unnatural , a s i n agai nst l i f e. Li f e, l i f e, and s t i l lmor e l i f e. The r i bs of t he pl aci d bul l r esounded.

St andi ng wi t h hi s back agai nst t he f ar myar d pump, a l i t t l e apar t ,



Deni s exami ned t he group. Gombaul d, passi onate and vi vaci ous,was i t s cent r e. The ot her s st ood r ound, l i st eni ng- - Henr yWi mbush, cal m and pol i t e beneat h hi s grey bowl er ; Mary, wi t hpar t ed l i ps and eyes t hat shone wi t h the i ndi gnat i on of aconvi nced bi r t h- cont r ol l er . Anne l ooked on t hr ough hal f - shuteyes, smi l i ng; and besi de her st ood Mr . Scogan, bol t upr i ght i n

an at t i t ude of met al l i c r i gi di t y that cont r ast ed st r angel y wi t ht hat f l ui d gr ace of her s whi ch even i n st i l l ness suggest ed a sof tmovement .

Gombaul d ceased t al ki ng, and Mary, f l ushed and out r aged, openedher mout h t o r ef ut e hi m. But she was t oo sl ow. Bef ore she coul dut t er a word Mr . Scogan' s f l uty voi ce had pr onounced t he openi ngphr ases of a di scourse. There was no hope of get t i ng so much asa wor d i n edgeways; Mar y had perf or ce to resi gn hersel f .

"Even your el oquence, my dear Gombaul d, " he was sayi ng- - "evenyour el oquence must pr ove i nadequat e t o reconver t t he wor l d t o abel i ef i n t he del i ght s of mer e mul t i pl i cat i on. Wi t h t he

gramophone, t he ci nema, and the aut omat i c pi st ol , t he goddess ofAppl i ed Sci ence has pr esent ed the wor l d wi t h another gi f t , morepr eci ous even than these- - t he means of di ssoci at i ng l ove f r ompr opagat i on. Er os, f or t hose who wi sh i t , i s now an ent i r el yf r ee god; hi s depl or abl e associ at i ons wi t h Luci na may be br okenat wi l l . I n t he cour se of t he next f ew cent ur i es, who knows? t hewor l d may see a more compl ete sever ance. I l ook f orward t o i topt i mi st i cal l y. Where t he gr eat Er asmus Darwi n and Mi ss AnnaSewar d, Swan of Li chf i el d, exper i ment ed- - and, f or al l t hei rsci ent i f i c ar dour , f ai l ed- - our descendant s wi l l exper i ment andsucceed. An i mper sonal gener at i on wi l l t ake t he pl ace ofNat ur e' s hi deous syst em. I n vast st ate i ncubators , r ows uponr ows of gr avi d bot t l es wi l l suppl y t he wor l d wi t h t he popul at i oni t r equi r es. The f ami l y syst em wi l l di sappear ; soci et y, sappedat i t s ver y base, wi l l have t o f i nd new f oundat i ons; and Er os,beaut i f ul l y and i r responsi bl y f ree, wi l l f l i t l i ke a gaybut t er f l y f r om f l ower t o f l ower t hr ough a sunl i t wor l d. "

"I t sounds l ovel y, " sai d Anne.

"The di st ant f ut ur e al ways does. "

Mary' s chi na bl ue eyes, more ser i ous and more ast oni shed thanever, were f i xed on Mr . Scogan. "Bot t l es?" she sai d. "Do your eal l y t hi nk so? Bot t l es. . . "

CHAPTER VI .

Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h arr i ved i n t i me f or t ea on Satur day af t ernoon.He was a shor t and corpul ent man, wi t h a ver y l arge head and noneck. I n hi s ear l i er mi ddl e age he had been di st r essed by t hi sabsence of neck, but was comf or t ed by r eadi ng i n Bal zac' s " Loui sLamber t " t hat al l t he wor l d' s gr eat men have been marked by t hesame pecul i ari t y, and f or a si mpl e and obvi ous r eason: Gr eat nessi s not hi ng mor e nor l ess t han t he har moni ous f unct i oni ng of t hef acul t i es of t he head and heart ; t he short er t he neck, t he morecl osel y t hese t wo or gans appr oach one anot her ; ar gal . . . I t wasconvi nci ng.

Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h bel onged t o t he ol d school of j our nal i st s. Hespor t ed a l eoni ne head wi t h a greyi sh- bl ack mane of oddl y



unappet i si ng hai r br ushed back f r om a br oad but l ow f orehead.And somehow he al ways seemed sl i ght l y, ever so sl i ght l y, soi l ed.I n younger days he had gai l y cal l ed hi msel f a Bohemi an. He di dso no l onger . He was a t eacher now, a ki nd of pr ophet . Some ofhi s books of comf or t and spi r i t ual t eachi ng wer e i n t hei r hundr edand t went i eth t housand.

Pr i sci l l a r ecei ved hi m wi t h every mar k of est eem. He had neverbeen t o Cr ome bef ore; she showed hi m r ound t he house. Mr .Bar becue- Smi t h was f ul l of admi r at i on.

"So quai nt , so ol d- wor l d, " he kept r epeat i ng. He had a r i ch,r at her unct uous voi ce.

Pr i sci l l a pr ai sed hi s l at est book. "Spl endi d, I t hought i t was, "she sai d i n her l ar ge, j ol l y way.

" I ' m happy to t hi nk you f ound i t a comf or t , " sai d Mr . Bar becue-Smi t h.

"Oh, t r emendousl y! And t he bi t about t he Lot us Pool - - I t houghtt hat so beaut i f ul . "

" I knew you woul d l i ke t hat . I t came t o me, you know, f r omwi t hout . " He waved hi s hand t o i ndi cat e t he ast r al wor l d.

They went out i nt o t he garden f or t ea. Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h wasdul y i nt r oduced.

"Mr . St one i s a wr i t er t oo, " sai d Pr i sci l l a, as she i nt r oducedDeni s.

" I ndeed! " Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h smi l ed beni gnl y, and, l ooki ng up atDeni s wi t h an expr essi on of Ol ympi an condescensi on, "And whatsor t of t hi ngs do you wr i t e?"

Deni s was f ur i ous, and, t o make mat t ers worse, he f el t hi msel fbl ushi ng hot l y. Had Pr i sci l l a no sense of propor t i on? She wasput t i ng t hem i n t he same cat egory- - Barbecue- Smi t h and hi msel f . They wer e both wr i t er s, t hey both used pen and i nk. To Mr .Barbecue- Smi t h' s quest i on he answered, "Oh, nothi ng much,not hi ng, " and l ooked away.

"Mr . St one i s one of our younger poet s. " I t was Anne' s voi ce.He scowl ed at her , and she smi l ed back exasper at i ngl y.

"Excel l ent , excel l ent , " sai d Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h, and he squeezedDeni s' s ar m encour agi ngl y. "The Bar d' s i s a nobl e cal l i ng. "

As soon as t ea was over Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h excused hi msel f ; hehad t o do some wr i t i ng bef or e di nner . Pr i sci l l a qui t eunder st ood. The pr ophet r et i r ed t o hi s chamber.

Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h came down to t he dr awi ng- r oom at t en t o ei ght .He was i n a good humour , and, as he descended the st ai r s, hesmi l ed t o hi msel f and r ubbed hi s l arge whi t e hands t oget her . I nt he dr awi ng- r oom someone was pl ayi ng sof t l y and r ambl i ngl y on t hepi ano. He wondered who i t coul d be. One of t he young l adi es,per haps. But no, i t was onl y Deni s, who got up hur r i edl y and

wi t h some embarr assment as he came i nt o t he room.



"Do go on, do go on, " sai d Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h. " I amver y f ondof musi c. "

"Then I coul dn' t possi bl y go on, " Deni s repl i ed. "I onl y makenoi ses. "

There was a si l ence. Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h st ood wi t h hi s back t ot he hear t h, war mi ng hi msel f at t he memor y of l ast wi nt er ' s f i r es.He coul d not cont r ol hi s i nt er i or sat i sf acti on, but st i l l went onsmi l i ng t o hi msel f . At l ast he t ur ned t o Deni s.

"You wr i t e, " he asked, "don' t you?"

"Wel l , yes- - a l i t t l e, you know. "

"How many words do you f i nd you can wr i t e i n an hour ?"

"I don' t t hi nk I ' ve ever count ed. "

"Oh, you ought t o, you ought t o. I t ' s most i mpor t ant . "

Deni s exer ci sed hi s memor y. "When I ' m i n good f or m, " he sai d, " If ancy I do a t wel ve- hundr ed- wor d r evi ew i n about f our hour s. Butsomet i mes i t t akes me much l onger . "

Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h nodded. "Yes, t hree hundr ed words an hour atyour best . " He wal ked out i nt o t he mi ddl e of t he r oom, t ur nedr ound on hi s heel s, and conf r ont ed Deni s agai n. "Guess how manywor ds I wr ot e t hi s eveni ng between f i ve and hal f - past seven. "

"I can' t i magi ne. "

"No, but you must guess. Between f i ve and hal f - past seven- -t hat ' s t wo and a hal f hour s. "

"Twel ve hundr ed words, " Deni s hazar ded.

"No, no, no. " Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h' s expanded f ace shone wi t hgai et y. "Try agai n. "

"Fi f t een hundr ed. "

"No. "

" I gi ve i t up, " sai d Deni s. He f ound he coul dn' t summon up muchi nt er est i n Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h' s wr i t i ng.

"Wel l , I ' l l t el l you. Thr ee t housand ei ght hundr ed. "

Deni s opened hi s eyes. "You must get a l ot done i n a day, " hesai d.

Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h suddenl y became ext r emel y conf i dent i al . Hepul l ed up a st ool t o t he si de of Deni s' s ar m- chai r , sat down i ni t , and began t o t al k sof t l y and r api dl y.

"Li st en t o me, " he sai d, l ayi ng hi s hand on Deni s' s sl eeve. "Youwant t o make your l i vi ng by wr i t i ng; you' r e young, you' r e

i nexper i enced. Let me gi ve you a l i t t l e sound advi ce. "



What was t he f el l ow goi ng t o do? Deni s wonder ed: gi ve hi m ani nt r oduct i on t o t he edi t or of "J ohn o' London' s Weekl y", or t el lhi m wher e he coul d sel l a l i ght mi ddl e f or seven gui neas? Mr .Barbecue- Smi t h pat t ed hi s arm sever al t i mes and went on.

"The secret of wr i t i ng, " he sai d, br eat hi ng i t i nt o t he young

man' s ear - - "t he secret of wr i t i ng i s I nspi r at i on. "

Deni s l ooked at hi m i n ast oni shment .

"I nspi r at i on. . . " Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h r epeat ed.

"You mean the nat i ve wood- not e busi ness?"

Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h nodded.

"Oh, t hen I ent i r el y agr ee wi t h you, " sai d Deni s. "But what i fone hasn' t got I nspi r at i on?"

"That was pr eci sel y t he quest i on I was wai t i ng f or , " sai d Mr .Barbecue- Smi t h. "You ask me what one shoul d do i f one hasn' t gotI nspi r at i on. I answer : you have I nspi r at i on; ever yone hasI nspi r at i on. I t ' s si mpl y a questi on of get t i ng i t t o f uncti on. "

The cl ock st r uck ei ght . Ther e was no si gn of any of t he ot herguest s; ever ybody was al ways l at e at Cr ome. Mr . Barbecue- Smi t hwent on.

"That ' s my secret, " he sai d. "I gi ve i t you f r eel y. " ( Deni smade a sui t abl y gr at ef ul mur mur and gr i mace. ) " I ' l l hel p you t of i nd your I nspi r at i on, because I don' t l i ke t o see a ni ce, st eadyyoung man l i ke you exhaust i ng hi s vi t al i t y and wast i ng t he bestyear s of hi s l i f e i n a gr i ndi ng i nt el l ectual l abour t hat coul d becompl et el y obvi at ed by I nspi r at i on. I di d i t mysel f , so I knowwhat i t ' s l i ke. Up t i l l t he t i me I was thi r t y- ei ght I was awr i t er l i ke you- - a wr i t er wi t hout I nspi r at i on. Al l I wr ot e Isqueezed out of mysel f by sheer har d work. Why, i n t hose days Iwas never abl e to do more than si x- f i f t y words an hour , andwhat ' s mor e, I of t en di dn' t sel l what I wr ot e. " He si ghed. "Wear t i st s, " he sai d par ent het i cal l y, "we i nt el l ectual s ar en' t muchappreci ated here i n Engl and. " Deni s wondered i f t here was anymet hod, consi st ent , of cour se, wi t h pol i t eness, by whi ch he coul ddi ssoci at e hi msel f f r om Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h' s "we. " Ther e wasnone; and besi des, i t was t oo l at e now, f or Mr . Barbecue- Smi t hwas once more pursui ng t he t enor of hi s di scour se.

"At t hi r t y- ei ght I was a poor , st r uggl i ng, t i r ed, over wor ked,unknown j our nal i st . Now, at f i f t y. . . " He paused modest l y andmade a l i t t l e gestur e, movi ng hi s f at hands out war ds, away f r omone anot her, and expandi ng hi s f i nger s as t hough i ndemonst r at i on. He was exhi bi t i ng hi msel f . Deni s t hought of t hatadver t i sement of Nest l e' s mi l k- - t he t wo cat s on t he wal l , undert he moon, one bl ack and t hi n, t he ot her whi t e, sl eek, and f at .Bef or e I nspi r at i on and af t er .

" I nspi r at i on has made the di f f er ence, " sai d Mr . Bar becue- Smi t hsol emnl y. " I t came qui t e suddenl y- - l i ke a gent l e dew f r omheaven. " He l i f t ed hi s hand and l et i t f al l back on t o hi s kneet o i ndi cat e t he descent of t he dew. " I t was one eveni ng. I was

wr i t i ng my f i r st l i t t l e book about t he Conduct of Li f e- - ' Humbl eHer oi sms' . You may have r ead i t ; i t has been a comf or t - - at l east



I hope and t hi nk so- - a comf ort t o many t housands. I was i n t hemi ddl e of t he second chapt er, and I was st uck. Fat i gue,overwork- - I had onl y wr i t t en a hundr ed wor ds i n t he l ast hour ,

and I coul d get no f ur t her. I sat bi t i ng t he end of my pen andl ooki ng at t he el ect r i c l i ght , whi ch hung above my t abl e, a

l i t t l e above and i n f r ont of me. " He i ndi cat ed t he posi t i on oft he l amp wi t h el abor at e car e. "Have you ever l ooked at a br i ghtl i ght i nt ent l y f or a l ong t i me?" he asked, t ur ni ng t o Deni s.Deni s di dn' t t hi nk he had. "You can hypnot i se your sel f t hatway, " Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h went on.

The gong sounded i n a t er r i f i c cr escendo f r om t he hal l . St i l l nosi gn of t he ot her s. Deni s was hor r i bl y hungr y.

"That ' s what happened t o me, " sai d Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h. " I washypnot i sed. I l ost consci ousness l i ke t hat . " He snapped hi sf i nger s. "When I came t o, I f ound t hat i t was past mi dni ght , andI had wr i t t en f our t housand wor ds. Four t housand, " he r epeat ed,

openi ng hi s mout h very wi de on t he "ou" of t housand." I nspi r at i on had come t o me. "

"What a ver y ext r aor di nar y thi ng, " sai d Deni s.

" I was af r ai d of i t at f i rst . I t di dn' t seem t o me nat ur al . Idi dn' t f eel , somehow, t hat i t was qui t e r i ght , qui t e f ai r , Imi ght al most say, t o pr oduce a l i t erar y composi t i onunconsci ousl y. Besi des, I was af r ai d I mi ght have wr i t t ennonsense. "

"And had you wr i t t en nonsense?" Deni s asked.

"Cer t ai nl y not , " Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h r epl i ed, wi t h a t r ace ofannoyance. "Cer t ai nl y not . I t was admi r abl e. J ust a f ewspel l i ng mi st akes and sl i ps, such as t her e gener al l y ar e i naut omat i c wr i t i ng. But t he st yl e, t he t hought - - al l t heessent i al s wer e admi r abl e. Af t er t hat , I nspi r at i on came t o mer egul ar l y. I wr ot e t he whol e of ' Humbl e Her oi sms' l i ke t hat . I twas a gr eat success, and so has everyt hi ng been that I havewr i t t en si nce. " He l eaned f orwar d and j abbed at Deni s wi t h hi sf i nger . "That ' s my secr et , " he sai d, "and t hat ' s how you coul dwri t e t oo, i f you t r i ed- - wi t hout ef f ort , f l uent l y, wel l . "

"But how?" asked Deni s, t r yi ng not t o show how deepl y he had beeni nsul t ed by that f i nal "wel l . "

"By cul t i vat i ng your I nspi r at i on, by get t i ng i nt o t ouch wi t h yourSubconsci ous. Have you ever r ead my l i t t l e book, ' Pi pe- Li nes t othe I nf i ni te' ?"

Deni s had t o conf ess t hat t hat was, pr eci sel y, one of t he f ew,per haps t he onl y one, of Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h' s works he had notr ead.

"Never mi nd, never mi nd, " sai d Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h. "I t ' s j ust al i t t l e book about t he connect i on of t he Subconsci ous wi t h theI nf i ni t e. Get i nt o t ouch wi t h t he Subconsci ous and you ar e i nt ouch wi t h t he Uni ver se. I nspi r at i on, i n f act . You f ol l ow me?"

"Per f ectl y, per f ectl y, " sai d Deni s. "But don' t you f i nd t hat t heUni ver se somet i mes sends you very i r r el evant messages?"



"I don' t al l ow i t t o, " Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h r epl i ed. "I canal i sei t . I br i ng i t down t hr ough pi pes t o wor k t he t ur bi nes of myconsci ous mi nd. "

"Li ke Ni agar a, " Deni s suggested. Some of Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h' s

r emar ks sounded st r angel y l i ke quot at i ons- - quot at i ons f r om hi sown works, no doubt .

"Pr eci sel y. Li ke Ni agar a. And t hi s i s how I do i t . " He l eanedf or war d, and wi t h a r ai sed f oref i nger marked hi s poi nt s as hemade t hem, beat i ng t i me, as i t wer e, t o hi s di scour se. "Bef or e Igo of f i nt o my t r ance, I concent r at e on t he subj ect I wi sh to bei nspi r ed about . Let us say I am wr i t i ng about t he humbl eher oi sms; f or t en mi nut es bef or e I go i nt o t he t r ance I t hi nk ofnot hi ng but or phans suppor t i ng t hei r l i t t l e br ot her s and si st er s,of dul l work wel l and pat i ent l y done, and I f ocus my mi nd on suchgr eat phi l osophi cal t r ut hs as t he pur i f i cat i on and upl i f t i ng oft he soul by suf f er i ng, and t he al chemi cal t r ansf or mat i on of

l eaden evi l i nt o gol den good. " ( Deni s agai n hung up hi s l i t t l ef est oon of quotat i on marks. ) "Then I pop of f . Two or t hr eehour s l at er I wake up agai n, and f i nd t hat i nspi r at i on has donei t s wor k. Thousands of wor ds, comf or t i ng, upl i f t i ng wor ds, l i ebef ore me. I t ype t hem out neat l y on my machi ne and t hey arer eady f or t he pr i nt er . "

"I t al l sounds wonder f ul l y si mpl e, " sai d Deni s.

"I t i s. Al l t he gr eat and spl endi d and di vi ne t hi ngs of l i f e ar ewonder f ul l y si mpl e. " ( Quot at i on marks agai n. ) "When I have t odo my aphor i sms, " Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h cont i nued, " I prel ude myt r ance by tur ni ng over t he pages of any Di ct i onary of Quotat i onsor Shakespear e Cal endar t hat comes to hand. That set s t he key,so to speak; t hat ensur es t hat t he Uni ver se shal l come f l owi ngi n, not i n a cont i nuous r ush, but i n aphor i smi c dr ops. You seet he i dea?"

Deni s nodded. Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h put hi s hand i n hi s pocket andpul l ed out a not ebook. "I di d a f ew i n t he t r ai n t o- day, " hesai d, t ur ni ng over t he pages. "J ust dr opped of f i nt o a t r ance i nt he cor ner of my car r i age. I f i nd t he t r ai n ver y conduci ve t ogood wor k. Here t hey are. " He cl ear ed hi s t hr oat and r ead:

"The Mount ai n Road may be st eep, but t he ai r i s pur e up there,and i t i s f r om t he Summi t t hat one get s t he vi ew. "

"The Thi ngs t hat Real l y Mat t er happen i n t he Heart . "

I t was cur i ous, Deni s r ef l ect ed, t he way the I nf i ni t e somet i mesr epeat ed i t sel f .

"Seei ng i s Bel i evi ng. Yes, but Bel i evi ng i s al so Seei ng. I f Ibel i eve i n God, I see God, even i n the t hi ngs t hat seem t o beevi l . "

Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h l ooked up f r om hi s not ebook. "That l ast one, "he sai d, "i s par t i cul ar l y subt l e and beaut i f ul , don' t you t hi nk?Wi t hout I nspi r at i on I coul d never have hi t on t hat . " He r e- r eadt he apophthegmwi t h a sl ower and more sol emn ut t erance.

"St r ai ght f r om t he I nf i ni t e, " he comment ed r ef l ecti vel y, t henaddr essed hi msel f t o t he next aphor i sm.



"The f l ame of a candl e gi ves Li ght , but i t al so Bur ns. "

Puzzl ed wr i nkl es appear ed on Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h' s f orehead. " Idon' t exact l y know what t hat means, " he sai d. " I t ' s ver y gnomi c.One coul d appl y i t , of cour se t o t he Hi gher Educat i on- -

i l l umi nat i ng, but pr ovoki ng the Lower Cl asses t o di scont ent andr evol ut i on. Yes, I suppose t hat ' s what i t i s. But i t ' s gnomi c,i t ' s gnomi c. " He r ubbed hi s chi n t hought f ul l y. The gong soundedagai n, cl amorousl y, i t seemed i mpl ori ngl y: di nner was gr owi ngcol d. I t r oused Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h f r om medi t at i on. He t ur nedt o Deni s.

"You underst and me now when I advi se you t o cul t i vate yourI nspi r at i on. Let your Subconsci ous wor k f or you; t ur n on t heNi agar a of t he I nf i ni t e. "

There was t he sound of f eet on t he st ai r s. Mr . Bar becue- Smi t hgot up, l ai d hi s hand f or an i nst ant on Deni s' s shoul der , and

sai d:

"No more now. Anot her t i me. And r emember , I r el y absol utel y onyour di scret i on i n t hi s mat t er . Ther e ar e i nt i mat e, sacredt hi ngs t hat one doesn' t wi sh to be gener al l y known. "

"Of cour se, " sai d Deni s. "I qui t e under st and. "

CHAPTER VI I .

At Cr ome al l t he beds wer e anci ent heredi t ar y pi eces off ur ni t ur e. Huge beds, l i ke f our - mast ed shi ps, wi t h f ur l ed sai l sof shi ni ng col our ed st uf f . Beds car ved and i nl ai d, beds pai nt edand gi l ded. Beds of wal nut and oak, of r are exot i c woods. Bedsof ever y dat e and f ashi on f r omt he t i me of Si r Fer di nando, whobui l t t he house, t o the t i me of hi s namesake i n t he l at eei ght eent h cent ur y, t he l ast of t he f ami l y, but al l of t hemgr andi ose, magni f i cent .

The f i nest of al l was now Anne' s bed. Si r J ul i us, son t o Si rFer di nando, had had i t made i n Veni ce agai nst hi s wi f e' s f i r stl yi ng- i n. Ear l y sei cent o Veni ce had expended al l i t s ext r avagantart i n t he maki ng of i t . The body of t he bed was l i ke a gr eatsquar e sar cophagus. Cl ust er i ng r oses wer e car ved i n hi gh r el i efon i t s wooden panel s, and l usci ous put t i wal l owed among ther oses. On t he bl ack gr ound- wor k of t he panel s the car ved r el i ef swer e gi l ded and bur ni shed. The gol den r oses t wi ned i n spi r al s upt he f our pi l l ar - l i ke post s, and cher ubs, seat ed at t he top ofeach col umn, suppor t ed a wooden canopy f r et t ed wi t h the samecar ved f l ower s.

Anne was r eadi ng i n bed. Two candl es st ood on t he l i t t l e t abl ebesi de her , i n t hei r r i ch l i ght her f ace, her bar e ar m andshoul der t ook on war m hues and a sor t of peach- l i ke qual i t y ofsur f ace. Here and t here i n t he canopy above her carved gol denpet al s shone br i ght l y among pr of ound shadows, and t he sof t l i ght ,f al l i ng on t he scul pt ur ed panel of t he bed, br oke r est l essl yamong t he i nt r i cat e r oses, l i nger ed i n a br oad car ess on t hebl own cheeks, t he di mpl ed bel l i es, t he t i ght , absur d l i t t l e

post er i or s of t he spr awl i ng put t i .



There was a di scr eet t ap at t he door. She l ooked up. "Come i n,come i n. " A f ace, r ound and chi l di sh, wi t hi n i t s sl eek bel l ofgol den hai r , peered r ound t he openi ng door . Mor e chi l di sh-l ooki ng st i l l , a sui t of mauve pyj amas made i t s ent r ance.

I t was Mar y. "I t hought I ' d j ust l ook i n f or a moment t o say

good- ni ght , " she sai d, and sat down on t he edge of t he bed.

Anne cl osed her book. "That was very sweet of you. "

"What ar e you r eadi ng?" She l ooked at t he book. "Rather second-r at e, i sn' t i t ?" The t one i n whi ch Mar y pr onounced t he wor d"second- r at e" i mpl i ed an al most i nf i ni t e deni gr at i on. She wasaccust omed i n London t o associ ate onl y wi t h f i r st - r ate peopl e whol i ked f i r st - r at e t hi ngs, and she knew t hat t her e wer e ver y, ver yf ew f i r st - r at e t hi ngs i n t he wor l d, and t hat t hose wer e most l yFrench.

"Wel l , I ' m af r ai d I l i ke i t , " sai d Anne. Ther e was not hi ng mor e

t o be sai d. The si l ence t hat f ol l owed was a r at her uncomf ort abl eone. Mary f i ddl ed uneasi l y wi t h t he bot t ombut t on of her pyj ama j acket . Leani ng back on her mound of heaped- up pi l l ows, Annewai t ed and wonder ed what was comi ng.

"I ' m so awf ul l y af r ai d of r epr essi ons, " sai d Mar y at l ast,bur st i ng suddenl y and surpr i si ngl y i nt o speech. She pr onouncedt he words on t he t ai l - end of an expi r i ng br eat h, and had to gaspf or new ai r al most bef ore t he phr ase was f i ni shed.

"What ' s t her e t o be depr essed about ?"

"I sai d r epr essi ons, not depr essi ons. "

"Oh, r epr essi ons; I see, " sai d Anne. "But r epr essi ons of what ?"

Mar y had t o expl ai n. "The nat ur al i nst i nct s of sex. . . " she begandi dacti cal l y. But Anne cut her shor t .

"Yes, yes. Per f ect l y. I under st and. Repr essi ons! ol d mai ds andal l t he r est . But what about t hem?"

"That ' s j ust i t , " sai d Mar y. "I ' m af r ai d of t hem. I t ' s al waysdanger ous t o r epr ess one' s i nst i nct s. I ' m begi nni ng t o det ect i nmysel f sympt oms l i ke t he ones you r ead of i n t he books. Iconst ant l y dr eam t hat I ' m f al l i ng down wel l s; and somet i mes Ieven dr eam t hat I ' m cl i mbi ng up l adder s. I t ' s most di squi et i ng. The sympt oms ar e onl y t oo cl ear . "

"Ar e t hey?"

"One may become a nymphomani ac of one' s not car ef ul . You' ve noi dea how ser i ous t hese r epr essi ons ar e i f you don' t get r i d oft hem i n t i me. "

" I t sounds t oo awf ul , " sai d Anne. "But I don' t see t hat I can doanythi ng to hel p you. "

"I t hought I ' d j ust l i ke t o t al k i t over wi t h you. "

"Why, of cour se; I ' m onl y t oo happy, Mar y dar l i ng. "



Mary coughed and drew a deep breath. " I presume, " she begansent ent i ousl y, " I pr esume we may t ake f or gr ant ed t hat ani nt el l i gent young woman of t went y- t hr ee who has l i ved i nci vi l i sed soci et y i n t he t went i et h cent ur y has no pr ej udi ces. "

"Wel l , I conf ess I st i l l have a f ew. "

"But not about r epr essi ons. "

"No, not many about r epr essi ons; t hat ' s t r ue. "

"Or , r at her , about get t i ng r i d of r epr essi ons. "

"Exactl y. "

"So much f or our f undament al postul at e, " sai d Mary. Sol emni t ywas expr essed i n every f eat ur e of her r ound young f ace, r adi atedf r om her l ar ge bl ue eyes. "We come next t o t he desi r abi l i t y ofpossessi ng exper i ence. I hope we are agr eed t hat knowl edge i s

desi r abl e and that i gnor ance i s undesi r abl e. "

Obedi ent as one of t hose compl ai sant di sci pl es f r omwhom Socr at escoul d get what ever answer he chose, Anne gave her assent t o thi spr oposi t i on.

"And we ar e equal l y agr eed, I hope, t hat mar r i age i s what i t i s. "

" I t i s. "

"Good! " sai d Mar y. "And r epr essi ons bei ng what t hey are. . . "

"Exactl y. "

"Ther e woul d t heref ore seem t o be onl y one concl usi on. "

"But I knew t hat , " Anne excl ai med, "bef ore you began. "

"Yes, but now i t ' s been proved, " sai d Mary. "One must do t hi ngsl ogi cal l y. The questi on i s now. . . "

"But wher e does the quest i on come i n? You' ve r eached your onl ypossi bl e concl usi on- - l ogi cal l y, whi ch i s mor e t han I coul d havedone. Al l t hat r emai ns i s t o i mpar t t he i nf or mat i on t o someoneyou l i ke- - someone you l i ke r eal l y rat her a l ot , someone you' r e i nl ove wi t h, i f I may expr ess mysel f so bal dl y. "

"But t hat ' s j ust where t he quest i on comes i n, " Mar y excl ai med."I ' m not i n l ove wi t h anybody. "

"Then, i f I wer e you, I shoul d wai t t i l l you ar e. "

"But I can' t go on dr eami ng ni ght af t er ni ght t hat I ' m f al l i ngdown a wel l . I t ' s t oo danger ous. "

"Wel l , i f i t r eal l y i s TOO danger ous, t hen of cour se you must dosomethi ng about i t ; you must f i nd somebody el se. "

"But who?" A t hought f ul f r own puckered Mary' s brow. " I t must besomebody i nt el l i gent , somebody wi t h i nt el l ect ual i nt er est s t hat I

can shar e. And i t must be somebody wi t h a proper r espect f orwomen, somebody who' s prepared t o t al k ser i ousl y about hi s work



and hi s i deas and about my work and my i deas. I t i sn' t , as yousee, at al l easy t o f i nd t he r i ght per son. "

"Wel l " sai d Anne, " t her e ar e t hr ee unat t ached and i nt el l i gent meni n t he house at t he pr esent t i me. Ther e' s Mr . Scogan, t o begi nwi t h; but per haps he' s rather t oo much of a genui ne ant i que. And

t here are Gombaul d and Deni s. Shal l we say t hat t he choi ce i sl i mi t ed t o t he l ast t wo?"

Mar y nodded. " I t hi nk we had bet t er, " she sai d, and t henhesi t at ed, wi t h a cer t ai n ai r of embar r assment .

"What i s i t ?"

" I was wonderi ng, " sai d Mar y, wi t h a gasp, "whet her t hey real l ywer e unatt ached. I t hought t hat per haps you mi ght . . . youmi ght . . . "

" I t was ver y ni ce of you t o t hi nk of me, Mar y dar l i ng, " sai d

Anne, smi l i ng t he t i ght cat ' s smi l e. "But as f ar as I ' mconcer ned, t hey ar e bot h ent i r el y unat t ached. "

"I ' m ver y gl ad of t hat , " sai d Mar y, l ooki ng r el i eved. "We ar enow conf r ont ed wi t h t he quest i on: Whi ch of t he t wo?"

"I can gi ve no advi ce. I t ' s a mat t er f or your t ast e. "

" I t ' s not a mat t er of my tast e, " Mar y pr onounced, "but of t hei rmer i t s. We must wei gh t hem and consi der t hemcar ef ul l y anddi spassi onat el y. "

"You must do t he wei ghi ng your sel f , " sai d Anne; t her e was st i l lt he t r ace of a smi l e at t he cor ners of her mout h and r ound t hehal f - cl osed eyes. "I won' t r un t he r i sk of advi si ng youwr ongl y. "

"Gombaul d has more t al ent , " Mar y began, "but he i s l ess ci vi l i sedt han Deni s. " Mar y' s pr onunci at i on of "ci vi l i sed" gave t he wor d aspeci al and addi t i onal si gni f i cance. She ut t er ed i tmet i cul ousl y, i n t he ver y f r ont of her mout h, hi ssi ng del i cat el yon t he openi ng si bi l ant . So f ew peopl e wer e ci vi l i sed, and t hey,l i ke t he f i r st - r at e wor ks of ar t , wer e most l y Fr ench."Ci vi l i sat i on i s most i mpor t ant , don' t you t hi nk?"

Anne hel d up her hand. " I won' t advi se, " she sai d. "You mustmake t he deci si on. "

"Gombaul d' s f ami l y, " Mary went on r ef l ect i vel y, "comes f r omMar sei l l es. Rat her a dangerous her edi t y, when one t hi nks of t heLat i n at t i t ude t owards women. But t hen, I somet i mes wonderwhet her Deni s i s al t oget her ser i ous- mi nded, whet her he i sn' tr at her a di l et t ant e. I t ' s ver y di f f i cul t . What do you t hi nk?"

"I ' m not l i steni ng, " sai d Anne. "I r ef use t o t ake anyrespons i bi l i ty . "

Mar y si ghed. "Wel l , " she sai d, " I t hi nk I had bet t er go t o bedand t hi nk about i t . "

"Car ef ul l y and di spassi onat el y, " sai d Anne.



At t he door Mary t ur ned r ound. "Good- ni ght , " she sai d, andwonder ed as she sai d the words why Anne was smi l i ng i n thatcur i ous way. I t was pr obabl y not hi ng, she r ef l ect ed. Anne of t ensmi l ed f or no appar ent r eason; i t was pr obabl y j ust a habi t . " Ihope I shan' t dr eam of f al l i ng down wel l s agai n t o- ni ght , " sheadded.

"Ladders are wor se, " sai d Anne.

Mary nodded. "Yes, l adders ar e much gr aver . "

CHAPTER VI I I .

Br eakf ast on Sunday morni ng was an hour l at er t han on week- days,and Pr i sci l l a, who usual l y made no publ i c appear ance bef orel uncheon, honour ed i t by her pr esence. Dr essed i n bl ack si l k,wi t h a r uby cross as wel l as her cust omary st r i ng of pear l s r oundher neck, she presi ded. An enormous Sunday paper conceal ed al l

but t he ext r eme pi nnacl e of her coi f f ur e f r om t he out er wor l d.

" I see Sur r ey has won, " she sai d, wi t h her mout h f ul l , "by f ourwi cket s. The sun i s i n Leo: t hat woul d account f or i t ! "

"Spl endi d game, cr i cket , " r emar ked Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h heart i l y t ono one i n par t i cul ar ; "so thor oughl y Engl i sh. "

J enny, who was si t t i ng next t o hi m, woke up suddenl y wi t h ast ar t . "What ?" she sai d. "What ?"

"So Engl i sh, " r epeat ed Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h.

J enny l ooked at hi m, sur pr i sed. "Engl i sh? Of cour se I am. "

He was begi nni ng t o expl ai n, when Mr s. Wi mbush vai l ed her Sundaypaper , and appear ed, a square, mauve- powder ed f ace i n the mi dstof or ange spl endour s. "I see t her e' s a new ser i es of ar t i cl es ont he next wor l d j ust begi nni ng, " she sai d to Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h."Thi s one' s cal l ed ' Summer Land and Gehenna. ' "

"Summer Land, " echoed Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h, cl osi ng hi s eyes."Summer Land. A beaut i f ul name. Beaut i f ul - - beaut i f ul . "

Mar y had t aken t he seat next t o Deni s' s. Af t er a ni ght ofcaref ul consi der at i on she had deci ded on Deni s. He mi ght havel ess t al ent t han Gombaul d, he mi ght be a l i t t l e l acki ng i nser i ousness, but somehow he was saf er .

"Ar e you wr i t i ng much poet r y here i n t he count r y?" she asked,wi t h a br i ght gr avi t y.

"None, " sai d Deni s cur t l y. " I haven' t br ought my t ypewr i t er . "

"But do you mean t o say you can' t wr i t e wi t hout a t ypewr i t er?"

Deni s shook hi s head. He hat ed t al ki ng at br eakf ast , and,besi des, he want ed t o hear what Mr . Scogan was sayi ng at t heot her end of t he t abl e.

" . . . My scheme f or deal i ng wi t h t he Chur ch, " Mr . Scogan wassayi ng, "i s beaut i f ul l y si mpl e. At t he pr esent t i me t he Angl i can



cl ergy wear t hei r col l ars t he wr ong way round. I woul d compelt hem t o wear , not onl y t hei r col l ar s, but al l t hei r cl ot hes,t ur ned back t o f r ant i c- - coat , wai st coat , t r ouser s, boot s- - so t hatevery cl ergyman shoul d pr esent t o t he wor l d a smoot h f acade,unbroken by st ud, but t on, or l ace. The enf orcement of such al i ver y woul d act as a whol esome det er r ent t o t hose i nt endi ng to

ent er t he Chur ch. At t he same t i me i t woul d enormousl y enhance,what Ar chbi shop Laud so ri ght l y i nsi st ed on, t he ' beaut y ofhol i ness' i n t he f ew i ncor r i gi bl es who coul d not be det er r ed. "

"I n hel l , i t seems, " sai d Pr i sci l l a, r eadi ng i n her Sunday paper ," t he chi l dr en amuse themsel ves by f l ayi ng l ambs al i ve. "

"Ah, but , dear l ady, t hat ' s onl y a symbol , " excl ai med Mr .Bar becue- Smi t h, "a mat er i al symbol of a h- pi r i t ual t r ut h. Lambssi gni f y. . . "

"Then t her e are mi l i t ary uni f orms, " Mr . Scogan went on. "Whenscar l et and pi pe- cl ay were abandoned f or khaki , t her e were some

who t r embl ed f or t he f ut ur e of war. But t hen, f i ndi ng howel egant t he new t uni c was, how cl osel y i t cl i pped t he wai st , howvol upt uousl y, wi t h t he l at er al bust l es of t he pocket s, i texagger at ed t he hi ps; when t hey r eal i zed t he br i l l i antpot ent i al i t i es of br eeches and t op- boot s, t hey wer e r eassur ed.Abol i sh t hese mi l i t ar y el egances, st andar di se a uni f or m of sack-cl ot h and macki nt osh, you wi l l ver y soon f i nd t hat . . . "

" I s anyone comi ng t o church wi t h me t hi s morni ng?" asked Henr yWi mbush. No one r esponded. He bai t ed hi s bar e i nvi t at i on. " Ir ead t he l essons, you know. And t her e' s Mr . Bodi ham. Hi sser mons ar e somet i mes wor t h hear i ng. "

"Thank you, t hank you, " sai d Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h. " I f or onepr ef er t o wor shi p i n t he i nf i ni t e chur ch of Nat ur e. How does ourShakespear e put i t ? ' Ser mons i n books, st ones i n t he r unni ngbr ooks. ' " He waved hi s ar m i n a f i ne gestur e t owards t he wi ndow,and even as he di d so he became vaguel y, but none t he l essi nsi st ent l y, none the l ess uncomf or t abl y aware t hat somet hi ng hadgone wr ong wi t h t he quotat i on. Somethi ng- - what coul d i t be?Sermons? St ones? Books?

CHAPTER I X.

Mr . Bodi ham was si t t i ng i n hi s study at t he Rect or y. Theni net eenth- cent ury Gothi c wi ndows, narr ow and poi nted, admi t t edt he l i ght gr udgi ngl y; i n spi t e of t he br i l l i ant J ul y weat her , t her oom was sombr e. Br own var ni shed bookshel ves l i ned t he wal l s,f i l l ed wi t h r ow upon r ow of t hose thi ck, heavy t heol ogi cal wor kswhi ch t he second- hand booksel l ers gener al l y sel l by wei ght . Themant el pi ece, t he over - mant el , a t ower i ng st r uct ur e of spi ndl ypi l l ar s and l i t t l e shel ves, wer e br own and var ni shed. Thewr i t i ng- desk was brown and var ni shed. So were t he chai r s, so wast he door . A dar k red- br own car pet wi t h pat t er ns cover ed t hef l oor . Ever yt hi ng was br own i n t he r oom, and t her e was a cur i ousbr owni sh smel l .

I n t he mi dst of t hi s br own gl oom Mr . Bodi ham sat at hi s desk. Hewas t he man i n t he I r on Mask. A gr ey metal l i c f ace wi t h i r on

cheek- bones and a narr ow i r on brow; i r on f ol ds, hard andunchangi ng, r an perpendi cul ar l y down hi s cheeks; hi s nose was t he



i r on beak of some t hi n, del i cat e bi r d of r api ne. He had br owneyes, set i n sockets r i mmed wi t h i r on; r ound t hemt he ski n wasdar k, as t hough i t had been charr ed. Dense wi r y hai r cover ed hi sskul l ; i t had been bl ack, i t was t ur ni ng gr ey. Hi s ear s wer ever y smal l and f i ne. Hi s j aws, hi s chi n, hi s upper l i p wer edar k, i r on- dar k, where he had shaved. Hi s voi ce, when he spoke

and especi al l y when he r ai sed i t i n pr eachi ng, was har sh, l i ket he gr at i ng of i r on hi nges when a sel dom- used door i s opened.

I t was nearl y hal f - past t wel ve. He had j ust come back f r omchur ch, hoar se and wear y wi t h preachi ng. He preached wi t h f ury,wi t h passi on, an i r on man beat i ng wi t h a f l ai l upon t he soul s ofhi s congr egat i on. But t he soul s of t he f ai t hf ul at Cr ome wer emade of i ndi a- r ubber , sol i d r ubber ; t he f l ai l r ebounded. Theywere used t o Mr . Bodi ham at Cr ome. The f l ai l t humped on i ndi a-r ubber , and as of t en as not t he rubber sl ept .

That mor ni ng he had preached, as he had of t en preached bef or e, ont he nat ure of God. He had t r i ed t o make t hem under st and about

God, what a f ear f ul t hi ng i t was t o f al l i nt o Hi s hands. God- -t hey t hought of somethi ng sof t and merci f ul . They bl i ndedt hemsel ves t o f act s; st i l l mor e, t hey bl i nded t hemsel ves t o t heBi bl e. The passengers on t he "Ti t ani c" sang "Near er my God t o Thee" as t he shi p was goi ng down. Di d t hey r eal i se what t heywer e aski ng t o be br ought nearer t o? A whi t e f i r e ofr i ght eousness, an angr y f i r e. . .

When Savonarol a pr eached, men sobbed and groaned al oud. Not hi ngbr oke t he pol i t e si l ence wi t h whi ch Cr ome l i st ened to Mr .Bodi ham- - onl y an occasi onal cough and somet i mes t he sound ofheavy br eat hi ng. I n t he f r ont pew sat Henr y Wi mbush, cal m, wel l -br ed, beaut i f ul l y dr essed. There wer e t i mes when Mr . Bodi hamwant ed t o j ump down f r om t he pul pi t and shake hi m i nt o l i f e, - -t i mes when he woul d have l i ked t o beat and ki l l hi s whol econgr egat i on.

He sat at hi s desk dej ect edl y. Out si de t he Gothi c wi ndows t heear t h was warm and marvel l ousl y cal m. Everyt hi ng was as i t hadal ways been. And yet , and yet . . . I t was near l y f our year s nowsi nce he had preached t hat ser mon on Mat t hew xxi v. 7: "Fornat i on shal l r i se up agai nst nat i on, and ki ngdom agai nst ki ngdom:and t her e shal l be f ami nes, and pest i l ences, and ear t hquakes, i n

di ver s pl aces. " I t was nearl y f our year s. He had had t he sermonpr i nt ed; i t was so t er r i bl y, so vi t al l y i mpor t ant t hat al l t hewor l d shoul d know what he had t o say. A copy of t he l i t t l epamphl et l ay on hi s desk- - ei ght smal l gr ey pages, pr i nt ed by a

f ount of t ype t hat had gr own bl unt , l i ke an ol d dog' s t eet h, byt he endl ess champi ng and champi ng of t he press. He opened i t andbegan t o read i t yet once agai n.

"' For nat i on shal l r i se up agai nst nat i on, and ki ngdom agai nstki ngdom: and t her e shal l be f ami nes, and pest i l ences, andear t hquakes, i n di ver s pl aces. '

"Ni neteen cent ur i es have el apsed si nce Our Lord gave ut t erance tot hose words, and not a si ngl e one of t hem has been wi t hout wars,pl agues, f ami nes, and ear t hquakes. Mi ghty empi r es have cr ashed

i n r ui n t o t he gr ound, di seases have unpeopl ed hal f t he gl obe,t here have been vast natural catacl ysms i n whi ch t housands have



been over whel med by f l ood and f i r e and whi r l wi nd. Ti me andagai n, i n t he cour se of t hese ni net een cent ur i es, such t hi ngshave happened, but t hey have not br ought Chr i st back to eart h. They wer e ' si gns of t he t i mes' i nasmuch as t hey wer e si gns ofGod' s wr ath agai nst t he chr oni c wi ckedness of manki nd, but t heywere not si gns of t he t i mes i n connect i on wi t h the Second Comi ng.

" I f earnest Chr i st i ans have r egar ded t he pr esent war as a t r uesi gn of t he Lor d' s appr oachi ng r et ur n, i t i s not mer el y becausei t happens t o be a gr eat war i nvol vi ng t he l i ves of mi l l i ons ofpeopl e, not merel y because f ami ne i s t i ght eni ng i t s gr i p on everycount r y i n Eur ope, not merel y because di sease of every ki nd, f r omsyphi l i s t o spot t ed f ever , i s r i f e among t he war r i ng nat i ons; no,i t i s not f or t hese reasons t hat we r egar d t hi s war as a tr ueSi gn of t he Ti mes, but because i n i t s or i gi n and i t s pr ogr ess i ti s mar ked by cer t ai n char act er i st i cs whi ch seem t o connect i tal most beyond a doubt wi t h t he pr edi ct i ons i n Chr i st i an Prophecyr el at i ng to the Second Comi ng of t he Lor d.

"Let me enumerate t he f eat ures of t he present war whi ch mostcl ear l y suggest t hat i t i s a Si gn f or et el l i ng t he near appr oachof t he Second Advent . Our Lord sai d t hat ' t hi s Gospel of t heKi ngdom shal l be pr eached i n al l t he wor l d f or a wi t ness unt o al lnat i ons; and t hen shal l t he end come. ' Al t hough i t woul d bepr esumpt uous f or us t o say what degr ee of evangel i sat i on wi l l ber egar ded by God as suf f i ci ent , we may at l east conf i dent l y hopet hat a cent ur y of unf l aggi ng mi ssi onary work has brought t hef ul f i l ment of t hi s condi t i on at any r at e near . Tr ue, t he l ar gernumber of t he wor l d' s i nhabi t ant s have r emai ned deaf t o t hepr eachi ng of t he t r ue r el i gi on; but t hat does not vi t i at e t hef act t hat t he Gospel HAS been pr eached ' f or a wi t ness' t o al lunbel i ever s f r om t he Papi st t o t he Zul u. The r esponsi bi l i t y f ort he cont i nued pr eval ence of unbel i ef l i es, not wi t h t hepr eacher s, but wi t h t hose pr eached t o.

"Agai n, i t has been gener al l y recogni sed t hat ' t he dr yi ng up oft he wat er s of t he gr eat r i ver Euphr at es, ' ment i oned i n t hesi xteent h chapt er of Revel at i on, r ef er s t o the decay andext i nct i on of Tur ki sh power , and i s a si gn of t he nearapproachi ng end of t he wor l d as we know i t . The capt ure of J er usal em and t he successes i n Mesopot ami a ar e great st r i desf or war d i n t he dest r uct i on of t he Ot t oman Empi r e; t hough i t mustbe admi t t ed t hat t he Gal l i pol i epi sode pr oved t hat t he Tur k sti l lpossesses a ' not abl e hor n' of st r engt h. Hi st or i cal l y speaki ng,t hi s dr yi ng up of Ot t oman power has been goi ng on f or t he pastcent ur y; t he l ast t wo years have wi t nessed a gr eat accel erat i onof t he pr ocess, and there can be no doubt t hat compl etedesi ccat i on i s wi t hi n si ght .

"Cl osel y f ol l owi ng on t he wor ds concer ni ng t he dr yi ng up ofEuphr at es comes t he prophecy of Ar mageddon, t hat wor l d war wi t hwhi ch t he Second Comi ng i s t o be so cl osel y associ ated. Oncebegun, t he wor l d war can end onl y wi t h t he ret ur n of Chr i st , andHi s comi ng wi l l be sudden and unexpect ed, l i ke t hat of a thi ef i nt he ni ght .

"Let us exami ne t he f act s. I n hi st or y, exact l y as i n St . J ohn' sGospel , t he wor l d war i s i mmedi atel y pr eceded by t he dr yi ng up ofEuphr ates, or t he decay of Tur ki sh power . Thi s f act al one woul d

be enough t o connect t he pr esent conf l i ct wi t h t he Ar mageddon ofRevel at i on and t heref or e t o poi nt t o t he near appr oach of t he



Second Advent . But f ur t her evi dence of an even more sol i d andconvi nci ng natur e can be adduced.

"Ar mageddon i s brought about by t he act i vi t i es of t hr ee uncl eanspi r i t s, as i t wer e t oads, whi ch come out of t he mout hs of t heDr agon, t he Beast , and t he Fal se Pr ophet . I f we can i dent i f y

t hese three power s of evi l much l i ght wi l l cl ear l y be thrown ont he whol e quest i on.

"The Dr agon, t he Beast , and the Fal se Pr ophet can al l bei dent i f i ed i n hi st or y. Sat an, who can onl y work t hr ough humanagency, has used t hese three powers i n the l ong war agai nstChr i st whi ch has f i l l ed t he l ast ni net een cent ur i es wi t hr el i gi ous st r i f e. The Dr agon, i t has been suf f i ci ent l yest abl i shed, i s pagan Rome, and the spi r i t i ssui ng f r om i t s mout hi s t he spi r i t of I nf i del i t y. The Beast, al t er nat i vel y symbol i sedas a Woman, i s undoubtedl y t he Papal power , and Popery i s t hespi r i t whi ch i t spews f or t h. Ther e i s onl y one power whi chanswer s t o t he descr i pt i on of t he Fal se Pr ophet , t he wol f i n

sheep' s cl ot hi ng, t he agent of t he devi l wor ki ng i n t he gui se oft he Lamb, and t hat power i s t he so- cal l ed ' Soci et y of J esus. ' The spi r i t t hat i ssues f r om t he mouth of t he Fal se Pr ophet i s t hespi r i t of Fal se Moral i t y.

"We may assume, t hen, t hat t he t hr ee evi l spi r i t s ar e I nf i del i t y,Poper y, and Fal se Moral i t y. Have t hese t hr ee i nf l uences been t her eal cause of t he pr esent conf l i ct ? The answer i s cl ear .

"The spi r i t of I nf i del i t y i s the ver y spi r i t of Ger man cri t i ci sm. The Hi gher Cr i t i ci sm, as i t i s mocki ngl y cal l ed, deni es t hepossi bi l i t y of mi r acl es, pr edi cti on, and r eal i nspi r at i on, andatt empt s t o account f or t he Bi bl e as a nat ur al devel opment .Sl owl y but sur el y, dur i ng t he l ast ei ght y year s, t he spi r i t ofI nf i del i t y has been r obbi ng t he Ger mans of t hei r Bi bl e and t hei rf ai t h, so t hat Ger many i s t o- day a nat i on of unbel i ever s. Hi gherCr i t i ci sm has t hus made t he war possi bl e; f or i t woul d beabsol ut el y i mpossi bl e f or any Chr i st i an nat i on t o wage war asGermany i s wagi ng i t .

"We come next t o t he spi r i t of Popery, whose i nf l uence i n causi ngt he war was qui t e as gr eat as t hat of I nf i del i t y, t hough not ,per haps, so i mmedi at el y obvi ous. Si nce t he Franco- Prussi an Wart he Papal power has st eadi l y decl i ned i n Fr ance, whi l e i n Ger manyi t has st eadi l y i ncreased. To- day France i s an ant i - papal st at e,whi l e Germany possesses a power f ul Roman Cathol i c mi nor i t y. Twopapal l y cont r ol l ed st at es, Ger many and Aust r i a, ar e at war wi t hsi x ant i - papal states- - Engl and, Fr ance, I t al y, Russi a, Ser bi a,and Por t ugal . Bel gi um i s, of cour se, a t hor oughl y papal st at e,and t her e can be l i t t l e doubt t hat t he pr esence on t he Al l i es'si de of an el ement so essent i al l y host i l e has done much to hampert he ri ght eous cause and i s r esponsi bl e f or our compar at i ve i l l -success. That t he spi r i t of Poper y i s behi nd t he war i s thusseen cl ear l y enough i n t he gr oupi ng of t he opposed powers, whi l et he rebel l i on i n the Roman Cat hol i c par t s of I r el and has mer el yconf i r med a concl usi on al r eady obvi ous t o any unbi ased mi nd.

"The spi r i t of Fal se Mor al i t y has pl ayed as gr eat a par t i n t hi swar as t he t wo ot her evi l spi r i t s. The Scrap of Paper i nci denti s t he nearest and most obvi ous exampl e of Germany' s adherence t o

t hi s essent i al l y unchr i st i an or J esui t i cal mor al i t y. The end i sGerman wor l d- power , and i n the at t ai nment of t hi s end, any means



are j ust i f i abl e. I t i s t he t rue pr i nci pl e of J esui t ry appl i ed t oi nt ernat i onal pol i t i cs .

"The i dent i f i cat i on i s now compl et e. As was pr edi ct ed i nRevel at i on, t he t hr ee evi l spi r i t s have gone f or t h j ust as t hedecay of t he Ot t oman power was near i ng compl et i on, and have

j oi ned t oget her t o make t he wor l d war . The war ni ng, ' Behol d, Icome as a t hi ef , ' i s t her ef or e meant f or t he pr esent per i od- - f oryou and me and al l t he wor l d. Thi s war wi l l l ead on i nevi t abl yt o the war of Ar mageddon, and wi l l onl y be br ought t o an end byt he Lor d' s per sonal r et ur n.

"And when He r etur ns, what wi l l happen? Those who are i n Chr i st ,St . J ohn t el l s us, wi l l be cal l ed t o t he Supper of t he Lamb. Those who ar e f ound f i ght i ng agai nst Hi m wi l l be cal l ed t o t heSupper of t he Gr eat God- - t hat gr i m banquet where t hey shal l notf east , but be f east ed on. ' For , ' as St . J ohn says, ' I saw anangel st andi ng i n t he sun; and he cr i ed i n a l oud voi ce, sayi ngt o al l t he f owl s t hat f l y i n t he mi dst of heaven, Come and gather

yoursel ves t ogether unt o t he supper of t he Gr eat God; t hat ye mayeat t he f l esh of ki ngs, and t he f l esh of capt ai ns, and t he f l eshof mi ght y men, and the f l esh of hor ses, and of t hem t hat si t ont hem, and the f l esh of al l men, bot h f r ee and bond, both smal land gr eat . ' Al l t he enemi es of Chr i st wi l l be sl ai n wi t h t heswor d of hi m t hat si t s upon t he hor se, ' and al l t he f owl s wi l l bef i l l ed wi t h t hei r f l esh. ' That i s the Supper of t he Gr eat God.

" I t may be soon or i t may, as men r eckon t i me, be l ong; butsooner or l at er , i nevi t abl y, t he Lor d wi l l come and del i ver t hewor l d f r om i t s pr esent t r oubl es. And woe unt o t hemwho arecal l ed, not t o the Supper of t he Lamb, but t o the Supper of t heGr eat God. They wi l l r eal i se t hen, but t oo l at e, t hat God i s aGod of Wr at h as wel l as a God of Forgi veness. The God who sentbears t o devour t he mocker s of El i sha, t he God who smote t heEgypt i ans f or t hei r st ubbor n wi ckedness, wi l l assur edl y smi t et hem t oo, unl ess t hey make hast e t o r epent . But per haps i t i sal r eady t oo l at e. Who knows but t hat t o- morr ow, i n a momenteven, Chr i st may be upon us unawar es, l i ke a t hi ef ? I n a l i t t l ewhi l e, who knows? The angel st andi ng i n t he sun may be summoni ngt he ravens and vul t ur es f r om t hei r cranni es i n t he rocks t o f eedupon t he put r ef yi ng f l esh of t he mi l l i ons of unr i ght eous whomGod' s wr ath has dest r oyed. Be r eady, t hen; t he comi ng of t heLor d i s at hand. May i t be f or al l of you an obj ect of hope, nota moment t o l ook f or war d to wi t h terr or and t r embl i ng. "

Mr . Bodi ham cl osed t he l i t t l e pamphl et and l eaned back i n hi schai r . The ar gument was sound, absol ut el y compel l i ng; and yet - -i t was f our year s si nce he had pr eached that sermon; f our years ,and Engl and was at peace, t he sun shone, t he peopl e of Cr ome wereas wi cked and i ndi f f er ent as ever - - mor e so, i ndeed, i f t hat wer epossi bl e. I f onl y he coul d under st and, i f t he heavens woul d butmake a si gn! But hi s quest i oni ngs r emai ned unanswered. Seatedt here i n hi s br own var ni shed chai r under t he Ruski ni an wi ndow, hecoul d have scr eamed al oud. He gr i pped t he arms of hi s chai r - -gr i ppi ng, gr i ppi ng f or cont r ol . The knuckl es of hi s handswhi t ened; he bi t hi s l i p. I n a f ew seconds he was abl e t o r el axt he t ensi on; he began t o r ebuke hi msel f f or hi s r ebel l i ousi mpat i ence.

Four year s, he r ef l ected; what wer e f our year s, af t er al l ? I tmust i nevi t abl y take a l ong t i me f or Ar mageddon t o r i pen t o yeast



i t sel f up. The epi sode of 1914 had been a pr el i mi nar y ski r mi sh.And as f or t he war havi ng come to an end- - why, t hat , of cour se,was i l l usor y. I t was st i l l goi ng on, smoul der i ng away i nSi l esi a, i n I r el and, i n Anat ol i a; t he di scont ent i n Egypt andI ndi a was pr epar i ng t he way, perhaps, f or a gr eat extensi on oft he sl aughter among t he heathen peopl es. The Chi nese boycot t of

J apan, and t he r i val r i es of t hat count r y and Amer i ca i n t hePaci f i c, mi ght be br eedi ng a gr eat new war i n t he East . Thepr ospect , Mr . Bodi ham t r i ed t o assur e hi msel f , was hopef ul ; t her eal , t he genui ne Ar mageddon mi ght soon begi n, and then, l i ke at hi ef i n t he ni ght . . . But , i n spi t e of al l hi s comf or t abl er easoni ng, he r emai ned unhappy, di ssat i sf i ed. Four year s ago hehad been so conf i dent ; God' s i ntent i on seemed t hen so pl ai n. Andnow? Now, he di d wel l t o be angry. And now he suf f ered t oo.

Sudden and si l ent as a phant omMr s. Bodi hamappear ed, gl i di ngnoi sel essl y across t he r oom. Above her bl ack dr ess her f ace waspal e wi t h an opaque whi t eness, her eyes were pal e as water i n agl ass, and her s t r awy hai r was al most col our l ess. She hel d a

l ar ge envel ope i n her hand.

"Thi s came f or you by t he post , " she sai d sof t l y.

The envel ope was unseal ed. Mechani cal l y Mr . Bodi ham t ore i topen. I t cont ai ned a pamphl et , l arger t han hi s own and moreel egant i n appearance. "The House of Sheeny, Cl er i calOut f i t t ers , Bi r mi ngham. " He t ur ned over t he pages. Thecat al ogue was t ast ef ul l y and eccl esi ast i cal l y pr i nt ed i n ant i quechar acters wi t h i l l umi nat ed Got hi c i ni t i al s. Red mar gi nal l i nes,cr ossed at t he cor ners af t er t he manner of an Oxf ord pi ct ur ef r ame, encl osed each page of t ype, l i t t l e r ed cr osses took t hepl ace of f ul l st ops. Mr . Bodi ham t ur ned t he pages.

"Sout ane i n best bl ack mer i no. Ready t o wear ; i n al l si zes.

Cl er i cal f r ock coat s. From ni ne gui neas. A dr essy gar ment ,t ai l or ed by our own exper i enced eccl esi ast i cal cut t er s. "

Hal f - t one i l l ust r at i ons r epr esent ed young cur at es, some dapper ,some Rugbei an and muscul ar , some wi t h ascet i c f aces and l argeecst at i c eyes, dr essed i n j acket s, i n f r ock- coat s, i n sur pl i ces,i n cl er i cal eveni ng dr ess, i n bl ack Nor f ol k sui t i ngs.

"A l ar ge assor t ment of chasubl es.

Rope gi r dl es.

Sheeny' s Speci al Ski r t Cassocks. Ti ed by a st r i ng about t hewai st . . . When worn under a sur pl i ce pr esent s an appearancei ndi st i ngui shabl e f r om t hat of a compl et e cassock. . . Recommendedf or summer wear and hot cl i mates. "

Wi t h a gest ur e of horr or and di sgust Mr . Bodi ham t hr ew t hecat al ogue i nt o t he wast e- paper basket . Mr s. Bodi ham l ooked athi m; her pal e, gl aucous eyes r ef l ect ed hi s act i on wi t houtcomment .

"The vi l l age, " she sai d i n her qui et voi ce, "t he vi l l age gr owsworse and worse ever y day. "

"What has happened now?" asked Mr . Bodi ham, f eel i ng suddenl y ver y



wear y.

"I ' l l t el l you. " She pul l ed up a br own var ni shed chai r and satdown. I n t he vi l l age of Cr ome, i t seemed, Sodom and Gomorr ah hadcome to a second bi r t h.

CHAPTER X.

Deni s di d not dance, but when ragt i me came squi r t i ng out of t hepi anol a i n gushes of t r eacl e and hot per f ume, i n j et s of Bengall i ght , t hen t hi ngs began t o dance i nsi de hi m. Li t t l e bl ackni gger cor puscl es j i gged and dr ummed i n hi s ar t er i es. He becamea cage of movement , a wal ki ng pal ai s de danse. I t was veryuncomf or t abl e, l i ke t he pr el i mi nary sympt oms of a di sease. Hesat i n one of t he wi ndow- seat s, gl uml y pr etendi ng t o r ead.

At t he pi anol a, Henr y Wi mbush, smoki ng a l ong ci gar t hrough at unnel l ed pi l l ar of amber , t r od out t he shat t er i ng dance musi c

wi t h ser ene pat i ence. Locked t oget her , Gombaul d and Anne movedwi t h a har moni ousness t hat made t hemseem a si ngl e creat ur e, t wo-headed and f our - l egged. Mr . Scogan, sol emnl y buf f ooni sh,shuf f l ed r ound t he r oom wi t h Mary. J enny sat i n t he shadowbehi nd t he pi ano, scri bbl i ng, so i t seemed, i n a bi g r ednot ebook. I n ar m- chai r s by t he f i r epl ace, Pr i sci l l a and Mr .Bar becue- Smi t h di scussed hi gher t hi ngs, wi t hout , appar ent l y,bei ng di st ur bed by t he noi se on t he Lower Pl ane.

"Opt i mi sm, " sai d Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h wi t h a t one of f i nal i t y,speaki ng thr ough st r ai ns of t he "Wi l d, Wi l d Women" - - "opt i mi sm i st he openi ng out of t he soul t owar ds t he l i ght ; i t i s an expansi ont owar ds and i nt o God, i t i s a h- pi r i t ual sel f - uni f i cat i on wi t hthe I nf i ni te. "

"How t r ue! " si ghed Pr i sci l l a, noddi ng t he bal ef ul spl endour s ofher coi f f ure.

"Pessi mi sm, on t he ot her hand, i s t he cont r act i on of t he soult owar ds dar kness; i t i s a f ocusi ng of t he sel f upon a poi nt i nt he Lower Pl ane; i t i s a h- pi r i t ual sl aver y to mer e f acts; t ogross physi cal phenomena. "

"They' r e maki ng a wi l d man of me. " The r ef r ai n sang i t sel f overi n Deni s' s mi nd. Yes, t hey were; damn t hem! A wi l d man, but notwi l d enough; t hat was t he t r oubl e. Wi l d i nsi de; r agi ng,wr i t hi ng- - yes, "wr i t hi ng" was t he wor d, wr i t hi ng wi t h desi r e.But out wardl y he was hopel essl y t ame; out wardl y- - baa, baa, baa.

There t hey wer e, Anne and Gombaul d, movi ng t oget her as t hought hey wer e a si ngl e suppl e cr eat ur e. The beast wi t h t wo backs.And he sat i n a cor ner , pr et endi ng to r ead, pr et endi ng he di dn' twant t o dance, pretendi ng he r ather despi sed danci ng. Why? I twas t he baa- baa busi ness agai n.

Why was he born wi t h a di f f er ent f ace? Why WAS he? Gombaul d hada f ace of br ass- - one of t hose ol d, br azen r ams t hat t humpedagai nst t he wal l s of ci t i es t i l l t hey f el l . He was bor n wi t h adi f f er ent f ace- - a wool l y f ace.

The musi c st opped. The si ngl e harmoni ous cr eature broke i n t wo.Fl ushed, a l i t t l e br eat hl ess, Anne swayed acr oss t he r oom t o t he



pi anol a, l ai d her hand on Mr . Wi mbush' s shoul der .

"A wal t z t hi s t i me, pl ease, Uncl e Henr y, " she sai d.

"A wal t z, " he repeat ed, and tur ned to t he cabi net wher e the rol l swer e kept . He t r od of f t he ol d r ol l and t r od on t he new, a sl ave

at t he mi l l , uncompl ai ni ng and beaut i f ul l y wel l br ed. "Rum; Tum;Rum- t i - t i ; Tum- t i - t i . . . " The mel ody wal l owed oozi l y al ong, l i kea shi p movi ng f orwar d over a sl eek and oi l y swel l . The f our -l egged cr eat ur e, more gr acef ul , more harmoni ous i n i t s movement st han ever, sl i d acr oss t he f l oor. Oh, why was he born wi t h adi f f er ent f ace?

"What are you r eadi ng?"

He l ooked up, st ar t l ed. I t was Mar y. She had br oken f r omt heuncomf or t abl e embrace of Mr . Scogan, who had now sei zed on J ennyf or hi s vi ct i m.

"What are you r eadi ng?"

"I don' t know, " sai d Deni s tr ut hf ul l y. He l ooked at t he t i t l epage; t he book was cal l ed "The St ock Br eeder ' s Vade Mecum. "

"I t hi nk you ar e so sensi bl e t o si t and r ead qui et l y, " sai d Mar y,f i xi ng hi m wi t h her chi na eyes. " I don' t know why one dances.I t ' s so bor i ng. "

Deni s made no r epl y; she exacer bated hi m. Fr om t he arm- chai r byt he f i r epl ace he hear d Pr i sci l l a' s deep voi ce.

"Tel l me, Mr Bar becue- Smi t h- - you know al l about sci ence, Iknow- - " A deprecat i ng noi se came f r omMr . Barbecue- Smi t h' schai r . "Thi s Ei nst ei n t heor y. I t seems t o upset t he whol est arr y uni ver se. I t makes me so worr i ed about my horoscopes. You see. . . "

Mary renewed her at t ack. "Whi ch of t he cont empor ary poet s do youl i ke best ?" she asked. Deni s was f i l l ed wi t h f ur y. Why coul dn' tt hi s pest of a gi r l l eave hi m al one? He want ed t o l i st en t o t hehor r i bl e musi c, t o wat ch t hem danci ng- - oh, wi t h what gr ace, ast hough t hey had been made f or one another! - - t o savour hi s mi ser yi n peace. And she came and put hi m t hr ough t hi s absurdcatechi sm! She was l i ke "Mangol d' s Quest i ons" : "What are t het hr ee di seases of wheat?" - - "Whi ch of t he contempor ary poet s doyou l i ke best ?"

"Bl i ght , Mi l dew, and Smut , " he repl i ed, wi t h t he l aconi sm of onewho i s absol ut el y cert ai n of hi s own mi nd.

I t was several hours bef ore Deni s managed t o go to sl eep thatni ght . Vague but agoni si ng mi ser i es possessed hi s mi nd. I t wasnot onl y Anne who made hi m mi ser abl e; he was wr et ched abouthi msel f , t he f ut ur e, l i f e i n gener al , t he uni ver se. "Thi sadol escence busi ness, " he repeat ed t o hi msel f every now and then,"i s hor r i bl y bor i ng. But t he f act t hat he knew hi s di sease di dnot hel p hi m t o cur e i t .

Af t er ki cki ng al l t he cl ot hes of f t he bed, he got up and sought

r el i ef i n composi t i on. He want ed t o i mpr i son hi s namel ess mi seryi n words. At t he end of an hour, ni ne more or l ess compl ete



l i nes emer ged f r om among the bl ot s and scr at chi ngs.

" I do not know what I desi r eWhen summer ni ghts ar e dark and st i l l ,When t he wi nd' s many- voi ced qui r eSl eeps among t he muf f l ed branches.

I l ong and know not what I wi l l :And not a sound of l i f e or l aught er st anches Ti me' s bl ack and si l ent f l ow.I do not know what I desi r e,I do not know. "

He read i t t hr ough al oud; t hen threw t he scri bbl ed sheet i nt o t hewast e- paper basket and got i nto bed agai n. I n a ver y f ew mi nut eshe was asl eep.

CHAPTER XI .

Mr . Barbecue- Smi t h was gone. The motor had whi r l ed hi m away t ot he st at i on; a f ai nt smel l of bur ni ng oi l commemor at ed hi s r ecentdepar t ur e. A consi der abl e detachment had come i nt o t he cour t yar dt o speed hi m on hi s way; and now t hey were wal ki ng back, r oundt he si de of t he house, t owards t he t err ace and t he gar den. Theywal ked i n si l ence; nobody had yet vent ured t o comment on t hedepar t ed guest .

"Wel l ?" sai d Anne at l ast , t ur ni ng wi t h r ai sed i nqui r i ng eyebr owst o Deni s.

"Wel l ?" I t was t i me f or someone t o begi n.

Deni s decl i ned t he i nvi t at i on; he passed i t on t o Mr Scogan."Wel l ?" he sai d.

Mr . Scogan di d not r espond; he onl y r epeat ed t he quest i on,"Wel l ?"

I t was l ef t f or Henr y Wi mbush t o make a pr onouncement . "A veryagr eeabl e adj unct t o t he week- end, " he sai d. Hi s tone wasobi t uar y.

They had descended, wi t hout payi ng much at t ent i on where t hey wer egoi ng, t he st eep yew- wal k t hat went down, under t he f l ank of t het er r ace, t o t he pool . The house t owered above t hem, i mmensel yt al l , wi t h t he whol e hei ght of t he bui l t - up t er r ace added t o i t sown sevent y f eet of br i ck f acade. The per pendi cul ar l i nes of t het hr ee towers soar ed up, uni nt er r upt ed, enhanci ng the i mpr essi onof hei ght unt i l i t became overwhel mi ng. They paused at t he edgeof t he pool t o l ook back.

"The man who bui l t t hi s house knew hi s busi ness, " sai d Deni s."He was an archi t ect . "

"Was he?" sai d Henr y Wi mbush r ef l ect i vel y. " I doubt i t . Thebui l der of t hi s house was Si r Fer di nando Lapi t h, who f l our i sheddur i ng t he r ei gn of El i zabet h. He i nher i t ed t he est at e f r om hi sf at her , t o whomi t had been gr ant ed at t he t i me of t hedi ssol ut i on of t he monast er i es; f or Cr ome was or i gi nal l y a

cl oi st er of monks and t hi s swi mmi ng- pool t hei r f i sh- pond. Si rFer di nando was not cont ent merel y t o adapt t he ol d monast i c



bui l di ngs t o hi s own pur poses; but usi ng t hemas a st one quar r yf or hi s bar ns and byres and out houses, he bui l t f or hi msel f agrand new house of br i ck- - t he house you see now. "

He waved hi s hand i n the di r ect i on of t he house and was si l ent .sever e, i mposi ng, al most menaci ng, Cr ome l oomed down on them.

"The gr eat t hi ng about Cr ome, " sai d Mr . Scogan, sei zi ng t heoppor t uni t y t o speak, "i s t he f act t hat i t ' s so unmi st akabl y andaggressi vel y a work of ar t . I t makes no compr omi se wi t h nature,but af f r ont s i t and r ebel s agai nst i t . I t has no l i keness t oShel l ey' s t ower , i n t he ' Epi psychi di on, ' whi ch, i f I r ememberr i ght l y- -

" ' Seems not now a work of human ar t ,But as i t wer e t i t ani c, i n t he hear tOf ear t h havi ng assumed i t s f orm and gr ownOut of t he mount ai n, f r om t he l i vi ng st one,Li f t i ng i t sel f i n caver ns l i ght and hi gh. '

No, no, t her e i sn' t any nonsense of t hat sor t about Cr ome. Thatt he hovel s of t he peasant r y shoul d l ook as t hough t hey had gr ownout of t he ear t h, t o whi ch t hei r i nmat es ar e at t ached, i s r i ght ,no doubt , and sui t abl e. But t he house of an i nt el l i gent ,ci vi l i sed, and sophi st i cat ed man shoul d never seem t o havespr out ed f r om t he cl ods. I t shoul d r at her be an expr essi on ofhi s gr and unnat ur al r emot eness f r om t he cl oddi sh l i f e. Si nce t hedays of Wi l l i am Mor r i s t hat ' s a f act whi ch we i n Engl and havebeen unabl e t o compr ehend. Ci vi l i sed and sophi st i cated men havesol emnl y pl ayed at bei ng peasant s. Hence quai nt ness, art s andcraf t s, cot t age ar chi t ectur e, and al l t he r est of i t . I n t hesubur bs of our ci t i es you may see, r edupl i cat ed i n endl ess r ows,st udi edl y quai nt i mi t at i ons and adapt at i ons of t he vi l l age hovel .Pover t y, i gnor ance, and a l i mi t ed r ange of mat er i al s pr oduced t hehovel , whi ch possesses undoubt edl y, i n sui t abl e sur r oundi ngs, i t sown ' as i t were t i t ani c' char m. We now empl oy our weal t h, ourt echni cal knowl edge, our r i ch var i et y of mat er i al s f or t hepur pose of bui l di ng mi l l i ons of i mi t at i on hovel s i n t ot al l yunsui t abl e sur r oundi ngs. Coul d i mbeci l i t y go f ur t her ?"

Henr y Wi mbush t ook up t he t hr ead of hi s i nt err upt ed di scour se."Al l t hat you say, my dear Scogan, " he began, "i s cert ai nl y ver y j ust , ver y t r ue. But whether Si r Fer di nando shared your vi ewsabout ar chi t ect ur e or i f , i ndeed, he had any vi ews aboutar chi t ect ur e at al l , I ver y much doubt . I n bui l di ng t hi s house,Si r Fer di nando was, as a matt er of f act , pr eoccupi ed by onl y onet hought - - t he pr oper pl aci ng of hi s pr i vi es. Sani t at i on was t heone gr eat i nt er est of hi s l i f e. I n 1573 he even publ i shed, ont hi s subj ect, a l i t t l e book-- now ext r emel y scar ce- - cal l ed,' Cer t ai ne Pr i uy Counsel s' by ' One of Her Mai est i e' s MostHonour abl e Pri uy Counsel s, F. L. Kni ght ' , i n whi ch t he whol emat t er i s t r eat ed wi t h gr eat l ear ni ng and el egance. Hi s gui di ngpr i nci pl e i n ar r angi ng t he sani t at i on of a house was t o secur et hat t he gr eat est possi bl e di st ance shoul d separ at e t he pr i vyf r omt he sewage ar r angement s. Hence i t f ol l owed i nevi t abl y t hatt he pr i vi es were t o be pl aced at t he t op of t he house, bei ngconnect ed by ver t i cal shaf t s wi t h pi t s or channel s i n t he gr ound.I t must not be t hought t hat Si r Ferdi nando was moved onl y bymat er i al and mer el y sani t ar y consi der at i ons; f or t he pl aci ng of

hi s pr i vi es i n an exal t ed posi t i on he had al so cer t ai n excel l entspi r i t ual r easons. For , he ar gues i n t he t hi r d chapt er of hi s



' Pr i uy Counsel s' , t he necessi t i es of nat ur e ar e so base andbr ut i sh that i n obeyi ng them we ar e apt t o f or get t hat we ar e t henobl est cr eatur es of t he uni ver se. To count er act t hese degr adi ngef f ect s he advi sed t hat t he pr i vy shoul d be i n every house ther oom near est t o heaven, t hat i t shoul d be wel l pr ovi ded wi t hwi ndows commandi ng an ext ensi ve and nobl e pr ospect , and t hat t he

wal l s of t he chamber shoul d be l i ned wi t h bookshel ves cont ai ni ngal l t he r i pest pr oduct s of human wi sdom, such as t he Pr over bs ofSol omon, Boethi us' s ' Consol at i ons of Phi l osophy' , t he apopht hegmsof Epi ct et us and Mar cus Aur el i us, t he ' Enchi r i di on' of Er asmus,and al l ot her wor ks, anci ent or moder n, whi ch t est i f y to t henobi l i t y of t he human soul . I n Cr ome he was abl e t o put hi st heor i es i nt o pr act i ce. At t he t op of each of t he t hr eepr oj ect i ng t ower s he pl aced a pr i vy. From t hese a shaf t wentdown t he whol e hei ght of t he house, t hat i s t o say, more thansevent y f eet , t hr ough t he cel l ar s, and i nt o a ser i es of condui t spr ovi ded wi t h f l owi ng wat er t unnel l ed i n t he gr ound on a l evelwi t h t he base of t he r ai sed t er r ace. These condui t s empt i edt hemsel ves i nt o t he st r eamseveral hundr ed yar ds bel ow t he f i sh-

pond. The t ot al dept h of t he shaf t s f r om t he t op of t he t ower st o t hei r subt err anean condui t s was a hundr ed and t wo f eet . Theei ght eent h cent ur y, wi t h i t s passi on f or moder ni sat i on, sweptaway t hese monument s of sani t ary i ngenui t y. Were i t not f ort r adi t i on and t he expl i ci t account of t hem l ef t by Si rFer di nando, we shoul d be unaware t hat t hese nobl e pr i vi es hadever exi st ed. We shoul d even suppose t hat Si r Fer di nando bui l thi s house af t er t hi s st r ange and spl endi d model f or merel yaest het i c reasons. "

The cont empl at i on of t he gl or i es of t he past al ways evoked i nHenr y Wi mbush a cer t ai n ent husi asm. Under t he grey bowl er hi sf ace worked and gl owed as he spoke. The t hought of t hesevani shed pr i vi es moved hi m pr of oundl y. He ceased t o speak; t hel i ght gr adual l y di ed out of hi s f ace, and i t became once more t her epl i ca of t he gr ave, pol i t e hat whi ch shaded i t . Ther e was al ong si l ence; t he same gent l y mel anchol y t hought s seemed t opossess t he mi nd of each of t hem. Per manence, t r ansi ence- - Si rFer di nando and hi s pr i vi es were gone, Cr ome st i l l st ood. Howbri ght l y t he sun shone and how i nevi t abl e was deat h! The ways ofGod were st r ange; t he ways of man wer e st r anger s t i l l . . .

" I t does one' s hear t good, " excl ai med Mr . Scogan at l ast , " t ohear of t hese f ant ast i c Engl i sh ar i st ocrat s. To have a t heor yabout pr i vi es and t o bui l d an i mmense and spl endi d house i n or dert o put i t i nt o pract i se- - i t ' s magni f i cent , beaut i f ul ! I l i ke t ot hi nk of t hem al l : t he eccent r i c mi l or ds r ol l i ng across Eur opei n ponderous car r i ages, bound on ext r aor di nary er r ands. One i sgoi ng t o Veni ce t o buy La Bi anchi ' s l ar ynx; he won' t get i t t i l lshe' s dead, of cour se, but no mat t er; he' s pr epared t o wai t ; hehas a col l ecti on, pi ckl ed i n gl ass bot t l es, of t he t hr oat s off amous opera si ngers . And t he i nst r ument s of r enowned vi r t uosi - -he goes i n f or t hem t oo; he wi l l t r y t o br i be Pagani ni t o par twi t h hi s l i t t l e Guar ner i o, but he has smal l hope of success.Pagani ni won' t sel l hi s f i ddl e; but per haps he mi ght sacr i f i ceone of hi s gui t ars . Ot hers are bound on cr usades- - one t o di emi serabl y among t he savage Gr eeks, another , i n hi s whi t e t op hat ,t o l ead I t al i ans agai nst t hei r oppr essor s. Ot her s have nobusi ness at al l ; t hey ar e j ust gi vi ng t hei r oddi t y a cont i nent alai r i ng. At home t hey cul t i vat e t hemsel ves at l ei sur e and wi t h

gr eat er el abor at i on. Beckf or d bui l ds tower s, Por t l and di gs hol esi n t he gr ound, Cavendi sh, t he mi l l i onai r e, l i ves i n a st abl e,



eat s not hi ng but mut t on, and amuses hi msel f - - oh, sol el y f or hi spr i vat e del ectat i on- - by ant i ci pat i ng the el ectr i cal di scover i esof hal f a cent ur y. Gl or i ous eccent r i cs! Ever y age i s enl i venedby t hei r presence. Some day, my dear Deni s, " sai d Mr Scogan,t ur ni ng a beady br i ght r egar d i n hi s di r ect i on- - "some day youmust become t hei r bi ogr apher- - ' The Li ves of Queer Men. ' What a

subj ect! I shoul d l i ke t o under t ake i t mysel f . "

Mr . Scogan paused, l ooked up once more at t he t ower i ng house,t hen mur mur ed t he word "Eccent r i ci t y, " t wo or t hr ee t i mes.

"Eccent r i ci ty. . . I t ' s the j ust i f i cat i on of al l ar i s tocraci es . I t j ust i f i es l ei sured cl asses and i nher i t ed weal t h and pr i vi l ege andendowment s and al l t he ot her i nj ust i ces of t hat sor t . I f you' r et o do anythi ng r easonabl e i n t hi s wor l d, you must have a cl ass ofpeopl e who ar e secur e, saf e f r om publ i c opi ni on, saf e f r ompover t y, l ei sur ed, not compel l ed t o wast e t hei r t i me i n t hei mbeci l e r out i nes t hat go by t he name of Honest Work. You musthave a cl ass of whi ch t he members can t hi nk and, wi t hi n t he

obvi ous l i mi t s, do what t hey pl ease. You must have a cl ass i nwhi ch peopl e who have eccent r i ci t i es can i ndul ge themand i nwhi ch eccent r i ci t y i n gener al wi l l be tol er at ed and under st ood. That ' s t he i mpor t ant t hi ng about an ar i st ocr acy. Not onl y i s i teccent r i c i t sel f - - of t en gr andi osel y so; i t al so t ol er at es andeven encour ages eccent r i ci t y i n ot her s. The eccent r i ci t i es oft he ar t i st and t he new- f angl ed t hi nker don' t i nspi r e i t wi t h t hatf ear , l oat hi ng, and di sgust whi ch t he bur gesses i nst i nct i vel yf eel t owar ds t hem. I t i s a sor t of Red I ndi an Reser vat i onpl ant ed i n t he mi dst of a vast hor de of Poor Whi t es- - col oni al s att hat . Wi t hi n i t s boundar i es wi l d men di spor t t hemsel ves- - of t en,i t must be admi t t ed, a l i t t l e gr ossl y, a l i t t l e t oo f l amboyant l y;and when ki ndr ed spi r i t s ar e bor n out si de t he pal e i t of f er s t hemsome sor t of r ef uge f r omt he hatr ed whi ch the Poor Whi t es, enbons bour geoi s, l avi sh on anythi ng t hat i s wi l d or out of t heor di nar y. Af t er t he soci al r evol ut i on t her e wi l l be noReservat i ons; t he Redski ns wi l l be dr owned i n t he gr eat sea ofPoor Whi t es. What t hen? Wi l l t hey suf f er you t o go on wr i t i ngvi l l anel l es, my good Deni s? Wi l l you, unhappy Henr y, be al l owedt o l i ve i n t hi s house of t he spl endi d pr i vi es, t o cont i nue yourqui et del vi ng i n t he mi nes of f ut i l e knowl edge? Wi l l Anne. . . "

"And you, " sai d Anne, i nt er r upt i ng hi m, "wi l l you be al l owed t ogo on t al ki ng?"

"You may r est assur ed, " Mr . Scogan r epl i ed, "t hat I shal l not . Ishal l have some Honest Work t o do. "

CHAPTER XI I .

Bl i ght , Mi l dew, and Smut . . . " Mar y was puzzl ed and di st r essed.Per haps her ear s had pl ayed her f al se. Per haps what he hadr eal l y sai d was, "Squi r e, Bi nyon, and Shanks, " or "Chi l de,Bl unden, and Ear p, " or even "Aber cr ombi e, Dr i nkwater , andRabi ndr anath Tagor e. " Per haps. But t hen her ears never di d pl ayher f al se. "Bl i ght , Mi l dew, and Smut . " The i mpr essi on wasdi st i nct and i nef f aceabl e. "Bl i ght , Mi l dew. . . " she was f or ced t ot he concl usi on, r el uct ant l y, t hat Deni s had i ndeed pr onouncedt hose i mpr obabl e wor ds. He had del i ber atel y r epel l ed her

at t empt s t o open a ser i ous di scussi on. That was hor r i bl e. A manwho woul d not t al k ser i ousl y t o a woman j ust because she was a



woman- - oh, i mpossi bl e! Eger i a or nothi ng. Per haps Gombaul dwoul d be mor e sat i sf act or y. Tr ue, hi s mer i di onal heredi t y was al i t t l e di squi et i ng; but at l east he was a ser i ous wor ker , and i twas wi t h hi s wor k that she woul d associ ate her sel f . And Deni s?Af t er al l , what WAS Deni s? A di l et t ant e, an amat eur . . .

Gombaul d had annexed f or hi s pai nt i ng- r oom a l i t t l e di susedgr anar y that st ood by i t sel f i n a gr een cl ose beyond t he f arm-yar d. I t was a square br i ck bui l di ng wi t h a peaked r oof andl i t t l e wi ndows set hi gh up i n each of i t s wal l s. A l adder off our r ungs l ed up t o the door ; f or t he granary was perched abovet he gr ound, and out of r each of t he rat s, on f our massi vet oadst ool s of gr ey st one. Wi t hi n, t her e l i nger ed a f ai nt smel lof dust and cobwebs; and the narr ow shaf t of sunl i ght t hat camesl ant i ng i n at ever y hour of t he day through one of t he l i t t l ewi ndows was al ways al i ve wi t h si l very motes. Here Gombaul dwor ked, wi t h a ki nd of concent r at ed f er oci t y, dur i ng si x or sevenhours of each day. He was pursui ng somet hi ng new, somethi ngt err i f i c, i f onl y he coul d catch i t .

Dur i ng the l ast ei ght year s, near l y hal f of whi ch had been spenti n t he pr ocess of wi nni ng t he war, he had worked hi s wayi ndust r i ousl y t hrough cubi sm. Now he had come out on t he othersi de. He had begun by pai nt i ng a f or mal i sed nat ur e; t hen, l i t t l eby l i t t l e, he had r i sen f r om nat ur e i nt o t he wor l d of pur e f or m,t i l l i n t he end he was pai nt i ng not hi ng but hi s own t hought s,exter nal i sed i n t he abst r act geomet r i cal f or ms of t he mi nd' sdevi si ng. He f ound t he pr ocess arduous and exhi l arat i ng. Andt hen, qui t e suddenl y, he gr ew di ssat i sf i ed; he f el t hi msel fcr amped and conf i ned wi t hi n i nt ol er abl y nar r ow l i mi t at i ons. Hewas humi l i ated t o f i nd how f ew and crude and uni nt erest i ng weret he f orms he coul d i nvent ; t he i nvent i ons of nat ur e were wi t houtnumber, i nconcei vabl y subt l e and el aborate. He had done wi t hcubi sm. He was out on t he ot her si de. But t he cubi st di sci pl i nepr eser ved hi m f r om f al l i ng i nt o excesses of nat ur e wor shi p. Het ook f r om nat ur e i t s ri ch, subt l e, el abor at e f or ms, but hi s ai mwas al ways t o work t hemi nt o a whol e t hat shoul d have thet hr i l l i ng si mpl i ci t y and f or mal i t y of an i dea; t o combi nepr odi gi ous r eal i sm wi t h pr odi gi ous si mpl i f i cat i on. Memor i es ofCaravaggi o' s por t ent ous achi evement s haunted hi m. Forms of abr eat hi ng, l i vi ng r eal i t y emer ged f r om dar kness, bui l t t hemsel vesup i nt o composi t i ons as l umi nousl y si mpl e and si ngl e as amat hemat i cal i dea. He t hought of t he "Cal l of Mat t hew, " of"Pet er Cr uci f i ed, " of t he "Lut e pl ayer s, " of "Magdal en. " He hadt he secr et , t hat ast oni shi ng r uf f i an, he had t he secr et ! And nowGombaul d was af t er i t , i n hot pur sui t . Yes, i t woul d besomet hi ng t er r i f i c, i f onl y he coul d cat ch i t .

For a l ong t i me an i dea had been st i r r i ng and spreadi ng,yeast i l y, i n hi s mi nd. He had made a por t f ol i o f ul l of st udi es,he had dr awn a car t oon; and now t he i dea was t aki ng shape oncanvas. A man f al l en f r om a horse. The huge ani mal , a gauntwhi t e car t - hor se, f i l l ed t he upper hal f of t he pi cture wi t h i t sgreat body. I t s head, l owered t owards t he ground, was i n shadow;t he i mmense bony body was what ar r est ed the eye, t he body and thel egs, whi ch came down on ei t her si de of t he pi ct ur e l i ke t hepi l l ar s of an ar ch. On t he gr ound, bet ween t he l egs of t het ower i ng beast , l ay t he f or eshor t ened f i gur e of a man, t he headi n t he ext r eme f or egr ound, t he ar ms f l ung wi de to ri ght and l ef t .

A whi t e, r el ent l ess l i ght pour ed down f r om a poi nt i n t he r i ghtf or egr ound. The beast , t he f al l en man, wer e shar pl y i l l umi nat ed;



r ound t hem, beyond and behi nd t hem, was t he ni ght . They wereal one i n t he dar kness, a uni ver se i n t hemsel ves. The hor se' sbody f i l l ed t he upper par t of t he pi ct ur e; t he l egs, t he gr eathoof s, f r ozen t o st i l l ness i n t he mi dst of t hei r t r ampl i ng,l i mi t ed i t on ei t her si de. And beneat h l ay t he man, hi sf or eshor t ened f ace at t he f ocal poi nt i n t he cent r e, hi s ar ms

out st r et ched t owar ds t he si des of t he pi ct ur e. Under t he ar ch oft he hor se' s bel l y, bet ween hi s l egs, t he eye l ooked t hr ough i nt oan i nt ense dar kness; bel ow, t he space was cl osed i n by t he f i gur eof t he pr ost r ate man. A cent r al gul f of dar kness sur r ounded byl umi nous f or ms. . .

The pi ct ure was mor e t han hal f f i ni shed. Gombaul d had been atwork al l t he morni ng on t he f i gur e of t he man, and now he wast aki ng a r est - - t he t i me t o smoke a ci gar et t e. Ti l t i ng back hi schai r t i l l i t t ouched t he wal l , he l ooked t hought f ul l y at hi scanvas. He was pl eased, and at t he same t i me he was desol ated.I n i t sel f , t he t hi ng was good; he knew i t . But t hat somet hi ng hewas af t er , t hat somet hi ng t hat woul d be so ter r i f i c i f onl y he

coul d cat ch i t - - had he caught i t ? Woul d he ever cat ch i t ?

Three l i t t l e t aps- - r at , t at , t at ! Surpr i sed, Gombaul d t urned hi seyes t owards t he door . Nobody ever di st ur bed hi m whi l e he was atwor k; i t was one of t he unwr i t t en l aws. "Come i n! " he cal l ed. The door , whi ch was aj ar , swung open, r eveal i ng, f r om t he wai stupwards, t he f orm of Mary. She had onl y dar ed t o mount hal f - wayup t he l adder . I f he di dn' t want her , r et r eat woul d be easi er

and mor e di gni f i ed than i f she cl i mbed t o the top.

"May I come i n?" she asked.

"Cert ai nl y. "

She ski pped up t he r emai ni ng t wo rungs and was over t he t hreshol di n an i nst ant . "A l et t er came f or you by t he second post , " shesai d. "I t hought i t mi ght be i mpor t ant , so I br ought i t out t oyou. " Her eyes, her chi l di sh f ace were l umi nousl y candi d as shehanded hi m t he l et t er . Ther e had never been a f l i msi er pret ext .

Gombaul d l ooked at t he envel ope and put i t i n hi s pocketunopened. "Lucki l y, " he sai d, "i t i sn' t at al l i mpor t ant . Thanks ver y much al l t he same. "

There was a si l ence; Mar y f el t a l i t t l e uncomf or t abl e. "May Ihave a l ook at what you' ve been pai nt i ng?" she had t he cour age t osay at l ast .

Gombaul d had onl y hal f smoked hi s c i gar et t e; i n any case hewoul dn' t begi n wor k agai n t i l l he had f i ni shed. He woul d gi veher t he f i ve mi nut es t hat separ at ed hi m f r om t he bi t t er end."Thi s i s t he best pl ace t o see i t f r om, " he sai d.

Mar y l ooked at t he pi ct ur e f or some t i me wi t hout sayi ng anythi ng.I ndeed, she di dn' t know what t o say; she was t aken aback, she wasat a l oss. She had expect ed a cubi st mast erpi ece, and here was api ct ur e of a man and a horse, not onl y recogni sabl e as such, buteven aggr essi vel y i n dr awi ng. Tr ompe- l ' oei l - - t her e was no ot herwor d t o descr i be t he del i neat i on of t hat f or eshor t ened f i gur e

under t he t r ampl i ng f eet of t he hor se. What was she t o t hi nk,what was she t o say? Her or i ent at i ons were gone. One coul d



admi r e r epr esent at i onal i sm i n t he Ol d Mast er s. Obvi ousl y. Buti n a modern. . . ? At ei ght een she mi ght have done so. But now,af t er f i ve year s of school i ng among the best j udges, heri nst i nct i ve r eact i on t o a cont empor ar y pi ece of r epr esent at i onwas cont empt - - an out bur st of l aughi ng di spar agement . What coul dGombaul d be up t o? She had f el t so saf e i n admi r i ng hi s work

bef or e. But now- - she di dn' t know what t o t hi nk. I t was ver ydi f f i cul t , ver y di f f i cul t .

"Ther e' s r at her a l ot of chi ar oscur o, i sn' t t her e?" she vent ur edat l ast , and i nwar dl y congr at ul at ed her sel f on havi ng f ound acr i t i cal f or mul a so gent l e and at t he same t i me so penet r at i ng.

"There i s, " Gombaul d agr eed.

Mar y was pl eased; he accept ed her cr i t i ci sm; i t was a ser i ousdi scussi on. She put her head on one si de and scr ewed up hereyes. "I t hi nk i t ' s awf ul l y f i ne, " she sai d. "But of cour sei t ' s a l i t t l e too. . . too. . . t rompe- l ' oei l f or my t aste. " She

l ooked at Gombaul d, who made no r esponse, but cont i nued t o smoke,gazi ng medi t at i vel y al l t he t i me at hi s pi ct ur e. Mar y went ongaspi ngl y. "When I was i n Par i s t hi s spr i ng I saw a l ot of Tschupl i t ski . I admi r e hi s wor k so t r emendousl y. Of cour se,i t ' s f r i ght f ul l y abstr act now- - f r i ght f ul l y abstr act andf r i ght f ul l y i nt el l ectual . He j ust t hr ows a f ew obl ongs on t o hi scanvas- - qui t e f l at , you know, and pai nt ed i n pur e pr i mar ycol our s. But hi s desi gn i s wonder f ul . He' s get t i ng mor e andmore abst r act every day. He' d gi ven up t he t hi r d di mensi on whenI was t her e and was j ust t hi nki ng of gi vi ng up t he second. Soon,he says, t her e' l l be j ust t he bl ank canvas. That ' s the l ogi calconcl usi on. Compl et e abst r acti on. Pai nt i ng' s f i ni shed; he' sf i ni shi ng i t . When he' s r eached pur e abst r act i on he' s goi ng t ot ake up ar chi t ect ur e. He says i t ' s mor e i nt el l ect ual t hanpai nt i ng. Do you agr ee?" she asked, wi t h a f i nal gasp.

Gombaul d dropped hi s ci garet t e end and t r od on i t ."Tschupl i t ski ' s f i ni shed pai nt i ng, " he sai d. "I ' ve f i ni shed myci gar et t e. But I ' m goi ng on pai nt i ng. " And, advanci ng t owar dsher , he put hi s arm r ound her shoul ders and t ur ned her r ound,away f r om t he pi ct ur e.

Mary l ooked up at hi m; her hai r swung back, a soundl ess bel l ofgol d. Her eyes were ser ene; she smi l ed. So t he moment had come.Hi s ar m was r ound her. He moved sl owl y, al most i mpercept i bl y,and she moved wi t h hi m. I t was a per i pat et i c embracement . "Doyou agree wi t h hi m?" she repeat ed. The moment mi ght have come,but she woul d not cease t o be i nt el l ectual , ser i ous.

" I don' t know. I shal l have t o t hi nk about i t . " Gombaul dl oosened hi s embr ace, hi s hand dr opped f r omher shoul der . "Becar ef ul goi ng down t he l adder , " he added sol i ci t ousl y.

Mar y l ooked r ound, st ar t l ed. They were i n f r ont of t he opendoor . She r emai ned st andi ng t her e f or a moment i n bewi l der ment . The hand t hat had r est ed on her shoul der made i t sel f f el t l owerdown her back; i t admi ni st er ed t hr ee or f our ki ndl y l i t t l esmacks. Repl yi ng aut omat i cal l y t o i t s st i mul us, she movedf or war d.

"Be car ef ul goi ng down t he l adder , " sai d Gombaul d once more.



She was car ef ul . The door cl osed behi nd her and she was al one i nt he l i t t l e gr een cl ose. She wal ked sl owl y back t hr ough t hef armyar d; she was pensi ve.

CHAPTER XI I I .

Henr y Wi mbush br ought down wi t h hi m t o di nner a budget of pr i ntedsheet s l oosel y bound t oget her i n a car dboar d por t f ol i o.

"To- day, " he sai d, exhi bi t i ng i t wi t h a cer t ai n sol emni t y, "t o-day I have f i ni shed t he pr i nt i ng of my ' Hi st or y of Cr ome' . Ihel ped t o set up t he type of t he l ast page thi s eveni ng. "

"The f amous Hi st or y?" cr i ed Anne. The wr i t i ng and t he pr i nt i ngof t hi s Magnum Opus had been goi ng on as l ong as she coul dr emember . Al l her chi l dhood l ong Uncl e Henr y' s Hi st ory had beena vague and f abul ous t hi ng, of t en heard of and never seen.

" I t has taken me nearl y thi r t y year s, " sai d Mr . Wi mbush."Twent y- f i ve year s of wr i t i ng and near l y f our of pr i nt i ng. Andnow i t ' s f i ni shed- - t he whol e chr oni cl e, f r om Si r Fer di nandoLapi t h' s bi r t h t o t he deat h of my f at her Wi l l i am Wi mbush- - mor et han t hr ee cent ur i es and a hal f : a hi st or y of Cr ome, wr i t t en atCr ome, and pri nted at Cr ome by my own pr ess. "

"Shal l we be al l owed t o r ead i t now i t ' s f i ni shed?" asked Deni s.

Mr . Wi mbush nodded. "Cer t ai nl y, " he sai d. "And I hope you wi l lnot f i nd i t uni nt erest i ng, " he added modest l y. "Our muni mentr oom i s par t i cul ar l y ri ch i n anci ent r ecor ds, and I have somegenui nel y new l i ght t o t hr ow on t he i nt r oduct i on of t he t hr ee-pr onged f or k. "

"And t he peopl e?" asked Gombaul d. "Si r Fer di nando and t he r estof t hem- - were t hey amusi ng? Were t her e any cr i mes or t r agedi esi n t he f ami l y?"

"Let me see, " Henr y Wi mbush r ubbed hi s chi n t hought f ul l y. " I canonl y t hi nk of t wo sui ci des, one vi ol ent deat h, f our or per hapsf i ve br oken hear t s, and hal f a dozen l i t t l e bl ot s on t hescut cheon i n t he way of mi sal l i ances, seduct i ons, nat ur alchi l dr en, and t he l i ke. No, on t he whol e, i t ' s a pl aci d andunevent f ul r ecor d. "

"The Wi mbushes and t he Lapi t hs were al ways an unadventurous,r espectabl e crew, " sai d Pr i sci l l a, wi t h a not e of scor n i n hervoi ce. "I f I wer e t o wr i t e my f ami l y hi st or y now! Why, i t woul dbe one l ong cont i nuous bl ot f r ombegi nni ng t o end. " She l aughed j ovi al l y, and hel ped hersel f t o another gl ass of wi ne.

" I f I wer e t o wr i t e mi ne, " Mr . Scogan r emar ked, "i t woul dn' texi st . Af t er t he second generat i on we Scogans ar e l ost i n t hemi sts of ant i qui t y. "

"Af t er di nner , " sai d Henr y Wi mbush, a l i t t l e pi qued by hi s wi f e' sdi spar agi ng comment on t he mast ers of Cr ome, " I ' l l r ead you anepi sode f r ommy Hi st ory t hat wi l l make you admi t t hat even t heLapi t hs, i n t hei r own r espect abl e way, had t hei r t r agedi es and

st r ange advent ur es. "



" I ' mgl ad to hear i t , " sai d Pr i sci l l a.

"Gl ad t o hear what ?" asked J enny, emergi ng suddenl y f r omherpr i vat e i nt er i or wor l d l i ke a cuckoo f r om a cl ock. She r ecei vedan expl anat i on, smi l ed, nodded, cuckooed at l ast " I see, " andpopped back, cl appi ng shut t he door behi nd her .

Di nner was eat en; t he par t y had adj our ned t o t he dr awi ng- r oom.

"Now, " sai d Henr y Wi mbush, pul l i ng up a chai r t o t he l amp. Heput on hi s r ound pi nce- nez, r i mmed wi t h t ort oi se- shel l , and begancaut i ousl y t o t ur n over t he pages of hi s l oose and st i l lf r agment ar y book. He f ound hi s pl ace at l ast . "Shal l I begi n?"he asked, l ooki ng up.

"Do, " sai d Pr i sci l l a, yawni ng.

I n t he mi dst of an at t ent i ve si l ence Mr . Wi mbush gave a l i t t l epr el i mi nar y cough and st art ed t o r ead.

"The i nf ant who was dest i ned t o become t he f our t h baronet of t hename of Lapi t h was born i n t he year 1740. He was a very smal lbaby, wei ghi ng not mor e than t hr ee pounds at bi r t h, but f r omt hef i r st he was st ur dy and heal t hy. I n honour of hi s mat er nalgr andf at her, Si r Her cul es Occam of Bi shop' s Occam, he waschr i st ened Her cul es. Hi s mot her, l i ke many ot her mother s, kept anot ebook, i n whi ch hi s progr ess f r om mont h to mont h was r ecor ded.He wal ked at t en mont hs, and bef ore hi s second year was out hehad l ear nt t o speak a number of words. At t hree year s he wei ghedbut t went y- f our pounds, and at si x, t hough he coul d r ead andwr i t e perf ect l y and showed a remarkabl e apt i t ude f or musi c, hewas no l ar ger and heavi er t han a wel l - gr own chi l d of t wo.Meanwhi l e, hi s mother had borne t wo ot her chi l dr en, a boy and agi r l , one of whom di ed of croup dur i ng i nf ancy, whi l e the ot herwas car r i ed of f by smal l pox bef or e i t r eached t he age of f i ve.Her cul es r emai ned t he onl y sur vi vi ng chi l d.

"On hi s t wel f t h bi r t hday Her cul es was st i l l onl y t hr ee f eet andt wo i nches i n hei ght . Hi s head, whi ch was ver y handsome andnobl y shaped, was t oo bi g f or hi s body, but otherwi se he wasexqui si t el y pr opor t i oned, and, f or hi s si ze, of gr eat st r engt hand agi l i t y. Hi s par ent s, i n t he hope of maki ng hi m gr ow,consul t ed al l t he most emi nent physi ci ans of t he t i me. Thei rvar i ous pr escri pt i ons wer e f ol l owed t o t he l et t er , but i n vai n.One or der ed a ver y pl ent i f ul meat di et ; anot her exer ci se; a t hi r dconst r uct ed a l i t t l e rack, model l ed on t hose empl oyed by t he Hol yI nqui si t i on, on whi ch young Her cul es was st r et ched, wi t hexcr uci at i ng t or ment s, f or hal f an hour ever y morni ng andeveni ng. I n t he cour se of t he next t hr ee year s Hercul es gai nedper haps two i nches. Af t er t hat hi s gr owt h st opped compl etel y,and he r emai ned f or t he r est of hi s l i f e a pi gmy of t hr ee f eetand f our i nches. Hi s f at her, who had bui l t t he most ext r avaganthopes upon hi s son, pl anni ng f or hi m i n hi s i magi nat i on ami l i t ar y car eer equal t o t hat of Mar l bor ough, f ound hi msel f adi sappoi nt ed man. ' I have br ought an abor t i on i nt o t he wor l d, 'he woul d say, and he took so vi ol ent a di sl i ke t o hi s son t hatt he boy dared scar cel y come i nt o hi s pr esence. Hi s t emper, whi chhad been ser ene, was t urned by di sappoi ntment t o moroseness andsavagery. He avoi ded al l company ( bei ng, as he sai d, ashamed t o

show hi msel f , t he f ather of a l usus nat ur ae, among nor mal ,heal t hy human bei ngs) , and took t o sol i t ar y dr i nki ng, whi ch



car r i ed hi m ver y rapi dl y to hi s gr ave; f or t he year bef or eHercul es came of age hi s f ather was t aken of f by an apopl exy.Hi s mother , whose l ove f or hi m had i ncr eased wi t h the gr owt h ofhi s f at her ' s unki ndness, di d not l ong sur vi ve, but l i t t l e mor et han a year af t er her husband' s death succumbed, af t er eat i ng t wodozen of oyster s, t o an at t ack of t yphoi d f ever .

"Hercul es t hus f ound hi msel f at t he age of t went y- one al one i nt he wor l d, and mast er of a consi der abl e f or t une, i ncl udi ng t heest ate and mansi on of Crome. The beaut y and i nt el l i gence of hi schi l dhood had sur vi ved i nt o hi s manl y age, and, but f or hi sdwarf i sh st ature, he woul d have t aken hi s pl ace among thehandsomest and most accompl i shed young men of hi s t i me. He waswel l r ead i n t he Gr eek and Lat i n aut hor s, as wel l as i n al l t hemoder ns of any mer i t who had wr i t t en i n Engl i sh, French, orI t al i an. He had a good ear f or musi c, and was no i ndi f f er entper f or mer on t he vi ol i n, whi ch he used t o pl ay l i ke a bass vi ol ,seat ed on a chai r wi t h t he i nst r ument between hi s l egs. To t hemusi c of t he har psi chor d and cl avi chord he was ext r emel y part i al ,

but t he smal l ness of hi s hands made i t i mpossi bl e f or hi m ever t oper f or m upon t hese i nst r ument s. He had a smal l i vor y f l ut e madef or hi m, on whi ch, whenever he was mel anchol y, he used t o pl ay asi mpl e count r y ai r or j i g, af f i r mi ng t hat t hi s r ust i c musi c hadmor e power t o cl ear and rai se t he spi r i t s t han the mostar t i f i ci al pr oduct i ons of t he mast er s. From an ear l y age hepr act i sed t he composi t i on of poet r y, but , t hough consci ous of hi sgr eat powers i n thi s ar t , he woul d never publ i sh any speci men ofhi s wr i t i ng. ' My st at ur e, ' he woul d say, ' i s ref l ected i n myver ses; i f t he publ i c wer e t o r ead t hem i t woul d not be because Iam a poet , but because I am a dwar f . ' Sever al MS. books of Si rHer cul es' s poems sur vi ve. A si ngl e speci men wi l l suf f i ce t oi l l ustr at e hi s qual i t i es as a poet .

" ' I n anci ent days, whi l e yet t he worl d was young,Er e Abr amf ed hi s f l ocks or Homer sung;When bl acksmi t h Tubal t amed creat i ve f i r e,And J abal dwel t i n t ent s and J ubal st r uck the l yre;Fl esh gr own cor r upt br ought f or t h a monst r ous bi r t hAnd obscene gi ant s t r od t he shr i nki ng ear t h, Ti l l God, i mpat i ent of t hei r si nf ul brood,Gave r ei n to wr ath and dr own' d them i n t he Fl ood. Teemi ng agai n, r epeopl ed Tel l us bore The l ubber Her o and t he Man of War ;Huge t owers of Br awn, t opp' d wi t h an empty Skul l ,Wi t l essl y bol d, heroi cal l y dul l .Long ages pass' d and Man grown more r ef i n' d,Sl i ght er i n muscl e but of vast er Mi nd,Smi l ed at hi s gr andsi r e' s br oadswor d, bow and bi l l ,And l ear n' d t o wi el d t he Penci l and t he Qui l l . The gl owi ng canvas and t he wr i t t en pageI mmor t al i z' d hi s name f r omage t o age,Hi s name embl azon' d on Fame' s t empl e wal l ;For Ar t grew great as Humanki nd grew smal l . Thus man' s l ong progress st ep by st ep we t r ace; The Gi ant di es, t he hero t akes hi s pl ace; The Gi ant vi l e, t he dul l heroi c Bl ock:At one we shudder and at one we mock.Man l ast appear s. I n hi m t he Soul ' s pur e f l ameBur ns br i ght l i er i n a not i nor d' nat e f r ame.

Of ol d when Heroes f ought and Gi ant s swarmed,Men were huge mounds of mat t er scarce i nf orm' d;



Wear i ed by l eaveni ng so vast a mass, The spi r i t sl ept and al l t he mi nd was cr ass. The smal l er car case of t hese l at er daysI s soon i nf orm' d; t he Soul unwear i ed pl aysAnd l i ke a Pharos dar t s abr oad her ment al r ays.But can we thi nk t hat Provi dence wi l l st ay

Man' s f ootst eps here upon the upward way?Manki nd i n under st andi ng and i n gr aceAdvanc' d so f ar beyond the Gi ant s' r ace?Hence i mpi ous thought ! St i l l l ed by GOD' S own Hand,Manki nd pr oceeds t owards t he Pr omi sed Land.A t i me wi l l come ( pr ophet i c, I descr yRemoter dawns al ong the gl oomy sky) ,When happy mor t al s of a Gol den AgeWi l l backwar d t ur n t he dar k hi st or i c page,And i n our vaunted r ace of Men behol dA f or m as gr oss, a Mi nd as dead and col d,As we i n Gi ant s see, i n war r i or s of ol d.A t i me wi l l come, wher ei n t he soul shal l be

From al l super f l uous mat t er whol l y f r ee;When t he l i ght body, agi l e as a f awn' s,Shal l spor t wi t h gr ace al ong t he vel vet l awns.Nat ur e' s most del i cat e and f i nal bi r t h,Manki nd perf ect ed shal l possess t he ear t h.But ah, not yet ! For st i l l t he Gi ant s' r ace,Huge, t hough di mi ni sh' d, t r amps t he Ear t h' s f ai r f ace;Gr oss and r epul si ve, yet per ver sel y pr oud,Men of t hei r i mper f ect i ons boast al oud.Vai n of thei r bul k, of al l they s t i l l retai nOf gi ant ugl i ness absur dl y vai n;At al l t hat ' s smal l t hey poi nt t hei r st upi d scor nAnd, monst er s, t hi nk t hemsel ves di vi nel y bor n.Sad i s t he Fat e of t hose, ah, sad i ndeed, The r ar e precur sor s of t he nobl er breed!Who come man' s gol den gl ory t o f oretel l ,But poi nt i ng Heav' nwar ds l i ve t hemsel ves i n Hel l . '

"As soon as he came i nt o the est ate, Si r Her cul es set aboutr emodel l i ng hi s househol d. For t hough by no means ashamed of hi sdef or mi t y- - i ndeed, i f we may j udge f r om t he poem quoted above, her egarded hi msel f as bei ng i n many ways super i or t o t he ordi naryr ace of man- - he f ound t he presence of f ul l - grown men and womenembar r assi ng. Real i si ng, t oo, t hat he must abandon al l ambi t i onsi n t he gr eat wor l d, he det er mi ned t o r et i r e absol ut el y f r om i tand t o cr eat e, as i t were, at Cr ome a pr i vat e worl d of hi s own,i n whi ch al l shoul d be pr opor t i onabl e t o hi msel f . Accor di ngl y,he di schar ged al l t he ol d servant s of t he house and r epl aced t hemgr adual l y, as he was abl e t o f i nd sui t abl e successor s, by ot her sof dwarf i sh st at ur e. I n t he cour se of a f ew years he hadassembl ed about hi msel f a numerous househol d, no member of whi chwas above f our f eet hi gh and the smal l est among them scar cel y t wof eet and si x i nches. Hi s f at her ' s dogs, such as set t er s,mast i f f s, gr eyhounds, and a pack of beagl es, he sol d or gave awayas t oo l ar ge and t oo boi st er ous f or hi s house, r epl aci ng t hem bypugs and Ki ng Char l es spani el s and what ever other br eeds of dogwer e t he smal l est . Hi s f at her ' s st abl e was al so sol d. For hi sown use, whether r i di ng or dr i vi ng, he had si x bl ack Shet l andponi es, wi t h f our ver y choi ce pi ebal d ani mal s of New For estbr eed.

"Havi ng t hus set t l ed hi s househol d ent i r el y t o hi s own



sat i sf acti on, i t onl y r emai ned f or hi m t o f i nd some sui t abl ecompani on wi t h whom t o shar e hi s paradi se. Si r Hercul es had asuscept i bl e hear t , and had more than once, bet ween t he ages ofsi xteen and t went y, f el t what i t was to l ove. But her e hi sdef or mi t y had been a sour ce of t he most bi t t er humi l i at i on, f or ,havi ng once dared to decl ar e hi msel f t o a young l ady of hi s

choi ce, he had been r ecei ved wi t h l aught er . On hi s per si st i ng,she had pi cked hi m up and shaken hi m l i ke an i mpor t unate chi l d,t el l i ng hi m t o r un away and pl ague her no more. The st ory soongot about - - i ndeed, t he young l ady her sel f used t o tel l i t as apar t i cul ar l y pl easant anecdot e- - and the t aunt s and mocker y i toccasi oned wer e a sour ce of t he most acut e di st r ess t o Hercul es.Fromt he poems wr i t t en at t hi s per i od we gat her t hat he medi t at edt aki ng hi s own l i f e. I n cour se of t i me, however , he l i ved downt hi s humi l i at i on; but never agai n, t hough he of t en f el l i n l ove,and that ver y passi onatel y, di d he dare t o make any advances t ot hose i n whomhe was i nt erest ed. Af t er comi ng t o t he est at e andf i ndi ng t hat he was i n a posi t i on t o cr eat e hi s own worl d as hedesi r ed i t , he saw t hat , i f he was t o have a wi f e- - whi ch he ver y

much desi r ed, bei ng of an af f ect i onate and, i ndeed, amoroust emper- - he must choose her as he had chosen hi s ser vants- - f r omamong t he r ace of dwar f s. But t o f i nd a sui t abl e wi f e was, hef ound, a mat t er of some di f f i cul t y; f or he woul d marr y none whowas not di st i ngui shed by beaut y and gent l e bi r t h. The dwar f i shdaughter of Lord Bembor o he ref used on t he ground t hat besi desbei ng a pi gmy she was hunchbacked; whi l e anot her young l ady, anorphan bel ongi ng t o a ver y good f ami l y i n Hampshi r e, was rej ectedby hi m because her f ace, l i ke t hat of so many dwarf s, was wi zenedand r epul si ve. Fi nal l y, when he was al most despai r i ng ofsuccess, he hear d f r om a rel i abl e sour ce t hat Count Ti t i mal o, aVenet i an nobl eman, possessed a daught er of exqui si t e beauty andgr eat accompl i shment s, who was by t hr ee f eet i n hei ght . Set t i ngout at once f or Veni ce, he went i mmedi at el y on hi s ar r i val t o payhi s r espect s t o t he count , whom he f ound l i vi ng wi t h hi s wi f e andf i ve chi l dr en i n a ver y mean apar t ment i n one of t he poor erquart ers of t he t own. I ndeed, t he count was so f ar r educed i nhi s ci r cumst ances t hat he was even then negot i at i ng ( so i t wasr umour ed) wi t h a t r avel l i ng company of cl owns and acr obats, whohad had the mi sf or t une to l ose t hei r per f or mi ng dwar f , f or t hesal e of hi s di mi nut i ve daught er Fi l omena. Si r Her cul es ar r i vedi n t i me to save her f r omt hi s unt owar d f at e, f or he was so muchchar med by Fi l omena' s grace and beaut y, t hat at t he end of t hreedays' cour t shi p he made her a f ormal of f er of marr i age, whi ch wasaccept ed by her no l ess j oyf ul l y than by her f at her, whoper cei ved i n an Engl i sh son- i n- l aw a ri ch and unf ai l i ng sour ce ofr evenue. Af t er an unost ent at i ous mar r i age, at whi ch t he Engl i shambassador acted as one of t he wi t nesses, Si r Hercul es and hi sbr i de ret ur ned by sea t o Engl and, where t hey set t l ed down, as i tpr oved, t o a l i f e of unevent f ul happi ness.

"Cr ome and i t s househol d of dwarf s del i ght ed Fi l omena, who f el ther sel f now f or t he f i r st t i me to be a f r ee woman l i vi ng amongher equal s i n a f r i endl y wor l d. She had many t ast es i n commonwi t h her husband, especi al l y t hat of musi c. She had a beaut i f ulvoi ce, of a power sur pr i si ng i n one so smal l , and coul d t ouch Ai n al t wi t hout ef f or t . Accompani ed by her husband on hi s f i neCr emona f i ddl e, whi ch he pl ayed, as we have not ed bef ore, as onepl ays a bass vi ol , she woul d si ng al l t he l i vel i est and t ender estai r s f r om t he oper as and cant at as of her nat i ve count r y. Seat ed

t oget her at t he har psi chor d, t hey f ound that t hey coul d wi t ht hei r f our hands pl ay al l t he musi c wr i t t en f or t wo hands of



or di nar y si ze, a ci r cumst ance whi ch gave Si r Her cul es unf ai l i ngpl easur e.

"When they were not maki ng musi c or r eadi ng t ogether , whi ch t heyof t en di d, bot h i n Engl i sh and I t al i an, t hey spent t hei r t i me i nheal t hf ul out door exer ci ses, somet i mes r owi ng i n a l i t t l e boat on

t he l ake, but mor e of t en r i di ng or dr i vi ng, occupat i ons i n whi ch,because t hey wer e ent i r el y new t o her , Fi l omena especi al l ydel i ght ed. When she had become a per f ect l y pr of i ci ent r i der,Fi l omena and her husband used of t en t o go hunt i ng i n the park, att hat t i me very much more extensi ve t han i t i s now. They huntednot f oxes nor har es, but r abbi t s, usi ng a pack of about t hi r t ybl ack and f awn- col our ed pugs, a ki nd of dog whi ch, when notoverf ed, can cour se a r abbi t as wel l as any of t he smal l erbr eeds. Four dwar f gr ooms, dr essed i n scar l et l i ver i es andmount ed on whi t e Exmoor poni es, hunted t he pack, whi l e t hei rmast er and mi st r ess, i n gr een habi t s, f ol l owed ei t her on t hebl ack Shet l ands or on t he pi ebal d New For est poni es. A pi ct ur eof t he whol e hunt - - dogs, horses, gr ooms, and mast ers- - was pai nt ed

by Wi l l i amStubbs, whose work Si r Hercul es admi r ed so much thathe i nvi t ed hi m, t hough a man of ordi nar y st ature, t o come andst ay at t he mansi on f or t he pur pose of execut i ng t hi s pi ct ur e.St ubbs l i kewi se pai nt ed a por t r ai t of Si r Her cul es and hi s l adydr i vi ng i n t hei r gr een enamel l ed cal ash dr awn by f our bl ackShet l ands. Si r Hercul es wear s a pl um- col our ed vel vet coat andwhi t e br eeches; Fi l omena i s dressed i n f l owered musl i n and a ver yl ar ge hat wi t h pi nk f eat her s. The t wo f i gur es i n t hei r gaycar r i age st and out shar pl y agai nst a dar k backgr ound of t r ees;but t o t he l ef t of t he pi ct ur e t he t r ees f al l away and di sappear ,so t hat t he f our bl ack poni es are seen agai nst a pal e andst r angel y l ur i d sky t hat has t he gol den- br own col our of t hunder -cl ouds l i ght ed up by t he sun.

" I n t hi s way f our year s passed happi l y by. At t he end of t hatt i me Fi l omena f ound her sel f gr eat wi t h chi l d. Si r Her cul es wasover j oyed. ' I f God i s good, ' he wr ot e i n hi s day- book, ' t he nameof Lapi t h wi l l be pr eserved and our r ar er and more del i cat e r acet r ansmi t t ed t hr ough t he gener at i ons unt i l i n t he f ul l ness of t i met he wor l d shal l r ecogni se the super i or i t y of t hose bei ngs whomnow i t uses t o make mock of . ' On hi s wi f e' s bei ng brought t o bedof a son he wr ote a poem t o t he same ef f ect . The chi l d waschr i st ened Fer di nando i n memory of t he bui l der of t he house.

"Wi t h t he passage of t he mont hs a cer t ai n sense of di squi et begant o i nvade t he mi nds of Si r Her cul es and hi s l ady. For t he chi l dwas gr owi ng wi t h an ext r aor di nary r api di t y. At a year he wei ghedas much as Hercul es had wei ghed when he was t hree. ' Ferdi nandogoes crescendo, ' wr ot e Fi l omena i n her di ar y. ' I t seems notnat ur al . ' At ei ght een mont hs t he baby was al most as t al l ast hei r smal l est j ockey, who was a man of t hi r t y- si x. Coul d i t bet hat Ferdi nando was dest i ned t o become a man of t he normal ,gi gant i c di mensi ons? I t was a t hought t o whi ch nei t her of hi spar ent s dared yet gi ve open ut t er ance, but i n t he secrecy oft hei r r espect i ve di ar i es t hey br ooded over i t i n t er r or anddi smay.

"On hi s t hi r d bi r t hday Ferdi nando was t al l er t han hi s mot her andnot mor e t han a coupl e of i nches shor t of hi s f at her ' s hei ght .' To- day f or t he f i r st t i me' wr ot e Si r Her cul es, ' we di scussed t he

si t uat i on. The hi deous t r ut h can be conceal ed no l onger :Fer di nando i s not one of us. On t hi s, hi s t hi r d bi r t hday, a day



when we shoul d have been r ej oi ci ng at t he heal t h, t he st r engt h,and beaut y of our chi l d, we wept t ogether over t he rui n of ourhappi ness. God gi ve us st r engt h t o bear t hi s cr oss. '

"At t he age of ei ght Fer di nando was so l arge and so exuberant l yheal t hy t hat hi s par ent s deci ded, t hough rel uct ant l y, t o send hi m

t o school . He was packed of f t o Et on at t he begi nni ng of t henext hal f . A pr of ound peace set t l ed upon t he house. Fer di nandor et ur ned f or t he summer hol i days l arger and st r onger t han ever .One day he knocked down t he but l er and broke hi s arm. ' He i sr ough, i nconsi der at e, unamenabl e t o per suasi on, ' wr ot e hi sf at her . ' The onl y t hi ng t hat wi l l t each hi m manner s i s cor por alchast i sement . ' Fer di nando, who at t hi s age was al r eady seventeeni nches t al l er t han hi s f at her , r ecei ved no cor por al chast i sement .

"One summer hol i days about t hree years l ater Fer di nando r etur nedt o Cr ome accompani ed by a very l arge mast i f f dog. He had boughti t f r om an ol d man at Wi ndsor who had f ound t he beast t ooexpensi ve t o f eed. I t was a savage, unr el i abl e ani mal ; har dl y

had i t ent er ed t he house when i t at t acked one of Si r Her cul es' sf avour i t e pugs, sei zi ng t he creat ur e i n i t s j aws and shaki ng i tt i l l i t was near l y dead. Ext r emel y put out by t hi s occur r ence,Si r Hercul es order ed t hat t he beast shoul d be chai ned up i n t hest abl e- yar d. Fer di nando sul l enl y answer ed t hat t he dog was hi s,and he woul d keep i t wher e he pl eased. Hi s f ather , gr owi ngangr y, bade hi m t ake the ani mal out of t he house at once, on pai nof hi s ut most di spl easure. Fer di nando r ef used t o move. Hi smother at t hi s moment comi ng i nto the r oom, t he dog f l ew at her ,knocked her down, and i n a twi nkl i ng had very sever el y maul ed herar m and shoul der ; i n anot her i nst ant i t must i nf al l i bl y have hadher by t he t hr oat , had not Si r Hercul es dr awn hi s sword andst abbed t he ani mal t o t he heart . Tur ni ng on hi s son, he or dered

hi m t o l eave t he r oom i mmedi at el y, as bei ng unf i t t o r emai n i nt he same pl ace wi t h t he mot her whom he had near l y murder ed. Soawe- i nspi r i ng was t he spect acl e of Si r Her cul es st andi ng wi t h onef oot on t he carcase of t he gi gant i c dog, hi s sword drawn andst i l l bl oody, so commandi ng wer e hi s voi ce, hi s gest ur es, and theexpr essi on of hi s f ace t hat Fer di nando sl unk out of t he r oom i nt er r or and behaved hi msel f f or al l t he r est of t he vacat i on i n anent i r el y exempl ary f ashi on. Hi s mother soon r ecover ed f r om t hebi t es of t he mast i f f , but t he ef f ect on her mi nd of t hi sadvent ur e was i ner adi cabl e; f r om t hat t i me f or t h she l i ved al waysamong i magi nar y t err ors.

"The t wo year s whi ch Ferdi nando spent on t he Cont i nent , maki ngt he Gr and Tour , were a peri od of happy repose f or hi s par ent s.But even now t he t hought of t he f uture haunted t hem; nor weret hey abl e to sol ace t hemsel ves wi t h al l t he di ver si ons of t hei ryounger days. The Lady Fi l omena had l ost her voi ce and Si rHer cul es was gr own t oo r heumat i cal t o pl ay t he vi ol i n. He, i t i st r ue, st i l l r ode af t er hi s pugs, but hi s wi f e f el t her sel f t oool d and, si nce t he epi sode of t he mast i f f , t oo ner vous f or suchspor t s. At most , t o pl ease her husband, she woul d f ol l ow t hehunt at a di st ance i n a l i t t l e gi g dr awn by the saf est and ol destof t he Shet l ands.

"The day f i xed f or Fer di nando' s ret ur n came r ound. Fi l omena,si ck wi t h vague dr eads and pr esent i ment s, r et i r ed t o her chamber

and her bed. Si r Her cul es recei ved hi s son al one. A gi ant i n abrown t r avel l i ng- sui t entered t he r oom. ' Wel come home, my son, '



sai d Si r Her cul es i n a voi ce t hat t r embl ed a l i t t l e.

" ' I hope I see you wel l , si r . ' Fer di nando bent down t o shakehands, t hen st r ai ght ened hi msel f up agai n. The t op of hi sf at her ' s head r eached t o t he l evel of hi s hi p.

"Ferdi nando had not come al one. Two f r i ends of hi s own ageaccompani ed hi m, and each of t he young men had br ought a ser vant .Not f or t hi r t y years had Cr ome been desecr ated by t he pr esence ofso many member s of t he common r ace of men. Si r Her cul es wasappal l ed and i ndi gnant , but t he l aws of hospi t al i t y had t o beobeyed. He r ecei ved t he young gent l emen wi t h grave pol i t enessand sent t he ser vant s t o the ki t chen, wi t h or der s t hat t heyshoul d be wel l car ed f or .

"The ol d f ami l y di ni ng- t abl e was dr agged out i nt o the l i ght anddust ed ( Si r Hercul es and hi s l ady were accust omed t o di ne at asmal l t abl e t went y i nches hi gh) . Si mon, t he aged but l er , whocoul d onl y j ust l ook over t he edge of t he bi g t abl e, was hel ped

at supper by t he t hr ee servants brought by Fer di nando and hi sguest s.

"Si r Her cul es presi ded, and wi t h hi s usual gr ace suppor t ed aconver sat i on on the pl easur es of f or ei gn tr avel , t he beaut i es ofart and nature to be met wi t h abr oad, t he opera at Veni ce, t hesi ngi ng of t he or phans i n the chur ches of t he same ci t y, and onother t opi cs of a si mi l ar nat ur e. The young men were notpar t i cul ar l y at t ent i ve t o hi s di scour ses; t hey wer e occupi ed i nwat chi ng the ef f or t s of t he but l er t o change the pl at es andr epl eni sh t he gl asses. They cover ed t hei r l aught er by vi ol entand r epeat ed f i t s of coughi ng or choki ng. Si r Her cul es af f ect ednot t o not i ce, but changed the subj ect of t he conver sat i on tospor t . Upon t hi s one of t he young men asked whether i t was t r ue,as he had hear d, t hat he used t o hunt t he r abbi t wi t h a pack ofpug dogs. Si r Her cul es repl i ed t hat i t was, and pr oceeded t odescr i be t he chase i n some detai l . The young men r oar ed wi t hl aught er .

"When supper was over , Si r Hercul es cl i mbed down f r om hi s chai rand, gi vi ng as hi s excuse t hat he must see how hi s l ady di d, badet hem good- ni ght . The sound of l aught er f ol l owed hi m up t hest ai r s. Fi l omena was not asl eep; she had been l yi ng on her bedl i st eni ng t o the sound of enormous l aught er and t he t r ead ofst r angel y heavy f eet on t he st ai r s and al ong t he cor r i dor s. Si rHer cul es drew a chai r t o her bedsi de and sat t here f or a l ongt i me i n si l ence, hol di ng hi s wi f e' s hand and somet i mes gent l ysqueezi ng i t . At about t en o' cl ock t hey wer e st ar t l ed by avi ol ent noi se. Ther e was a br eaki ng of gl ass, a st ampi ng off eet , wi t h an out bur st of shout s and l aught er . The upr oarcont i nui ng f or sever al mi nut es, Si r Her cul es r ose t o hi s f eetand, i n spi t e of hi s wi f e' s ent r eat i es, pr epar ed t o go and seewhat was happeni ng. There was no l i ght on t he st ai r case, and Si rHer cul es groped hi s way down caut i ousl y, l ower i ng hi msel f f r omst ai r t o st ai r and st andi ng f or a moment on each t r ead bef oreadvent ur i ng on a new st ep. The noi se was l ouder her e; t heshout i ng ar t i cul at ed i t sel f i nt o r ecogni sabl e wor ds and phr ases.A l i ne of l i ght was vi si bl e under t he di ni ng- r oom door . Si rHer cul es ti pt oed across t he hal l t owar ds i t . J ust as he

appr oached t he door t here was another t err i f i c cr ash of br eaki nggl ass and j angl ed metal . What coul d t hey be doi ng? Standi ng on



t i ptoe he managed t o l ook t hr ough t he keyhol e. I n t he mi ddl e oft he r avaged t abl e ol d Si mon, t he but l er , so pr i med wi t h dr i nkt hat he coul d scar cel y keep hi s bal ance, was danci ng a j i g. Hi sf eet cr unched and t i nkl ed among the br oken gl ass, and hi s shoeswere wet wi t h spi l t wi ne. The t hree young men sat r ound,t humpi ng the t abl e wi t h thei r hands or wi t h the empt y wi ne

bot t l es, shout i ng and l aughi ng encour agement . The t hr ee servant sl eani ng agai nst t he wal l l aughed t oo. Fer di nando suddenl y t hr ewa handf ul of wal nuts at t he dancer ' s head, whi ch so dazed andsur pr i sed the l i t t l e man that he st agger ed and f el l down on hi sback, upset t i ng a decant er and several gl asses. They r ai sed hi mup, gave hi m some br andy t o dr i nk, t humped hi m on t he back. Theol d man smi l ed and hi ccoughed. ' To- morr ow, ' sai d Fer di nando,' we' l l have a concer t ed bal l et of t he whol e househol d. ' ' Wi t hf at her Her cul es wear i ng hi s cl ub and l i on- ski n, ' added one of hi scompani ons, and al l t hr ee roar ed wi t h l aught er .

"Si r Her cul es woul d l ook and l i st en no f ur t her . He cr ossed t hehal l once mor e and began t o cl i mb t he st ai r s, l i f t i ng hi s knees

pai nf ul l y hi gh at each degr ee. Thi s was t he end; t her e was nopl ace f or hi m now i n t he wor l d, no pl ace f or hi m and Fer di nandot oget her .

"Hi s wi f e was st i l l awake; t o her quest i oni ng gl ance he answered,' They are maki ng mock of ol d Si mon. To- morr ow i t wi l l be ourt ur n. ' They wer e si l ent f or a t i me.

"At l ast Fi l omena sai d, ' I do not want t o see t o- mor r ow. '

"' I t i s bet t er not , ' sai d Si r Her cul es. Goi ng i nt o hi s cl oset hewr ot e i n hi s day- book a f ul l and par t i cul ar account of al l t heevent s of t he eveni ng. Whi l e he was st i l l engaged i n t hi s t askhe r ang f or a servant and or der ed hot wat er and a bat h to be mader eady f or hi m at el even o' cl ock. When he had f i ni shed wr i t i ng hewent i nt o hi s wi f e' s r oom, and pr epar i ng a dose of opi um t went yt i mes as st r ong as t hat whi ch she was accust omed t o t ake when shecoul d not sl eep, he br ought i t t o her , sayi ng, ' Her e i s yoursl eepi ng- dr aught . '

"Fi l omena t ook t he gl ass and l ay f or a l i t t l e t i me, but di d notdri nk i mmedi atel y. The t ear s came i nto her eyes. ' Do your emember t he songs we used t o si ng, si t t i ng out t her e sul l at er r azza i n t he summer - t i me?' She began si ngi ng sof t l y i n herghost of a cracked voi ce a f ew bar s f r om St r adel l a' s ' Amor amor ,non dor mi r pi u. ' ' And you pl ayi ng on t he vi ol i n, i t seems such ashor t t i me ago, and yet so l ong, l ong, l ong. Addi o, amor e, ar i veder t i . ' She dr ank of f t he dr aught and, l yi ng back on t hepi l l ow, cl osed her eyes. Si r Her cul es ki ssed her hand andt i ptoed away, as t hough he were af r ai d of waki ng her . Her et ur ned t o hi s cl oset , and havi ng r ecor ded hi s wi f e' s l ast wor dst o hi m, he pour ed i nto hi s bat h the water t hat had been broughtup i n accor dance wi t h hi s or der s. The wat er bei ng t oo hot f orhi m t o get i nt o t he bat h at once, he t ook down f r om t he shel f hi scopy of Suetoni us. He wi shed t o r ead how Seneca had di ed. Heopened t he book at r andom. ' But dwar f s, ' he r ead, ' he hel d i nabhor r ence as bei ng l usus natur ae and of evi l omen. ' He wi ncedas t hough he had been st r uck. Thi s same August us, he r emember ed,had exhi bi t ed i n t he amphi t heat r e a young man cal l ed Luci us, ofgood f ami l y, who was not qui t e t wo f eet i n hei ght and wei ghed

sevent een pounds, but had a st ent or i an voi ce. He t urned over t hepages. Ti ber i us, Cal i gul a, Cl audi us, Ner o: i t was a t al e of



gr owi ng hor r or . ' Seneca hi s pr ecept or , he f or ced t o ki l lhi msel f . ' And t her e was Pet r oni us, who had cal l ed hi s f r i endsabout hi m at t he l ast , bi ddi ng t hem t al k t o hi m, not of t heconsol at i ons of phi l osophy, but of l ove and gal l ant r y, whi l e t hel i f e was ebbi ng away t hrough hi s opened vei ns. Di ppi ng hi s penonce mor e i n t he i nk he wr ote on t he l ast page of hi s di ary: ' He

di ed a Roman death. ' Then, put t i ng t he t oes of one f oot i nt o t hewat er and f i ndi ng t hat i t was not t oo hot , he t hr ew of f hi sdr essi ng- gown and, t aki ng a razor i n hi s hand, sat down i n t hebat h. Wi t h one deep cut he sever ed t he ar t er y i n hi s l ef t wr i st ,t hen l ay back and composed hi s mi nd t o medi t at i on. The bl oodoozed out , f l oat i ng through the wat er i n di ssol vi ng wr eat hs andspi r al s. I n a l i t t l e whi l e t he whol e bat h was t i nged wi t h pi nk. The col our deepened; Si r Her cul es f el t hi msel f mast er ed by ani nvi nci bl e dr owsi ness; he was si nki ng f r om vague dr eam t o dr eam.Soon he was sound asl eep. There was not much bl ood i n hi s smal lbody. "

CHAPTER XI V.

For t hei r af t er - l uncheon cof f ee t he par t y gener al l y adj our ned tot he l i br ar y. I t s wi ndows l ooked east , and at t hi s hour of t heday i t was t he cool est pl ace i n t he whol e house. I t was a l arger oom, f i t t ed, dur i ng t he ei ght eent h cent ur y, wi t h whi t e pai nt ed

shel ves of an el egant desi gn. I n t he mi ddl e of one wal l a door ,i ngeni ousl y uphol st ered wi t h r ows of dummy books, gave access t oa deep cupboar d, where, among a pi l e of l et t er - f i l es and ol dnewspapers, t he mummy- case of an Egypt i an l ady, brought back byt he second Si r Fer di nando on hi s r etur n f r om t he Gr and Tour ,moul dered i n t he dar kness. Fromt en yar ds away and at a f i r stgl ance, one mi ght al most have mi st aken t hi s secr et door f or asect i on of shel vi ng f i l l ed wi t h genui ne books. Cof f ee- cup i nhand, Mr . Scogan was st andi ng i n f r ont of t he dummy bookshel f .Between t he si ps he di scour sed.

"The bot t omshel f , " he was sayi ng, " i s t aken up by anEncycl opaedi a i n f our t een vol umes. Usef ul , but a l i t t l e dul l , asi s al so Capr i mul ge' s ' Di ct i onar y of t he Fi nni sh Language' . The' Bi ogr aphi cal Di ct i onar y' l ooks mor e pr omi si ng. ' Bi ogr aphy ofMen who were Born Gr eat ' , ' Bi ogr aphy of Men who Achi evedGr eat ness' , ' Bi ogr aphy of Men who had Gr eat ness Thr ust upon Them' , and ' Bi ography of Men who wer e Never Gr eat at Al l ' . Thent here ar e t en vol umes of ' Thom' s Works and Wander i ngs' , whi l e t he' Wi l d Goose Chase, a Novel ' , by an anonymous aut hor, f i l l s nol ess t han si x. But what ' s t hi s, what ' s t hi s?" Mr . Scogan st oodon t i ptoe and peer ed up. "Seven vol umes of t he ' Tal es ofKnockespot ch' . The ' Tal es of Knockespot ch' , " he r epeated. "Ah,my dear Henr y, " he sai d, t ur ni ng round, " t hese are your bestbooks. I woul d wi l l i ngl y gi ve al l t he r est of your l i br ar y f ort hem. "

The happy possessor of a mul t i t ude of f i r st edi t i ons, Mr . Wi mbushcoul d af f or d t o smi l e i ndul gent l y.

" I s i t possi bl e, " Mr . Scogan went on, "t hat t hey possess not hi ngmore t han a back and a t i t l e?" He opened t he cupboard door andpeeped i nsi de, as t hough he hoped t o f i nd t he r est of t he books

behi nd i t . "Phooh! " he sai d, and shut t he door agai n. "I tsmel l s of dust and mi l dew. How symbol i cal ! One comes t o t he



great mast erpi eces of t he past , expect i ng some mi r acul ousi l l umi nat i on, and one f i nds, on openi ng t hem, onl y dar kness anddust and a f ai nt smel l of decay. Af t er al l , what i s r eadi ng buta vi ce, l i ke dr i nk or vener y or any ot her f or m of excessi ve sel f -i ndul gence? One r eads t o t i ckl e and amuse one' s mi nd; one r eads,above al l , t o pr event onesel f t hi nki ng. St i l l - - t he ' Tal es of

Knockespot ch' . . . "

He paused, and t hought f ul l y drummed wi t h hi s f i ngers on t he backsof t he non- exi st ent , unat t ai nabl e books.

"But I di sagr ee wi t h you about r eadi ng, " sai d Mary. "Aboutser i ous r eadi ng, I mean. "

"Qui t e r i ght , Mar y, qui t e r i ght , " Mr . Scogan answer ed. " I hadf or got t en t her e were any ser i ous peopl e i n t he room. "

"I l i ke t he i dea of t he Bi ogr aphi es, " sai d Deni s. "Ther e' s roomf or us al l wi t hi n the scheme; i t ' s compr ehensi ve. "

"Yes, t he Bi ogr aphi es ar e good, t he Bi ogr aphi es ar e excel l ent , "Mr Scogan agr eed. " I i magi ne t hemwr i t t en i n a ver y el egantRegency st yl e- - Br i ght on Pavi l i on i n wor ds- - per haps by t he gr eatDr . Lempr i er e hi msel f . You know hi s cl assi cal di ct i onar y? Ah! "Mr . Scogan r ai sed hi s hand and l et i t l i mpl y f al l agai n i n agest ur e whi ch i mpl i ed t hat words f ai l ed hi m. "Read hi s bi ogr aphyof Hel en; r ead how J upi t er, di sgui sed as a swan, was ' enabl ed t oavai l hi msel f of hi s si t uat i on' vi s- a- vi s to Leda. And t o t hi nkt hat he may have, must have wr i t t en t hese bi ogr aphi es of t heGr eat ! What a wor k, Henr y! And, owi ng t o t he i di ot i car r angement of your l i br ar y, i t can' t be r ead. "

" I pr ef er t he ' Wi l d Goose Chase' , " sai d Anne. "A novel i n si xvol umes- - i t must be r est f ul . "

"Rest f ul , " Mr . Scogan r epeat ed. "You' ve hi t on t he r i ght wor d.A ' Wi l d Goose Chase' i s sound, but a bi t ol d- f ashi oned- - pi ct ur esof cl er i cal l i f e i n t he f i f t i es, you know; speci mens of t hel anded gentr y; peasant s f or pat hos and comedy; and i n t hebackgr ound, al ways t he pi ct ur esque beaut i es of nat ur e sober l ydescri bed. Al l ver y good and sol i d, but , l i ke cer t ai n puddi ngs, j ust a l i t t l e dul l . Per sonal l y, I l i ke much bet t er t he not i on of' Thom' s Works and Wander i ngs' . The eccent r i c Mr . Thomof Thom' sHi l l . Ol d Tom Thom, as hi s i nt i mat es used t o cal l hi m. He spentt en year s i n Thi bet or gani si ng t he cl ar i f i ed but t er i ndust r y onmoder n Eur opean l i nes, and was abl e t o r et i r e at t hi r t y- si x wi t ha handsome f or t une. The r est of hi s l i f e he devot ed t o t r aveland r at i oci nat i on; her e i s t he r esul t . " Mr . Scogan t apped t hedummy books. "And now we come t o t he ' Tal es of Knockespot ch' .What a mast er pi ece and what a gr eat man! Knockespot ch knew howt o wr i t e f i ct i on. Ah, Deni s, i f you coul d onl y r ead Knockespot chyou woul dn' t be wr i t i ng a novel about t he wear i some devel opmentof a young man' s char act er, you woul dn' t be descr i bi ng i nendl ess, f ast i di ous det ai l , cul t ur ed l i f e i n Chel sea andBl oomsbury and Hampst ead. You woul d be t r yi ng t o wr i t e ar eadabl e book. But t hen, al as! owi ng t o t he pecul i ar arr angementof our host ' s l i br ar y, you never wi l l r ead Knockespot ch. "

"Nobody coul d r egr et t he f act mor e t han I do, " sai d Deni s.

" I t was Knockespot ch, " Mr . Scogan cont i nued, " t he gr eat



Knockespot ch, who del i ver ed us f r om t he dr eary t yranny of t her eal i st i c novel . My l i f e, Knockespot ch sai d, i s not so l ong t hatI can af f or d t o spend pr eci ous hour s wr i t i ng or r eadi ngdescri pt i ons of mi ddl e- cl ass i nt er i or s. He sai d agai n, ' I amt i r ed of seei ng t he human mi nd bogged i n a soci al pl enum; Ipr ef er t o pai nt i t i n a vacuum, f r eel y and spor t i vel y

bombi nat i ng. ' "

" I say, " sai d Gombaul d, "Knockespot ch was a l i t t l e obscur esomet i mes, wasn' t he?"

"He was, " Mr . Scogan r epl i ed, "and wi t h i nt ent i on. I t made hi mseem even pr of ounder t han he act ual l y was. But i t was onl y i nhi s aphori sms t hat he was so dark and or acul ar . I n hi s Tal es hewas al ways l umi nous. Oh, t hose Tal es- - t hose Tal es! How shal l Idescr i be t hem? Fabul ous char act ers shoot across hi s pages l i kegai l y dr essed perf or mer s on t he t r apeze. Ther e ar e ext r aor di naryadvent ur es and st i l l mor e ext r aor di nar y specul at i ons.I nt el l i gences and emot i ons, r el i eved of al l t he i mbeci l e

pr eoccupat i ons of ci vi l i sed l i f e, move i n i nt r i cat e and subt l edances, crossi ng and recrossi ng, advanci ng, r et r eat i ng,i mpi ngi ng. An i mmense er udi t i on and an i mmense f ancy go hand i nhand. Al l t he i deas of t he pr esent and of t he past , on ever ypossi bl e subj ect , bob up among t he Tal es, smi l e gr avel y orgri mace a car i cature of t hemsel ves, t hen di sappear t o make pl acef or somet hi ng new. The ver bal sur f ace of hi s wr i t i ng i s r i ch andf ant ast i cal l y di vers i f i ed. The wi t i s i ncessant . The. . . "

"But coul dn' t you gi ve us a speci men, " Deni s br oke i n- - "aconcr ete exampl e?"

"Al as! " Mr . Scogan r epl i ed, "Knockespot ch' s gr eat book i s l i ket he swor d Excal i bur . I t r emai ns st r uck f ast i n t hi s door ,awai t i ng t he comi ng of a wr i t er wi t h geni us enough t o dr aw i tf or t h. I am not even a wr i t er , I am not so much as qual i f i ed t oat t empt t he t ask. The ext r act i on of Knockespot ch f r om hi s woodenpr i son I l eave, my dear Deni s, t o you. "

"Thank you, " sai d Deni s.

CHAPTER XV.

" I n the t i me of t he ami abl e Br ant ome, " Mr . Scogan was sayi ng,"ever y debut ant e at t he Fr ench Cour t was i nvi t ed to di ne at t heKi ng' s t abl e, wher e she was served wi t h wi ne i n a handsome si l vercup of I t al i an wor kmanshi p. I t was no or di nar y cup, t hi s gobl etof t he debut ant es; f or , i nsi de, i t had been most cur i ousl y andi ngeni ousl y engr aved wi t h a ser i es of ver y l i vel y amor ous scenes.Wi t h each dr aught t hat t he young l ady swal l owed t hese engr avi ngsbecame i ncr easi ngl y vi si bl e, and t he Cour t l ooked on wi t hi nt er est , ever y t i me she put her nose i n t he cup, t o see whet hershe bl ushed at what t he ebbi ng wi ne r eveal ed. I f t he debut ant ebl ushed, t hey l aughed at her f or her i nnocence; i f she di d not ,she was l aughed at f or bei ng t oo knowi ng. "

"Do you pr opose, " asked Anne, " t hat t he cust omshoul d be r evi vedat Bucki nghamPal ace?"

" I do not , " sai d Mr . Scogan. " I merel y quot ed t he anecdote as ani l l ust r at i on of t he cust oms, so geni al l y f r ank, of t he si xt eent h



cent ur y. I mi ght have quot ed other anecdotes to show t hat t hecust oms of t he sevent eent h and ei ght eent h, of t he f i f t eent h andf our t eent h cent ur i es, and i ndeed of ever y ot her cent ur y, f r om t het i me of Hammur abi onward, were equal l y geni al and equal l y f r ank. The onl y cent ury i n whi ch cust oms wer e not char act er i sed by t hesame cheerf ul openness was the ni neteent h, of bl essed memory. I t

was t he ast oni shi ng except i on. And yet , wi t h what one mustsuppose was a del i ber at e di sr egar d of hi st or y, i t l ooked upon i t shor r i bl y pr egnant si l ences as nor mal and nat ur al and r i ght ; t hef r ankness of t he pr evi ous f i f t een or t went y t housand year s wasconsi der ed abnor mal and per verse. I t was a cur i ous phenomenon. "

"I ent i r el y agr ee. " Mar y pant ed wi t h exci t ement i n her ef f or t t obr i ng out what she had t o say. "Havel ock El l i s says. . . "

Mr . Scogan, l i ke a pol i ceman ar r est i ng t he f l ow of t r af f i c, hel dup hi s hand. "He does; I know. And t hat br i ngs me t o my nextpoi nt : t he nat ur e of t he r eacti on. "

"Havel ock El l i s . . . "

"The r eact i on, when i t came- - and we may say roughl y t hat i t seti n a l i t t l e bef or e t he begi nni ng of t hi s cent ur y- - t he r eacti onwas t o openness, but not t o t he same openness as had rei gned i nt he ear l i er ages. I t was t o a sci ent i f i c openness, not t o t he j ovi al f r ankness of t he past , t hat we r et urned. The whol equest i on of Amour became a t err i bl y ser i ous one. Earnest youngmen wr ot e i n t he publ i c pr i nt s t hat f r om t hi s t i me f or t h i t woul dbe i mpossi bl e ever agai n to make a j oke of any sexual mat t er .Prof essors wr ot e t hi ck books i n whi ch sex was st er i l i sed anddi ssect ed. I t has become cust omary f or ser i ous young women, l i keMar y, t o di scuss, wi t h phi l osophi c cal m, mat t er s of whi ch t hemer est hi nt woul d have suf f i ced to thr ow t he yout h of t he si xt i esi nt o a del i r i um of amor ous exci t ement . I t i s al l ver y est i mabl e,no doubt . But st i l l "- - Mr . Scogan si ghed. - - "I f or one shoul d l i ket o see, mi ngl ed wi t h t hi s sci ent i f i c ar dour , a l i t t l e mor e of t he j ovi al spi r i t of Rabel ai s and Chaucer . "

"I ent i r el y di sagr ee wi t h you, " sai d Mar y. "Sex i sn' t a l aughi ngmat t er ; i t ' s ser i ous. "

"Per haps, " answered Mr . Scogan, "perhaps I ' m an obscene ol d man.For I must conf ess t hat I cannot al ways regar d i t as whol l yser i ous. "

"But I t el l you. . . " began Mar y f ur i ousl y. Her f ace had f l ushedwi t h exci t ement . Her cheeks were t he cheeks of a gr eat r i pepeach.

" I ndeed, " Mr . Scogan cont i nued, " i t seems t o me one of f ewper manent l y and ever l ast i ngl y amusi ng subj ect s t hat exi st . Amouri s t he one human act i vi t y of any i mport ance i n whi ch l aught er andpl easur e pr eponder at e, i f ever so sl i ght l y, over mi ser y andpai n. "

"I ent i r el y di sagr ee, " sai d Mar y. Ther e was a si l ence.

Anne l ooked at her wat ch. "Near l y a quar t er t o ei ght , " she sai d." I wonder when I vor wi l l t ur n up. " She got up f r om her deck-

chai r and, l eani ng her el bows on t he bal ust r ade of t he ter r ace,l ooked out over t he val l ey and t owar ds the f ar t her hi l l s. Under



t he l evel eveni ng l i ght t he ar chi t ect ur e of t he l and r eveal edi t sel f . The deep shadows, t he br i ght cont r ast i ng l i ght s gave t hehi l l s a new sol i di t y. I r r egul ar i t i es of t he sur f ace, unsuspectedbef or e, were pi cked out wi t h l i ght and shade. The gr ass, t hecor n, t he f ol i age of t r ees wer e st i ppl ed wi t h i nt r i cat e shadows. The sur f ace of t hi ngs had t aken on a mar vel l ous enr i chment .

"Look! " sai d Anne suddenl y, and poi nt ed. On t he opposi t e si de oft he val l ey, at t he crest of t he r i dge, a cl oud of dust f l ushed byt he sunl i ght t o r osy gol d was movi ng r api dl y al ong t he sky- l i ne."I t ' s I vor . One can t el l by t he speed. "

The dust cl oud descended i nt o t he val l ey and was l ost . A hornwi t h t he voi ce of a sea- l i on made i t sel f hear d, appr oachi ng. Ami nut e l at er I vor came l eapi ng round the cor ner of t he house.Hi s hai r waved i n the wi nd of hi s own speed; he l aughed as he sawt hem.

"Anne, dar l i ng, " he cr i ed, and embr aced her , embraced Mary, ver y

near l y embraced Mr . Scogan. "Wel l , her e I am. I ' ve come wi t hi ncredul ous speed. " I vor ' s vocabul ar y was ri ch, but a l i t t l eer r at i c. "I ' m not l at e f or di nner , amI ?" He hoi sted hi msel f upon t o t he bal ust r ade, and sat t her e, ki cki ng hi s heel s. Wi t h onearm he embr aced a l arge st one f l ower- pot , l eani ng hi s headsi deways agai nst i t s har d and l i chenous f l anks i n an at t i t ude oft r ust f ul af f ect i on. He had br own, wavy hai r , and hi s eyes wereof a ver y br i l l i ant , pal e, i mpr obabl e bl ue. Hi s head was nar r ow,hi s f ace t hi n and r at her l ong, hi s nose aqui l i ne. I n ol d age- -t hough i t was di f f i cul t t o i magi ne I vor ol d- - he mi ght gr ow t ohave an I r on Ducal gr i mness. But now, at t went y- si x, i t was nott he st r uct ur e of hi s f ace t hat i mpr essed one; i t was i t sexpressi on. That was char mi ng and vi vaci ous, and hi s smi l e wasan i r r adi at i on. He was f or ever movi ng, r est l essl y and r api dl y,but wi t h an engagi ng gr acef ul ness. Hi s f r ai l and sl ender bodyseemed t o be f ed by a spr i ng of i nexhaust i bl e energy.

"No, you' r e not l at e. "

"You' r e i n t i me t o answer a quest i on, " sai d Mr . Scogan. "We wereargui ng whet her Amour were a ser i ous mat t er or no. What do yout hi nk? I s i t ser i ous?"

"Ser i ous?" echoed I vor . "Most cer t ai nl y. "

"I t ol d you so, " cr i ed Mar y tr i umphant l y.

"But i n what sense ser i ous?" Mr . Scogan asked.

" I mean as an occupat i on. One can go on wi t h i t wi t hout everget t i ng bor ed. "

"I see, " sai d Mr . Scogan. "Per f ectl y. "

"One can occupy onesel f wi t h i t , " I vor cont i nued, "al ways andeverywher e. Women are al ways wonder f ul l y t he same. Shapes varya l i t t l e, t hat ' s al l . I n Spai n"- - wi t h hi s f r ee hand he descr i beda ser i es of ampl e cur ves- - "one can' t pass t hem on t he st ai r s. I nEngl and"- - he put t he t i p of hi s f or ef i nger agai nst t he t i p of hi st humb and, l ower i ng hi s hand, dr ew out t hi s ci r cl e i nt o an

i magi nar y cyl i nder - - "I n Engl and t hey' r e t ubul ar . But t hei rsent i ment s ar e al ways t he same. At l east , I ' ve al ways f ound i t



so. "

"I ' m del i ght ed t o hear i t , " sai d Mr . Scogan.

CHAPTER XVI .

The l adi es had l ef t t he r oom and t he port was ci r cul at i ng. Mr .Scogan f i l l ed hi s gl ass, passed on t he decant er , and, l eani ngback i n hi s chai r , l ooked about hi m f or a moment i n si l ence. Theconver sat i on r i ppl ed i dl y r ound hi m, but he di sr egar ded i t ; hewas smi l i ng at some pr i vat e j oke. Gombaul d not i ced hi s smi l e.

"What ' s amusi ng you?" he asked.

"I was j ust l ooki ng at you al l , s i t t i ng r ound t hi s t abl e, " sai dMr . Scogan.

"Ar e we as comi c as al l t hat?"

"Not at al l , " Mr . Scogan answer ed pol i t el y. " I was merel y amusedby my own specul at i ons. "

"And what were t hey?"

"The i dl est , t he most academi c of specul at i ons. I was l ooki ng atyou one by one and t r yi ng t o i magi ne whi ch of t he f i r st si xCaesar s you woul d each r esembl e, i f you were gi ven t heoppor t uni t y of behavi ng l i ke a Caesar . The Caesar s ar e one of myt ouchst ones, " Mr . Scogan expl ai ned. "They are charact er sf unct i oni ng, so t o speak, i n t he voi d. They are human bei ngsdevel oped t o t hei r l ogi cal concl usi ons. Hence t hei r unequal l edval ue as a t ouchst one, a st andar d. When I meet someone f or t hef i r st t i me, I ask mysel f t hi s quest i on: Gi ven t he Caesar eanenvi r onment , whi ch of t he Caesars woul d t hi s per son r esembl e- - J ul i us, August us, Ti ber i us, Cal i gul a, Cl audi us, Ner o? I t akeeach t r ai t of char act er , each ment al and emot i onal bi as, eachl i t t l e oddi t y, and magni f y t hem a t housand t i mes. The r esul t i ngi mage gi ves me hi s Caesar ean f ormul a. "

"And whi ch of t he Caesars do you r esembl e?" asked Gombaul d.

"I am pot ent i al l y al l of t hem, " Mr . Scogan r epl i ed, "al l - - wi t ht he possi bl e except i on of Cl audi us, who was much t oo st upi d t o bea devel opment of anythi ng i n my charact er. The seeds of J ul i us' scour age and compel l i ng energy, of August us' s prudence, of t hel i bi di nousness and cruel t y of Ti ber i us, of Cal i gul a' s f ol l y, ofNer o' s ar t i st i c geni us and enor mous vani t y, ar e al l wi t hi n me.Gi ven the opport uni t i es, I mi ght have been somet hi ng f abul ous.But ci r cumst ances were agai nst me. I was born and brought up i na count r y r ect or y; I passed my yout h doi ng a gr eat deal ofut t er l y sensel ess har d wor k f or a ver y l i t t l e money. The r esul ti s t hat now, i n mi ddl e age, I am t he poor t hi ng t hat I am. Butper haps i t i s as wel l . Per haps, t oo, i t ' s as wel l t hat Deni shasn' t been per mi t t ed t o f l ower i nt o a l i t t l e Ner o, and t hat I vorr emai ns onl y pot ent i al l y a Cal i gul a. Yes, i t ' s bet t er so, nodoubt . But i t woul d have been more amusi ng, as a spect acl e, i ft hey had had the chance to devel op, unt r ammel l ed, t he f ul l horr or

of t hei r pot ent i al i t i es. I t woul d have been pl easant andi nt er esti ng t o wat ch t hei r t i cs and f oi bl es and l i t t l e vi ces



swel l i ng and burgeoni ng and bl ossomi ng i nto enor mous andf ant ast i c f l ower s of cr uel t y and pr i de and l ewdness and avar i ce. The Caesar ean envi r onment makes t he Caesar , as t he speci al f oodand t he queenl y cel l make t he queen bee. We di f f er f r omt he beesi n so f ar t hat , gi ven t he pr oper f ood, t hey can be sure of maki nga queen ever y t i me. Wi t h us t her e i s no such cer t ai nt y; out of

ever y t en men pl aced i n the Caesar ean envi r onment one wi l l bet emper ament al l y good, or i nt el l i gent , or gr eat . The r est wi l lbl ossom i nt o Caesar s; he wi l l not . Sevent y and ei ght y year s agosi mpl e- mi nded peopl e, r eadi ng of t he expl oi t s of t he Bour bons i nSout h I t al y, cr i ed out i n amazement : To t hi nk that such t hi ngsshoul d be happeni ng i n t he ni neteenth cent ur y! And a f ew yearssi nce we t oo wer e ast oni shed t o f i nd t hat i n our st i l l mor east oni shi ng t went i eth century, unhappy bl ackamoor s on t he Congoand the Amazon were bei ng t r eat ed as Engl i sh ser f s were t r eat edi n t he t i me of St ephen. To- day we ar e no l onger surpr i sed att hese t hi ngs. The Bl ack and Tans har r y I r el and, t he Pol esmal t r eat t he Si l esi ans, t he bol d Fasci st i sl aught er t hei r poor ercount r ymen: we t ake i t al l f or gr ant ed. Si nce t he war we wonder

at not hi ng. We have cr eated a Caesarean envi r onment and a hostof l i t t l e Caesars has sprung up. What coul d be more nat ur al ?"

Mr . Scogan dr ank of f what was l ef t of hi s por t and r ef i l l ed t hegl ass.

At t hi s ver y moment , " he went on, " t he most f r i ght f ul hor r ors ar et aki ng pl ace i n ever y cor ner of t he wor l d. Peopl e ar e bei ngcr ushed, sl ashed, di sembowel l ed, mangl ed; t hei r dead bodi es r otand t hei r eyes decay wi t h t he r est . Scr eams of pai n and f ear gopul si ng t hr ough t he ai r at t he rat e of el even hundr ed f eet persecond. Af t er t r avel l i ng f or t hr ee seconds they ar e per f ect l yi naudi bl e. These ar e di st r essi ng f act s; but do we enj oy l i f e anyt he l ess because of t hem? Most cer t ai nl y we do not . We f eelsympat hy, no doubt ; we repr esent t o our sel ves i magi nat i vel y t hesuf f er i ngs of nat i ons and i ndi vi dual s and we depl or e t hem. But ,af t er al l , what are sympat hy and i magi nat i on? Pr eci ous l i t t l e,unl ess t he person f or whom we f eel sympathy happens t o be cl osel yi nvol ved i n our af f ect i ons; and even t hen t hey don' t go ver y f ar .And a good thi ng t oo; f or i f one had an i magi nat i on vi vi d enoughand a sympat hy suf f i ci ent l y sensi t i ve r eal l y t o compr ehend and t of eel t he suf f eri ngs of ot her peopl e, one woul d never have amoment ' s peace of mi nd. A r eal l y sympat het i c race woul d not somuch as know t he meani ng of happi ness. But l ucki l y, as I ' veal r eady sai d, we ar en' t a sympat het i c race. At t he begi nni ng oft he war I used t o t hi nk I r eal l y suf f er ed, t hr ough i magi nat i onand sympat hy, wi t h t hose who physi cal l y suf f er ed. But af t er amont h or t wo I had t o admi t t hat , honest l y, I di dn' t . And yet It hi nk I have a more vi vi d i magi nat i on t han most . One i s al waysal one i n suf f eri ng; t he f act i s depr essi ng when one happens t o bet he suf f er er , but i t makes pl easur e possi bl e f or t he r est of t hewor l d. "

There was a pause. Henry Wi mbush pushed back hi s chai r .

" I t hi nk per haps we ought t o go and j oi n t he l adi es, " he sai d.

"So do I , " sai d I vor , j umpi ng up wi t h al acr i t y. He t ur ned t o Mr .Scogan. "For t unat el y, " he sai d, "we can shar e our pl easures. Weare not al ways condemned to be happy al one. "



CHAPTER XVI I .

I vor brought hi s hands down wi t h a bang on t o t he f i nal chor d ofhi s r hapsody. There was j ust a hi nt i n t hat t r i umphant har monyt hat t he seventh had been st r uck al ong wi t h the octave by t het humb of t he l ef t hand; but t he gener al ef f ect of spl endi d noi se

emer ged cl ear l y enough. Smal l det ai l s mat t er l i t t l e so l ong ast he gener al ef f ect i s good. And, besi des, t hat hi nt of t hesevent h was deci dedl y modern. He t urned r ound i n hi s seat andt ossed t he hai r back out of hi s eyes.

"Ther e, " he sai d. "That ' s t he best I can do f or you, I ' maf rai d. "

Mur mur s of appl ause and gr at i t ude were hear d, and Mary, her l argechi na eyes f i xed on the per f or mer , cr i ed out al oud, "Wonder f ul ! "and gasped f or new breat h as t hough she were suf f ocat i ng.

Natur e and f ort une had vi ed wi t h one another i n heapi ng on I vor

Lombar d al l t hei r choi cest gi f t s. He had weal t h and he wasper f ect l y i ndependent . He was good l ooki ng, possessed ani r r esi st i bl e char m of manner, and was the hero of more amoroussuccesses t han he coul d wel l r emember . Hi s accompl i shment s wereext r aor di nar y f or t hei r number and var i et y. He had a beaut i f ulunt r ai ned t enor voi ce; he coul d i mpr ovi se, wi t h a st ar t l i ngbr i l l i ance, r api dl y and l oudl y, on t he pi ano. He was a goodamateur medi um and t el epathi st , and had a consi der abl e f i r st - handknowl edge of t he next wor l d. He coul d wr i t e r hymed ver ses wi t han ext r aor di nar y r api di t y. For pai nt i ng symbol i cal pi ctur es hehad a dashi ng st yl e, and i f t he dr awi ng was somet i mes a l i t t l eweak, t he col our was al ways pyrot echni cal . He excel l ed i namateur t heatr i cal s and, when occasi on of f er ed, he coul d cookwi t h geni us. He r esembl ed Shakespear e i n knowi ng l i t t l e Lat i nand l ess Gr eek. For a mi nd l i ke hi s, educat i on seemedsuper erogatory. Trai ni ng woul d onl y have dest r oyed hi s nat ur alapt i t udes.

"Let ' s go out i nt o t he gar den, " I vor suggest ed. "I t ' s awonder f ul ni ght . "

"Thank you, " sai d Mr . Scogan, "but I f or one pr ef er t hese st i l lmore wonderf ul arm- chai r s. " Hi s pi pe had begun t o bubbl e oozi l yever y t i me he pul l ed at i t . He was per f ect l y happy.

Henry Wi mbush was al so happy. He l ooked f or a moment over hi spi nce- nez i n I vor ' s di r ect i on and t hen, wi t hout sayi ng anyt hi ng,r et ur ned t o t he gr i my l i t t l e si xteent h- cent ur y account bookswhi ch were now hi s f avour i t e r eadi ng. He knew more about Si rFer di nando' s househol d expenses t han about hi s own.

The outdoor part y, enrol l ed under I vor ' s banner , consi st ed ofAnne, Mar y, Deni s, and, r at her unexpect edl y, J enny. Out si de i twas war m and dark; t here was no moon. They wal ked up and downt he t er r ace, and I vor sang a Neapol i t an song: "St r et t i ,st r et t i "- - cl ose, cl ose- - wi t h somet hi ng about t he l i t t l e Spani shgi r l t o f ol l ow. The at mospher e began t o pal pi t at e. I vor put hi sarm r ound Anne' s wai st , dropped hi s head si deways ont o hershoul der , and i n that posi t i on wal ked on, si ngi ng as he wal ked.I t seemed t he easi est , t he most nat ur al , t hi ng i n t he wor l d.

Deni s wonder ed why he had never done i t . He hat ed I vor.



"Let ' s go down t o t he pool , " sai d I vor . He di sengaged hi sembrace and t urned r ound t o shepher d hi s l i t t l e f l ock. They madet hei r way al ong the si de of t he house t o t he ent r ance of t he yew-t r ee wal k that l ed down t o t he l ower gar den. Between t he bl ankpr eci pi t ous wal l of t he house and t he t al l yew t r ees t he path wasa chasm of i mpenet r abl e gl oom. Somewher e t her e were st eps down

t o t he r i ght , a gap i n t he yew hedge. Deni s, who headed t hepar t y, gr oped hi s way caut i ousl y; i n thi s dar kness, one had ani r r at i onal f ear of yawni ng pr eci pi ces, of hor r i bl e spi kedobst r ucti ons. Suddenl y f r om behi nd hi m he hear d a shr i l l ,st art l ed, "Oh! " and t hen a shar p, dr y concussi on t hat mi ght havebeen t he sound of a sl ap. Af t er t hat , J enny' s voi ce was hear dpronounci ng, " I amgoi ng back t o t he house. " Her t one wasdeci ded, and even as she pronounced t he words she was mel t i ngaway i nt o t he darkness. The i nci dent , whatever i t had been, wascl osed. Deni s r esumed hi s f orward gr opi ng. Fr om somewherebehi nd I vor began t o si ng agai n, sof t l y:

"Phi l l i s pl us avar e que t endr e

Ne gagnant r i en a r ef user ,Un j our exi gea a Si l vandr e Tr ente moutons pour un bai ser . "

The mel ody drooped and cl i mbed agai n wi t h a ki nd of easy l anguor;t he warm dar kness seemed t o pul se l i ke bl ood about t hem.

"Le l endemai n, nouvel l e af f ai r e:Pour l e ber ger l e t r oc f ut bon. . . "

"Here ar e t he st eps, " cr i ed Deni s. He gui ded hi s compani ons overt he danger , and i n a moment t hey had t he t ur f of t he yew- t r eewal k under t hei r f eet . I t was l i ght er her e, or at l east i t was j ust percept i bl y l ess dark; f or t he yew wal k was wi der t han t hepat h t hat had l ed t hem under t he l ea of t he house. Looki ng up,t hey coul d see between the hi gh bl ack hedges a st r i p of sky and af ew st ar s.

"Car i l obt i nt de l a ber ger e. . . "

Went on I vor , and t hen i nt er r upt ed hi msel f t o shout , " I ' m goi ngt o run down, " and he was of f , f ul l speed, down t he i nvi si bl esl ope, si ngi ng unevenl y as he went :

"Trent e bai ser s pour un mout on. "

The ot hers f ol l owed. Deni s shambl ed i n t he r ear , vai nl yexhor t i ng everyone t o caut i on: t he sl ope was st eep, one mi ghtbreak one' s neck. What was wr ong wi t h t hese peopl e, he wonder ed? They had become l i ke young ki t t ens af t er a dose of cat - ni p. Hehi msel f f el t a cer t ai n ki t t eni shness spor t i ng wi t hi n hi m; but i twas, l i ke al l hi s emot i ons, r at her a t heor et i cal f eel i ng; i t di dnot over mast er i ngl y seek to expr ess i t sel f i n a pr act i caldemonst r at i on of ki t t eni shness.

"Be car ef ul , " he shout ed once more, and hardl y were t he words outof hi s mout h when, t hump! t here was t he sound of a heavy f al l i nf r ont of hi m, f ol l owed by t he l ong "F- f - f - f - f " of a br eat hi ndr awn wi t h pai n and af t er wards by a ver y si ncer e, "Oo- ooh! "Deni s was al most pl eased; he had t ol d t hem so, t he i di ot s, and

t hey woul dn' t l i st en. He t r ot t ed down t he sl ope t owar ds theunseen suf f er er .



Mary came down t he hi l l l i ke a r unaway st eam- engi ne. I t wast r emendousl y exci t i ng, t hi s bl i nd r ush t hr ough t he dar k; she f el tshe woul d never st op. But t he gr ound gr ew l evel beneat h her f eet ,her speed i nsensi bl y sl ackened, and suddenl y she was caught by anext ended ar m and br ought t o an abr upt hal t .

"Wel l , " sai d I vor as he t i ght ened hi s embr ace, "you' r e caughtnow, Anne. "

She made an ef f or t t o r el ease her sel f . "I t ' s not Anne. I t ' sMar y. "

I vor bur st i nt o a peal of amused l aught er . "So i t i s! " heexcl ai med. "I seem t o be maki ng not hi ng but f l oat er s t hi seveni ng. I ' ve al r eady made one wi t h J enny. " He l aughed agai n,and ther e was somethi ng so j ol l y about hi s l aught er t hat Marycoul d not hel p l aughi ng t oo. He di d not r emove hi s enci r cl i ngarm, and somehow i t was al l so amusi ng and nat ural t hat Mary made

no f ur t her at t empt t o escape f r om i t . They wal ked al ong by t hesi de of t he pool , i nt er l aced. Mar y was t oo shor t f or hi m t o beabl e, wi t h any comf ort , t o l ay hi s head on her shoul der. Her ubbed hi s cheek, car essed and car essi ng, agai nst t he thi ck,sl eek mass of her hai r . I n a l i t t l e whi l e he began t o si ngagai n; t he ni ght t r embl ed amorousl y t o t he sound of hi s voi ce.When he had f i ni shed he ki ssed her . Anne or Mary: Mary or Anne.I t di dn' t seem t o make much di f f erence whi ch i t was. There wer edi f f er ences i n det ai l , of cour se; but t he gener al ef f ect was t hesame; and, af t er al l , t he gener al ef f ect was t he i mpor t ant t hi ng.

Deni s made hi s way down t he hi l l .

"Any damage done?" he cal l ed out .

" I s t hat you, Deni s? I ' ve hurt my ankl e so- - and my knee, and myhand. I ' m al l i n pi eces . "

"My poor Anne, " he sai d. "But t hen, " he coul dn' t hel p addi ng,"i t was si l l y t o st ar t r unni ng downhi l l i n t he dar k. "

"Ass!" she r et or t ed i n a t one of t ear f ul i r r i t at i on; "of cour sei t was. "

He sat down besi de on the gr ass, and f ound hi msel f breat hi ng t hef ai nt , del i ci ous at mospher e of per f ume that she car r i ed al wayswi t h her .

"Li ght a match, " she commanded. " I want t o l ook at my wounds. "

He f el t i n hi s pocket s f or t he mat ch- box. The l i ght spur t ed andt hen gr ew st eady. Magi cal l y, a l i t t l e uni ver se had been cr eat ed,a worl d of col our s and f orms- - Anne' s f ace, t he shi mmeri ng orangeof her dr ess, her whi t e, bar e ar ms, a pat ch of gr een t ur f - - andr ound about a darkness t hat had become sol i d and ut t er l y bl i nd.Anne hel d out her hands; bot h were gr een and ear t hy wi t h herf al l , and t he l ef t exhi bi t ed t wo or t hr ee r ed abr asi ons.

"Not so bad, " she sai d. But Deni s was ter r i bl y di st r essed, andhi s emot i on was i nt ensi f i ed when, l ooki ng up at her f ace, he saw

t hat t he t r ace of t ear s, i nvol unt ar y tear s of pai n, l i nger ed onher eyel ashes. He pul l ed out hi s handker chi ef and began t o wi pe



away t he di r t f r om t he wounded hand. The match went out ; i t wasnot wor t h whi l e t o l i ght anot her . Anne al l owed her sel f t o beatt ended t o, meekl y and gr atef ul l y. "Thank you, " she sai d, whenhe had f i ni shed cl eani ng and bandagi ng her hand; and t her e wassomet hi ng i n her t one t hat made hi m f eel t hat she had l ost hersuperi or i t y over hi m, t hat she was younger t han he, had become,

suddenl y, al most a chi l d. He f el t t r emendousl y l arge andpr ot ect i ve. The f eel i ng was so st r ong t hat i nst i nct i vel y he puthi s ar m about her. She dr ew cl oser , l eaned agai nst hi m, and sot hey sat i n si l ence. Then, f r om bel ow, sof t but wonder f ul l ycl ear t hr ough t he st i l l dar kness, t hey hear d t he sound of I vor ' ssi ngi ng. He was goi ng on wi t h hi s hal f - f i ni shed song:

"Le l endemai n Phi l l i s pl us t endr e,Ne voul ant depl ai r e au berger ,Fut t r op heur euse de l ui r endr e Tr ente moutons pour un bai ser . "

There was a r at her prol onged pause. I t was as t hough t i me wer e

bei ng al l owed f or t he gi vi ng and recei vi ng of a f ew of t hoset hi r t y ki sses. Then t he voi ce sang on:

"Le l endemai n Phi l l i s peu sageAurai t donne mout ons et chi enPour un bai ser que l e vol ageA Li set t e donnai t pour r i en. "

The l ast note di ed away i nt o an uni nt er r upted si l ence.

"Ar e you bet t er?" Deni s whi sper ed. "Ar e you comf ort abl e l i ket hi s?"

She nodded a Yes t o both quest i ons.

"Trent e mout ons pour un bai ser . " The sheep, t he wool l y mut t on- -baa, baa, baa. . . ? Or t he shepher d? Yes, deci dedl y, he f el thi msel f t o be t he shepher d now. He was the mast er , t heprotector . A wave of cour age swel l ed t hrough hi m, warm as wi ne.He t ur ned hi s head, and began t o ki ss her f ace, at f i r st r at herr andoml y, t hen, wi t h more preci si on, on t he mout h.

Anne aver t ed her head; he ki ssed t he ear , t he smoot h nape t hatt hi s movement pr esent ed hi m. "No, " she pr ot est ed; "no, Deni s. "

"Why not ?"

"I t spoi l s our f r i endshi p, and t hat was so j ol l y. "

"Bosh! " sai d Deni s.

She t r i ed t o expl ai n. "Can' t you see, " she sai d, " i t i sn' t . . . i ti sn' t our st unt at al l . " I t was t r ue. Somehow she had nevert hought of Deni s i n t he l i ght of a man who mi ght make l ove; shehad never so much as concei ved the possi bi l i t i es of an amorousr el at i onshi p wi t h hi m. He was so absur dl y young, so. . . so. . . shecoul dn' t f i nd the adj ect i ve, but she knew what she meant .

"Why i sn' t i t our st unt ?" asked Deni s. "And, by t he way, t hat ' sa hor r i bl e and i nappr opr i at e expr essi on. "

"Because i t i sn' t . "



"But i f I say i t i s?"

"I t makes no di f f er ence. I say i t i sn' t . "

"I shal l make you say i t i s. "

"Al l r i ght , Deni s. But you must do i t anot her t i me. I must goi n and get my ankl e i nt o hot wat er . I t ' s begi nni ng t o swel l . "

Reasons of heal t h coul d not be gai nsai d. Deni s got upr el uct ant l y, and hel ped hi s compani on t o her f eet . She t ook acaut i ous st ep. "Ooh! " She hal t ed and l eaned heavi l y on hi s ar m.

"I ' l l car r y you, " Deni s of f er ed. He had never t r i ed t o car r y awoman, but on t he ci nema i t al ways l ooked an easy pi ece ofher oi sm.

"You coul dn' t , " sai d Anne.

"Of cour se I can. " He f el t l ar ger and mor e pr ot ect i ve t han ever ."Put your arms r ound my neck, " he order ed. She di d so and,st oopi ng, he pi cked her up under t he knees and l i f t ed her f r omt he ground. Good heavens, what a wei ght ! He t ook f i vest agger i ng st eps up t he sl ope, t hen al most l ost hi s equi l i br i um,and had t o deposi t hi s bur den suddenl y, wi t h somethi ng of a bump.

Anne was shaki ng wi t h l aught er. " I sai d You coul dn' t , my poorDeni s. "

"I can, " sai d Deni s, wi t hout convi cti on. "I ' l l t r y agai n. "

"I t ' s per f ectl y sweet of you t o of f er , but I ' d r at her wal k,t hanks. " She l ai d her hand on hi s shoul der and, t hus support ed,began t o l i mp sl owl y up t he hi l l .

"My poor Deni s! " she r epeat ed, and l aughed agai n. Humi l i ated, hewas si l ent . I t seemed i ncr edi bl e t hat , onl y t wo mi nut es ago, heshoul d have been hol di ng her i n hi s embr ace, ki ssi ng her .I ncr edi bl e. She was hel pl ess t hen, a chi l d. Now she hadr egai ned al l her super i or i t y; she was once mor e t he f ar - of fbei ng, desi r ed and unassai l abl e. Why had he been such a f ool ast o suggest t hat car r yi ng st unt ? He r eached t he house i n a st at eof t he pr of oundest depr essi on.

He hel ped Anne upst ai r s, l ef t her i n the hands of a mai d, andcame down agai n t o t he drawi ng- r oom. He was sur pr i sed t o f i ndt hem al l si t t i ng j ust wher e he had l ef t t hem. He had expect edt hat , somehow, everyt hi ng woul d be qui t e di f f erent - - i t seemedsuch a pr odi gi ous t i me si nce he went away. Al l si l ent and al ldamned, he r ef l ected, as he l ooked at t hem. Mr . Scogan' s pi pest i l l wheezed; t hat was t he onl y sound. Henr y Wi mbush was st i l ldeep i n hi s account books; he had j ust made the di scover y t hatSi r Fer di nando was i n t he habi t of eat i ng oyst er s t he whol esummer t hr ough, r egardl ess of t he absence of t he j ust i f yi ng R.Gombaul d, i n hor n- r i mmed spectacl es, was r eadi ng. J enny wasmyster i ousl y scr i bbl i ng i n her r ed not ebook. And, seat ed i n herf avour i t e ar m- chai r at t he cor ner of t he hear t h, Pr i sci l l a wasl ooki ng t hr ough a pi l e of dr awi ngs. One by one she hel d t hem out

at arm' s l engt h and, t hrowi ng back her mount ai nous orange head,l ooked l ong and at t ent i vel y t hr ough hal f - cl osed eyel i ds. She



wore a pal e sea- green dr ess; on t he sl ope of her mauve- powder eddecol l et age di amonds twi nkl ed. An i mmensel y l ong ci garet t e-hol der pr oj ect ed at an angl e f r om her f ace. Di amonds wer eembedded i n her hi gh- pi l ed coi f f ur e; t hey gl i t t er ed ever y t i meshe moved. I t was a bat ch of I vor ' s dr awi ngs- - sket ches of Spi r i tLi f e, made i n t he cour se of t r anced t our s t hr ough t he ot her

wor l d. On t he back of each sheet descr i pt i ve t i t l es wer ewr i t t en: "Por t r ai t of an Angel , 15t h Mar ch ' 20; " "Ast r al Bei ngsat Pl ay, 3r d December ' 19; " "A Par t y of Soul s on t hei r Way to aHi gher Spher e, 21st May ' 21. " Bef ore exami ni ng t he dr awi ng ont he obver se of each sheet , she t ur ned i t over t o r ead t he t i t l e. Tr y as she coul d- - and she t r i ed hard- - Pr i sci l l a had never seen avi si on or succeeded i n est abl i shi ng any communi cat i on wi t h theSpi r i t Wor l d. She had t o be cont ent wi t h t he r eport edexper i ences of ot her s.

"What have you done wi t h the r est of your part y?" she asked,l ooki ng up as Deni s ent ered t he room.

He expl ai ned. Anne had gone t o bed, I vor and Mary were st i l l i nt he garden. He sel ected a book and a comf ort abl e chai r , andt r i ed, as f ar as t he di st ur bed st at e of hi s mi nd woul d per mi thi m, t o compose hi msel f f or an eveni ng' s r eadi ng. The l ampl i ghtwas ut t er l y serene; t here was no movement save t he st i r ofPri sci l l a among her paper s. Al l si l ent and al l damned, Deni sr epeat ed t o hi msel f , al l si l ent and al l damned. . .

I t was near l y an hour l ater when I vor and Mary made thei rappearance.

"We wai t ed t o see the moon r i se, " sai d I vor .

" I t was gi bbous, you know, " Mar y expl ai ned, ver y t echni cal andsci ent i f i c.

" I t was so beaut i f ul down i n t he gar den! The t r ees, t he scent oft he f l ower s, t he st ar s. . . " I vor waved hi s ar ms. "And when t hemoon came up, i t was real l y t oo much. I t made me bur st i ntot ears . " He sat down at t he pi ano and opened t he l i d.

"There were a gr eat many meteor i t es, " sai d Mary t o anyone whowoul d l i st en. "The ear t h must j ust be comi ng i nto t he summershower of t hem. I n J ul y and August . . . "

But I vor had al r eady begun t o st r i ke t he keys. He pl ayed t hegar den, t he st ar s, t he scent of f l ower s, t he r i si ng moon. Heeven put i n a ni ght i ngal e t hat was not t here. Mary l ooked on andl i st ened wi t h par t ed l i ps. The ot her s pur sued t hei r occupat i ons,wi t hout appear i ng t o be ser i ousl y di st ur bed. On t hi s ver y J ul yday, exact l y t hr ee hundr ed and f i f t y year s ago, Si r Fer di nandohad eaten seven dozen oyst ers . The di scover y of t hi s f act gaveHenr y Wi mbush a pecul i ar pl easure. He had a nat ur al pi ety whi chmade hi m del i ght i n t he cel ebr at i on of memor i al f east s. Thet hr ee hundr ed and f i f t i et h anni ver sary of t he seven dozenoyst ers. . . He wi shed he had known bef ore di nner ; he woul d haveor dered champagne.

On her way t o bed Mary pai d a cal l . The l i ght was out i n Anne' sr oom, but she was not yet asl eep.

"Why di dn' t you come down to t he gar den wi t h us?" Mary asked.



" I f el l down and t wi st ed my ankl e. Deni s hel ped me home. "

Mar y was f ul l of sympat hy. I nwar dl y, t oo, she was rel i eved t of i nd Anne' s non- appearance so si mpl y accounted f or . She had beenvaguel y suspi ci ous, down ther e i n t he gar den- - suspi ci ous of what ,

she hardl y knew; but t her e had seemed t o be somethi ng a l i t t l el ouche i n the way she had suddenl y f ound her sel f al one wi t h I vor .Not t hat she mi nded, of cour se; f ar f r om i t . But she di dn' t l i ket he i dea t hat per haps she was t he vi ct i m of a put - up j ob.

" I do hope you' l l be bet t er t o- morr ow, " she sai d, and shecommi ser ated wi t h Anne on al l she had mi ssed- - t he garden, t hest ars, t he scent of f l owers, t he meteor i t es t hrough whose summershower t he eart h was now passi ng, t he r i si ng moon and i t sgi bbosi t y. And t hen t hey had had such i nt er est i ng conver sat i on.What about ? About al most everyt hi ng. Nat ur e, ar t , sci ence,poet r y, t he st ar s, spi r i t ual i sm, t he r el at i ons of t he sexes,musi c, r el i gi on. I vor , she t hought , had an i nt er est i ng mi nd.

The t wo young l adi es part ed af f ect i onat el y.

CHAPTER XVI I I .

The near est Roman Cat hol i c chur ch was upwar ds of t wenty mi l esaway. I vor , who was punct i l i ous i n hi s devot i ons, came downear l y t o br eakf ast and had hi s car at t he door , r eady t o st ar t ,by a quart er t o t en. I t was a smar t , expensi ve- l ooki ng machi ne,enamel l ed a pure l emon yel l ow and uphol st ered i n emeral d gr eenl eat her . Ther e wer e t wo seat s- - t hr ee i f you squeezed t i ght l yenough- - and t hei r occupant s wer e pr ot ect ed f r omwi nd, dust , andweat her by a gl azed sedan t hat r ose, an el egant ei ghteent h-cent ur y hump, f r om t he mi dst of t he body of t he car .

Mary had never been t o a Roman Cathol i c ser vi ce, t hought i t woul dbe an i nterest i ng exper i ence, and, when t he car moved of f t hr ought he gr eat gates of t he cour t yar d, she was occupyi ng t he spar eseat i n t he sedan. The sea- l i on hor n r oar ed, f ai nt l i er ,f ai nt l i er , and t hey wer e gone.

I n t he par i sh chur ch of Cr ome Mr . Bodi ham pr eached on 1 Ki ngs vi .18: "And t he cedar of t he house wi t hi n was carved wi t h knops" - - asermon of i mmedi at el y l ocal i nt er est . For t he past t wo years t hepr obl emof t he War Memori al had exer ci sed t he mi nds of al l t hosei n Cr ome who had enough l ei sure, or ment al energy, or part yspi r i t t o t hi nk of such t hi ngs. Henr y Wi mbush was al l f or al i br ar y- - a l i br ar y of l ocal l i t er at ur e, stocked wi t h count yhi st or i es, ol d maps of t he di st r i ct , monogr aphs on t he l ocalant i qui t i es, di al ect di cti onar i es, handbooks of t he l ocal geol ogyand nat ur al hi st or y. He l i ked t o t hi nk of t he vi l l ager s,i nspi r ed by such readi ng, maki ng up par t i es of a Sunday af t er noont o l ook f or f ossi l s and f l i nt ar r ow- heads. The vi l l ager st hemsel ves f avour ed t he i dea of a memori al r eser voi r and watersuppl y. But t he busi est and most ar t i cul at e par t y f ol l owed Mr .Bodi hami n demandi ng somethi ng r el i gi ous i n char act er- - a secondl i ch- gat e, f or exampl e, a st ai ned- gl ass wi ndow, a monument ofmar bl e, or , i f possi bl e, al l t hr ee. So f ar , however , not hi ng hadbeen done, par t l y because t he memor i al commi t t ee had never been

abl e t o agr ee, par t l y f or t he mor e cogent r eason t hat t oo l i t t l emoney had been subscr i bed t o carr y out any of t he proposed



schemes. Every t hree or f our mont hs Mr . Bodi ham preached asermon on t he subj ect . Hi s l ast had been del i ver ed i n March; i twas hi gh t i me that hi s congr egat i on had a f r esh remi nder .

"And t he cedar of t he house wi t hi n was car ved wi t h knops. "

Mr . Bodi hamt ouched l i ght l y on Sol omon' s t empl e. From t hence hepassed t o t empl es and chur ches i n gener al . What were t hechar act er i st i cs of t hese bui l di ngs dedi cat ed t o God? Obvi ousl y,t he f act of t hei r , f r om a human poi nt of vi ew, compl et eusel essness. They wer e unpr act i cal bui l di ngs "car ved wi t hknops. " Sol omon mi ght have bui l t a l i br ar y- - i ndeed, what coul dbe more t o t he t ast e of t he wor l d' s wi sest man? He mi ght havedug a r eser voi r - - what mor e usef ul i n a par ched ci t y l i ke J er usal em? He di d nei t her ; he bui l t a house al l car ved wi t hknops, usel ess and unpr act i cal . Why? Because he was dedi cat i ngt he work t o God. There had been much t al k i n Cr ome about t heproposed War Memori al . A War Memori al was, i n i t s ver y natur e, awor k dedi cat ed t o God. I t was a t oken of t hankf ul ness that t he

f i r st st age i n t he cul mi nat i ng worl d- war had been cr owned by t het r i umph of r i ght eousness; i t was at t he same t i me a vi si bl yembodi ed suppl i cat i on t hat God mi ght not l ong del ay the Adventwhi ch al one coul d br i ng t he f i nal peace. A l i br ar y, a r eser voi r ?Mr . Bodi hamscornf ul l y and i ndi gnant l y condemned t he i dea. Thesewere works dedi cat ed t o man, not t o God. As a War Memor i al t heywer e t ot al l y unsui t abl e. A l i ch- gat e had been suggest ed. Thi swas an obj ect whi ch answered perf ect l y t o the def i ni t i on of a WarMemori al : a usel ess work dedi cated t o God and carved wi t h knops.One l i ch- gat e, i t was t r ue, al r eady exi st ed. But not hi ng woul dbe easi er t han t o make a second ent r ance i nt o t he chur chyar d; anda second ent r ance woul d need a second gat e. Ot her suggest i onshad been made. Stai ned- gl ass wi ndows, a monument of marbl e.Bot h t hese wer e admi r abl e, especi al l y t he l at t er . I t was hi ght i me t hat t he War Memori al was er ected. I t mi ght soon be t ool at e. At any moment , l i ke a t hi ef i n t he ni ght , God mi ght come.Meanwhi l e a di f f i cul t y st ood i n t he way. Funds were i nadequate.Al l shoul d subscr i be accor di ng t o t hei r means. Those who hadl ost r el at i ons i n t he war mi ght r easonabl y be expect ed t osubscr i be a sum equal t o that whi ch they woul d have had t o pay i nf uner al expenses i f t he r el at i ve had di ed whi l e at home. Fur t herdel ay was di sast r ous. The War Memori al must be bui l t at once.He appeal ed to t he pat r i ot i sm and the Chr i st i an sent i ment s of al lhi s hear er s.

Henr y Wi mbush wal ked home t hi nki ng of t he books he woul d pr esentt o t he War Memor i al Li br ar y, i f ever i t came i nt o exi st ence. Het ook t he pat h t hr ough t he f i el ds; i t was pl easant er t han t her oad. At t he f i r st st i l e a gr oup of vi l l age boys, l out i sh youngf el l ows al l dr essed i n t he hi deous i l l - f i t t i ng bl ack whi ch makesa f uneral of every Engl i sh Sunday and hol i day, were assembl ed,dr ear i l y guf f awi ng as t hey smoked t hei r ci garet t es. They madeway f or Henr y Wi mbush, t ouchi ng t hei r caps as he passed. Her et ur ned t hei r sal ut e; hi s bowl er and f ace wer e one i n t hei runr uf f l ed gr avi t y.

I n Si r Fer di nando' s t i me, he r ef l ected, i n t he t i me of hi s son,Si r J ul i us, t hese young men woul d have had t hei r Sundaydi versi ons even at Cr ome, r emote and r ust i c Cr ome. There woul dhave been ar cher y, ski t t l es, danci ng- - soci al amusement s i n whi ch

t hey woul d have par t aken as member s of a consci ous communi t y.Now t hey had not hi ng, not hi ng except Mr . Bodi ham' s f orbi ddi ng



Boys' Cl ub and t he r are dances and concert s organi sed by hi msel f .Boredom or t he urban pl easures of t he county met r opol i s were t heal t er nat i ves t hat present ed t hemsel ves t o t hese poor yout hs.Count r y pl easures were no more; t hey had been st amped out by t hePur i t ans.

I n Manni ngham' s Di ary f or 1600 t her e was a queer passage, her emember ed, a ver y queer passage. Cert ai n magi st r ates i nBer kshi r e, Pur i t an magi st r ates, had had wi nd of a scandal . Onemoonl i t summer ni ght t hey had r i dden out wi t h t hei r posse andt her e, among t he hi l l s, t hey had come upon a company of men andwomen, danci ng, st ark naked, among t he sheepcot es. Themagi st r ates and t hei r men had r i dden t hei r hor ses i nt o the cr owd.How sel f - consci ous t he poor peopl e must suddenl y have f el t , howhel pl ess wi t hout t hei r cl othes agai nst armed and booted hor semen! The dancer s wer e ar r est ed, whi pped, gaol ed, set i n t he st ocks;t he moonl i ght dance i s never danced agai n. What ol d, ear t hy,Pani c r i t e came t o ext i nct i on her e? he wondered. Who knows?- -per haps t hei r ancest or s had danced l i ke t hi s i n t he moonl i ght

ages bef ore Adam and Eve were so much as t hought of . He l i ked t ot hi nk so. And now i t was no more. These weary young men, i ft hey want ed t o dance, woul d have t o bi cycl e si x mi l es t o t het own. The count r y was desol at e, wi t hout l i f e of i t s own, wi t houti ndi genous pl easures. The pi ous magi st r at es had snuf f ed out f orever a l i t t l e happy f l ame that had bur ned f r om t he begi nni ng oft i me.

"And as on Tul l i a' s t omb one l amp bur ned cl ear ,Unchanged f or f i f t een hundr ed year . . . "

He r epeated t he l i nes t o hi msel f , and was desol ated t o t hi nk ofal l t he mur der ed past .

CHAPTER XI X.

Henr y Wi mbush' s l ong ci gar bur ned aromat i cal l y. The "Hi st ory ofCr ome" l ay on hi s knee; sl owl y he t ur ned over t he pages.

" I can' t deci de what epi sode t o r ead you t o- ni ght , " he sai dt hought f ul l y. "Si r Fer di nando' s voyages ar e not wi t houti nt er est. Then, of cour se, t her e' s hi s son, Si r J ul i us. I t washe who suf f er ed f r om t he del usi on t hat hi s per spi r at i onengender ed f l i es; i t dr ove hi m f i nal l y t o sui ci de. Or t her e' sSi r Cypr i an. " He t ur ned t he pages mor e r api dl y. "Or Si r Henr y.Or Si r Geor ge. . . No, I ' m i ncl i ned t o t hi nk I won' t r ead about anyof t hese. "

"But you must r ead somethi ng, " i nsi st ed Mr . Scogan, t aki ng hi spi pe out of hi s mout h.

" I t hi nk I shal l r ead about my gr andf at her , " sai d Henr y Wi mbush,"and t he event s t hat l ed up t o hi s marr i age wi t h t he el destdaught er of t he l ast Si r Fer di nando. "

"Good, " sai d Mr . Scogan. "We ar e l i st eni ng. "

"Bef or e I begi n r eadi ng, " sai d Henr y Wi mbush, l ooki ng up f r om t hebook and t aki ng of f t he pi nce- nez whi ch he had j ust f i t t ed t o hi s

nose- - "bef or e thei r begi n, I must say a f ew pr el i mi nar y wor dsabout Si r Fer di nando, t he l ast of t he Lapi t hs. At t he deat h of



t he vi r t uous and unf or t unat e Si r Hercul es, Fer di nando f oundhi msel f i n possessi on of t he f ami l y f or t une, not a l i t t l e

i ncr eased by hi s f at her ' s t emper ance and t hr i f t ; he appl i edhi msel f f or t hwi t h t o t he t ask of spendi ng i t , whi ch he di d i n anampl e and j ovi al f ashi on. By t he t i me he was f ort y he had eat en

and, above al l , dr unk and l oved away about hal f hi s capi t al , andwoul d i nf al l i bl y have soon got r i d of t he r est i n t he samemanner , i f he had not had the good f or t une t o become so madl yenamour ed of t he Rect or ' s daught er as t o make a pr oposal ofmarr i age. The young l ady accept ed hi m, and i n l ess t han a yearhad become t he absol ute mi st r ess of Cr ome and her husband. Anext r aor di nar y r ef or mat i on made i t sel f appar ent i n Si rFer di nando' s charact er . He gr ew r egul ar and economi cal i n hi shabi t s; he even became temper ate, r arel y dr i nki ng more t han abot t l e and a hal f of por t at a si t t i ng. The wani ng f or t une oft he Lapi t hs began once more t o wax, and that i n despi t e of t hehar d t i mes ( f or Si r Fer di nando mar r i ed i n 1809 i n the hei ght oft he Napol eoni c War s) . A pr osper ous and di gni f i ed ol d age,

cheer ed by t he spect acl e of hi s chi l dr en' s growt h and happi ness- -f or Lady Lapi t h had al r eady bor ne hi m t hr ee daught er s, and t her eseemed no good reason why she shoul d not bear many mor e of t hem,and sons as wel l - - a pat r i ar chal decl i ne i nt o t he f ami l y vaul t ,seemed now t o be Si r Ferdi nando' s envi abl e dest i ny. ButProvi dence wi l l ed ot her wi se. To Napol eon, cause al r eady of suchi nf i ni t e mi schi ef , was due, t hough per haps i ndi r ect l y, t heunt i mel y and vi ol ent deat h whi ch put a per i od t o thi s r ef or medexi st ence.

"Si r Fer di nando, who was above al l t hi ngs a patr i ot , had adopt ed,f r om t he ear l i est days of t he conf l i ct wi t h t he French, hi s ownpecul i ar met hod of cel ebr at i ng our vi ct ori es. When t he happynews r eached London, i t was hi s cust omt o purchase i mmedi atel y al ar ge st or e of l i quor and, t aki ng a pl ace on whi chever of t heout goi ng coaches he happened to l i ght on f i r st , t o dr i ve t hr ought he countr y pr ocl ai mi ng the good news t o al l he met on t he r oadand di spensi ng i t , al ong wi t h t he l i quor , at ever y stoppi ngpl acet o al l who car ed t o l i st en or dri nk. Thus, af t er t he Ni l e, hehad dr i ven as f ar as Edi nbur gh; and l at er, when t he coaches,wr eat hed wi t h l aur el f or t r i umph, wi t h cypr ess f or mour ni ng, wereset t i ng out wi t h the news of Nel son' s vi ct or y and deat h, he satt hr ough al l a chi l l y Oct ober ni ght on the box of t he Nor wi ch"Meteor" wi t h a naut i cal keg of r um on hi s knees and two cases ofol d br andy under t he seat . Thi s geni al cust om was one of t hemany habi t s whi ch he abandoned on hi s marr i age. The vi ct or i es i nt he Peni nsul a, t he r et r eat f r om Moscow, Lei pzi g, and t heabdi cat i on of t he t yrant al l went uncel ebr at ed. I t so happened,however , t hat i n t he summer of 1815 Si r Ferdi nando was st ayi ngf or a f ew weeks i n t he capi t al . Ther e had been a successi on ofanxi ous, doubt f ul days; t hen came t he gl or i ous news of Waterl oo.I t was t oo much f or Si r Fer di nando; hi s j oyous youth awoke agai nwi t hi n hi m. He hur r i ed t o hi s wi ne merchant and bought a dozenbot t l es of 1760 br andy. The Bath coach was on t he poi nt ofst ar t i ng; he br i bed hi s way on to t he box and, seat ed i n gl or ybesi de the dr i ver , pr ocl ai med al oud t he downf al l of t he Cor si canbandi t and passed about t he war m l i qui d j oy. They cl at t er edt hr ough Uxbr i dge, Sl ough, Mai denhead. Sl eepi ng Readi ng wasawakened by t he great news. At Di dcot one of t he ost l ers was somuch overcome by pat r i ot i c emot i ons and t he 1760 brandy t hat he

f ound i t i mpossi bl e t o do up t he buckl es of t he harness. Theni ght began to gr ow chi l l y, and Si r Fer di nando f ound that i t was



not enough t o t ake a ni p at every st age: t o keep up hi s vi t alwarmt h he was compel l ed t o dr i nk between the st ages as wel l . They wer e appr oachi ng Swi ndon. The coach was t r avel l i ng at adi zzy speed- - si x mi l es i n t he l ast hal f - hour - - when, wi t houthavi ng mani f est ed t he sl i ght est pr emoni t or y sympt omofunst eadi ness, Si r Fer di nando suddenl y t oppl ed si deways of f hi s

seat and f el l , head f or emost , i nt o t he r oad. An unpl easant j ol tawakened t he sl umber i ng passenger s. The coach was br ought t o ast andst i l l ; t he guar d r an back wi t h a l i ght . He f ound Si rFer di nando sti l l al i ve, but unconsci ous; bl ood was oozi ng f r omhi s mout h. The back wheel s of t he coach had passed over hi sbody, br eaki ng most of hi s r i bs and bot h arms. Hi s skul l wasf r act ur ed i n t wo pl aces. They pi cked hi m up, but he was deadbef or e t hey r eached t he next st age. So peri shed Si r Fer di nando,a vi ct i m t o hi s own pat r i ot i sm. Lady Lapi t h di d not mar r y agai n,but det er mi ned t o devot e t he r est of her l i f e t o t he wel l - bei ngof her t hr ee chi l dr en- - Geor gi ana, now f i ve year s ol d, andEmmel i ne and Car ol i ne, t wi ns of t wo. "

Henr y Wi mbush paused, and once more put on hi s pi nce- nez. "Somuch by way of i nt r oduct i on, " he sai d. "Now I can begi n t o r eadabout my gr andf ather . "

"One moment , " sai d Mr . Scogan, "t i l l I ' ve r ef i l l ed my pi pe. "

Mr . Wi mbush wai t ed. Seat ed apart i n a corner of t he r oom, I vorwas showi ng Mary hi s sket ches of Spi r i t Li f e. They spoket oget her i n whi sper s.

Mr . Scogan had l i ght ed hi s pi pe agai n. "Fi r e away, " he sai d.

Henr y Wi mbush f i r ed away.

" I t was i n t he spr i ng of 1833 that my gr andf at her, GeorgeWi mbush, f i r st made the acquai nt ance of t he ' t hr ee l ovel yLapi t hs, ' as t hey were al ways cal l ed. He was t hen a young man oft went y- t wo, wi t h cur l y yel l ow hai r and a smoot h pi nk f ace t hatwas t he mi r r or of hi s youthf ul and i ngenuous mi nd. He had beeneducat ed at Harr ow and Chri st Church, he enj oyed hunt i ng and al lot her f i el d spor t s, and, t hough hi s ci r cumst ances wer ecomf or t abl e to t he ver ge of af f l uence, hi s pl easur es wer et emper at e and i nnocent . Hi s f ather , an East I ndi an merchant , haddest i ned hi m f or a pol i t i cal car eer , and had gone to consi der abl eexpense i n acqui r i ng a pl easant l i t t l e Cor ni sh bor ough as at went y- f i r st bi r t hday gi f t f or hi s son. He was j ust l y i ndi gnantwhen, on t he ver y eve of Geor ge' s maj or i t y, t he Ref or m Bi l l of1832 swept t he bor ough out of exi st ence. The i naugurat i on ofGeorge' s pol i t i cal car eer had t o be post poned. At t he t i me hegot t o know t he l ovel y Lapi t hs he was wai t i ng; he was not at al li mpat i ent .

"The l ovel y Lapi t hs di d not f ai l t o i mpr ess hi m. Geor gi ana, t heel dest , wi t h her bl ack r i ngl et s, her f l ashi ng eyes, her nobl eaqui l i ne pr of i l e, her swan- l i ke neck, and sl opi ng shoul der s, wasor i ent al l y dazzl i ng; and t he t wi ns, wi t h t hei r del i cat el y t ur ned-up noses, t hei r bl ue eyes, and chest nut hai r , wer e an i dent i calpai r of r avi shi ngl y Engl i sh char mer s.

"Thei r conver sat i on at t hi s f i r st meet i ng pr oved, however , t o be

so f or bi ddi ng t hat , but f or t he i nvi nci bl e at t r acti on exer ci sedby t hei r beaut y, Geor ge woul d never have had the cour age to



f ol l ow up t he acquai nt ance. The t wi ns, l ooki ng up t hei r noses athi m wi t h an ai r of l angui d super i or i t y, asked hi m what he thoughtof t he l at est French poet r y and whet her he l i ked the "I ndi ana" ofGeorge Sand. But what was al most worse was t he quest i on wi t hwhi ch Geor gi ana opened her conver sat i on wi t h hi m. ' I n musi c, 'she asked, l eani ng f or war d and f i xi ng hi m wi t h her l ar ge dar k

eyes, ' ar e you a cl assi ci st or a t r anscendent al i st ?' Geor ge di dnot l ose hi s pr esence of mi nd. He had enough appr eci at i on ofmusi c t o know t hat he hat ed anythi ng cl assi cal , and so, wi t h apr ompt i t ude whi ch di d hi m credi t , he r epl i ed, ' I am at r anscendent al i st . ' Geor gi ana smi l ed bewi t chi ngl y. ' I am gl ad, 'she sai d; ' so am I . You went t o hear Pagani ni l ast week, ofcour se. "The pr ayer of Moses"- - ah! ' She cl osed her eyes. ' Doyou know anythi ng more t r anscendent al t han t hat?' ' No, ' sai dGeor ge, ' I don' t . ' He hesi t at ed, was about t o go on speaki ng,and t hen deci ded t hat af t er al l i t woul d be wi ser not t o say- -what was i n f act t r ue- - t hat he had enj oyed above al l Pagani ni ' sFar myar d I mi t at i ons. The man had made hi s f i ddl e br ay l i ke anass, cl uck l i ke a hen, gr unt , squeal , bar k, nei gh, quack, bel l ow,

and gr owl ; t hat l ast i t em, i n Geor ge' s est i mat i on, had al mostcompensated f or t he t edi ousness of t he r est of t he concer t . Hesmi l ed wi t h pl easur e at t he t hought of i t . Yes, deci dedl y, hewas no cl assi ci st i n musi c; he was a thoroughgoi ngt r anscendent al i st .

"Geor ge f ol l owed up t hi s f i r st i nt r oduct i on by payi ng a cal l ont he young l adi es and thei r mother , who occupi ed, dur i ng t heseason, a smal l but el egant house i n t he nei ghbour hood ofBer kel ey Squar e. Lady Lapi t h made a f ew di scr eet i nqui r i es, andhavi ng f ound that Geor ge' s f i nanci al posi t i on, char act er , andf ami l y wer e al l passabl y good, she asked hi m t o di ne. She hopedand expected t hat her daughters woul d al l marr y i nto t he peer age;but , bei ng a pr udent woman, she knew i t was advi sabl e to pr eparef or al l cont i ngenci es. Geor ge Wi mbush, she t hought , woul d makean excel l ent second st r i ng f or one of t he t wi ns.

"At t hi s f i r st di nner , Geor ge' s par t ner was Emmel i ne. Theyt al ked of Nature. Emmel i ne protest ed t hat t o her hi gh mountai nswer e a f eel i ng and t he hum of human ci t i es t or t ur e. Geor geagr eed that t he countr y was ver y agreeabl e, but hel d that Londondur i ng t he season al so had i t s char ms. He not i ced wi t h surpr i seand a cer t ai n sol i ci t ous di st r ess t hat Mi ss Emmel i ne' s appet i t ewas poor , t hat i t di dn' t , i n f act, exi st . Two spoonf ul s of soup,a mor sel of f i sh, no bi r d, no meat , and t hr ee gr apes- - t hat washer whol e di nner . He l ooked f r om t i me t o t i me at her t wosi st er s; Georgi ana and Carol i ne seemed t o be qui t e as abst emi ous. They waved away whatever was of f er ed t hem wi t h an expressi on ofdel i cat e di sgust , shut t i ng t hei r eyes and aver t i ng t hei r f acesf r om t he pr of f er ed di sh, as t hough t he l emon sol e, t he duck, t hel oi n of veal , t he t r i f l e, wer e obj ects r evol t i ng t o t he si ght andsmel l . Geor ge, who t hought t he di nner capi t al , vent ur ed t ocomment on t he si st er s' l ack of appet i t e.

"' Pr ay, don' t t al k t o me of eat i ng, ' sai d Emmel i ne, dr oopi ng l i kea sensi t i ve pl ant . ' We f i nd i t so coar se, so unspi r i t ual , mysi st er s and I . One can' t t hi nk of one' s soul whi l e one i seat i ng. '

"Geor ge agr eed; one coul dn' t . ' But one must l i ve, ' he sai d.

" ' Al as! ' Emmel i ne si ghed. ' One must . Deat h i s ver y beaut i f ul ,



don' t you t hi nk?' She br oke a cor ner of f a pi ece of t oast andbegan t o ni bbl e at i t l angui dl y. ' But si nce, as you say, onemust l i ve. . . ' She made a l i t t l e gest ur e of r esi gnat i on.' Lucki l y a ver y l i t t l e suf f i ces t o keep one al i ve. ' She put downher cor ner of t oast hal f eat en.

"Geor ge r egarded her wi t h some surpri se. She was pal e, but shel ooked ext r aor di nar i l y heal t hy, he t hought ; so di d her si st er s.Per haps i f you wer e r eal l y spi r i t ual you needed l ess f ood. He,c l earl y, was not spi r i t ual .

"Af t er t hi s he saw t hem f r equent l y. They al l l i ked hi m, f r omLady Lapi t h downwards. True, he was not ver y r omant i c orpoet i cal ; but he was such a pl easant , unpr et ent i ous, ki nd- hear t edyoung man, t hat one coul dn' t hel p l i ki ng hi m. For hi s par t , het hought t hem wonder f ul , wonder f ul , especi al l y Geor gi ana. Heenvel oped t hem al l i n a war m, pr ot ect i ve af f ect i on. For t heyneeded pr ot ecti on; t hey wer e al t oget her t oo f r ai l , t oo spi r i t ualf or t hi s wor l d. They never at e, t hey wer e al ways pal e, t hey

of t en compl ai ned of f ever , t hey t al ked much and l ovi ngl y ofdeath, t hey f r equent l y swooned. Geor gi ana was t he most ether ealof al l ; of t he t hr ee she at e l east , swooned most of t en, t al kedmost of deat h, and was t he pal est - - wi t h a pal l or t hat was sost ar t l i ng as t o appear posi t i vel y ar t i f i ci al . At any moment , i tseemed, she mi ght l oose her pr ecari ous hol d on t hi s mater i alwor l d and become al l spi r i t . To Geor ge t he t hought was acont i nual agony. I f she wer e t o di e. . .

"She cont r i ved, however , t o l i ve t hr ough the season, and that i nspi t e of t he numer ous bal l s, r out s, and ot her par t i es of pl easur ewhi ch, i n company wi t h t he rest of t he l ovel y t r i o, she neverf ai l ed t o at t end. I n t he mi ddl e of J ul y t he whol e househol dmoved down t o t he count r y. George was i nvi t ed t o spend t he mont hof August at Cr ome.

"The house- par t y was di st i ngui shed; i n t he l i st of vi si t or sf i gur ed t he names of t wo marr i ageabl e young men of t i t l e. Geor gehad hoped t hat count r y ai r , r epose, and natur al surr oundi ngsmi ght have r est or ed t o t he t hr ee si st er s t hei r appet i t es and t her oses of t hei r cheeks. He was mi st aken. For di nner , t he f i r steveni ng, Geor gi ana at e onl y an ol i ve, t wo or t hr ee sal t edal monds, and hal f a peach. She was as pal e as ever . Dur i ng t hemeal she spoke of l ove.

"' Tr ue l ove, ' she sai d, ' bei ng i nf i ni t e and et er nal , can onl y beconsummated i n eterni t y. I ndi ana and Si r Rodol phe cel ebr ated t hemyst i c weddi ng of t hei r soul s by j umpi ng i nt o Ni agar a. Love i si ncompat i bl e wi t h l i f e. The wi sh of t wo peopl e who t r ul y l ove

one anot her i s not t o l i ve t oget her but t o di e t oget her . '

" ' Come, come, my dear , ' sai d Lady Lapi t h, st out and pr act i cal .' What woul d become of t he next generat i on, pr ay, i f al l t he wor l dact ed on your pr i nci pl es?'

" ' Mamma! . . . ' Geor gi ana protest ed, and dropped her eyes.

" ' I n my young days, ' Lady Lapi t h went on, ' I shoul d have beenl aughed out of count enance i f I ' d sai d a t hi ng l i ke t hat . But

t hen i n my young days soul s weren' t as f ashi onabl e as t hey arenow and we di dn' t t hi nk deat h was at al l poet i cal . I t was j ust



unpl easant . '

" ' Mamma! . . . ' Emmel i ne and Car ol i ne i mpl ored i n uni son.

" ' I n my young days- - ' Lady Lapi t h was l aunched i nt o her subj ect ;not hi ng, i t seemed, coul d st op her now. ' I n my young days, i f

you di dn' t eat , peopl e t ol d you you needed a dose of r hubar b.Nowadays. . . '

"There was a cr y; Georgi ana had swooned si deways on to Lord Ti mpany' s shoul der . I t was a desperat e expedi ent ; but i t wassuccessf ul . Lady Lapi t h was st opped.

"The days passed i n an unevent f ul r ound of pl easures. Of al l t hegay par t y George al one was unhappy. Lor d Ti mpany was payi ng hi scour t t o Georgi ana, and i t was cl ear t hat he was not unf avour abl yr ecei ved. George l ooked on, and hi s soul was a hel l of j eal ousyand despai r . The boi st er ous company of t he young men becamei nt ol er abl e to hi m; he shr ank f r om t hem, seeki ng gl oom and

sol i t ude. One morni ng, havi ng br oken away f r om t hem on somevague pretext , he r eturned t o t he house al one. The young menwer e bat hi ng i n t he pool bel ow; t hei r cr i es and l aught er f l oat edup t o hi m, maki ng t he qui et house seeml onel i er and more si l ent . The l ovel y si st er s and t hei r mamma st i l l kept t hei r chambers;t hey di d not cust omar i l y make t hei r appear ance t i l l l uncheon, sot hat t he mal e guest s had t he morni ng t o t hemsel ves. Geor ge satdown i n the hal l and abandoned hi msel f t o thought .

"At any moment she mi ght di e; at any moment she mi ght become Lady Ti mpany. I t was t er r i bl e, t er r i bl e. I f she di ed, t hen he woul ddi e t oo; he woul d go t o seek her beyond t he grave. I f she becameLady Ti mpany. . . ah, t hen! The sol ut i on of t he pr obl emwoul d notbe so si mpl e. I f she became Lady Ti mpany: i t was a hor r i bl et hought . But t hen suppose she were i n l ove wi t h Ti mpany- - t houghi t seemed i ncr edi bl e that anyone coul d be i n l ove wi t h Ti mpany- -suppose her l i f e depended on Ti mpany, suppose she coul dn' t l i vewi t hout hi m? He was f umbl i ng hi s way al ong t hi s cl uel essl abyri nt h of supposi t i ons when t he cl ock st r uck t wel ve. On t hel ast st r oke, l i ke an aut omat on r el eased by t he tur ni ng cl ockwor k,a l i t t l e mai d, hol di ng a l ar ge cover ed t r ay, popped out of t hedoor t hat l ed f r om t he ki t chen r egi ons i nt o t he hal l . Fr om hi sdeep arm- chai r George wat ched her ( hi msel f , i t was evi dent ,unobser ved) wi t h an i dl e cur i osi t y. She pat t er ed acr oss the r oomand came t o a hal t i n f r ont of what seemed a bl ank expense ofpanel l i ng. She r eached out her hand and, t o Geor ge' s ext r emeast oni shment , a l i t t l e door swung open, r eveal i ng t he f oot of awi ndi ng st ai r case. Tur ni ng si deways i n or der t o get her t r ayt hr ough t he nar r ow openi ng, t he l i t t l e mai d dar t ed i n wi t h ar api d cr ab- l i ke mot i on. The door cl osed behi nd her wi t h a cl i ck.A mi nut e l at er i t opened agai n and t he mai d, wi t hout her t r ay,hur r i ed back acr oss t he hal l and di sappear ed i n t he di r ect i on oft he ki t chen. Geor ge t r i ed t o r ecompose hi s t hought s, but ani nvi nci bl e cur i osi t y dr ew hi s mi nd t owar ds t he hi dden door , t hest ai r case, t he l i t t l e mai d. I t was i n vai n he t ol d hi msel f t hatt he matt er was none of hi s busi ness, t hat t o expl ore t he secret sof t hat sur pr i si ng door , t hat myst er i ous st ai r case wi t hi n, woul dbe a pi ece of unf or gi vabl e r udeness and i ndi scr et i on. I t was i nvai n; f or f i ve mi nut es he st r uggl ed her oi cal l y wi t h hi scur i osi t y, but at t he end of t hat t i me he f ound hi msel f st andi ng

i n f r ont of t he i nnocent sheet of panel l i ng t hr ough whi ch t hel i t t l e mai d had di sappear ed. A gl ance suf f i ced t o show hi m t he



posi t i on of t he secret door - - secret , he per cei ved, onl y t o t hosewho l ooked wi t h a car el ess eye. I t was j ust an or di nar y door l eti n f l ush wi t h t he panel l i ng. No l at ch nor handl e bet r ayed i t sposi t i on, but an unobt r usi ve cat ch sunk i n t he wood i nvi t ed t het humb. Geor ge was ast oni shed t hat he had not not i ced i t bef ore;now he had seen i t , i t was so obvi ous, al most as obvi ous as t he

cupboar d door i n t he l i br ar y wi t h i t s l i nes of i mi t at i on shel vesand i t s dummy books. He pul l ed back t he cat ch and peeped i nsi de. The st ai r case, of whi ch t he degr ees were made not of st one but ofbl ocks of anci ent oak, wound up and out of si ght . A sl i t - l i kewi ndow admi t t ed t he dayl i ght ; he was at t he f oot of t he cent r alt ower , and t he l i t t l e wi ndow l ooked out over t he ter r ace; t heywer e st i l l shout i ng and spl ashi ng i n t he pool bel ow.

"Geor ge cl osed t he door and went back t o hi s seat . But hi scur i osi t y was not sat i sf i ed. I ndeed, t hi s par t i al sat i sf acti onhad but whet t ed i t s appet i t e. Wher e di d t he st ai r case l ead?What was t he err and of t he l i t t l e mai d? I t was no busi ness ofhi s, he kept r epeat i ng- - no busi ness of hi s. He t r i ed t o r ead,

but hi s at t ent i on wandered. A quar t er - past t wel ve sounded on t hehar moni ous cl ock. Suddenl y det ermi ned, Geor ge r ose, cr ossed t her oom, opened t he hi dden door , and began t o ascend t he st ai r s. Hepassed the f i r st wi ndow, corkscr ewed r ound, and came to another .He paused f or a moment t o l ook out ; hi s heart beat uncomf ort abl y,as t hough he wer e af f r ont i ng some unknown danger . What he wasdoi ng, he t ol d hi msel f , was ext r emel y ungent l emanl y, hor r i bl yunder bred. He t i ptoed onward and upward. One t urn more, t henhal f a t ur n, and a door conf r ont ed hi m. He hal t ed bef or e i t ,l i st ened; he coul d hear no sound. Put t i ng hi s eye t o t hekeyhol e, he saw not hi ng but a st r et ch of whi t e sunl i t wal l .Embol dened, he t urned the handl e and st epped acr oss t het hr eshol d. Ther e he hal t ed, petr i f i ed by what he saw, mut el ygapi ng.

"I n t he mi ddl e of a pl easant l y sunny l i t t l e r oom- - ' i t i s nowPr i sci l l a' s boudoi r , ' Mr . Wi mbush r emar ked par ent het i cal l y- - st ooda smal l ci r cul ar t abl e of mahogany. Cr ystal , por cel ai n, andsi l ver , - - al l t he shi ni ng appar at us of an el egant meal - - wer emi r r or ed i n i t s pol i shed dept hs. The car case of a col d chi cken,a bowl of f r ui t , a gr eat ham, deepl y gashed t o i t s hear t oft ender est whi t e and pi nk, t he br own cannon bal l of a col d pl um-puddi ng, a sl ender Hock bot t l e, and a decant er of cl ar et j ost l edone anot her f or a pl ace on t hi s f est i ve boar d. And r ound t het abl e sat t he t hr ee si st er s, t he t hr ee l ovel y Lapi t hs- - eat i ng!

"At Geor ge' s sudden ent r ance they had al l l ooked towards t hedoor , and now t hey sat , pet r i f i ed by t he same ast oni shment whi chkept Geor ge f i xed and st ar i ng. Geor gi ana, who sat i mmedi atel yf aci ng t he door , gazed at hi m wi t h dark, enormous eyes. Betweent he thumb and f oref i nger of her r i ght hand she was hol di ng adr umst i ck of t he di smember ed chi cken; her l i t t l e f i nger ,el egant l y cr ooked, st ood apar t f r om t he r est of her hand. Hermout h was open, but t he drumst i ck had never r eached i t sdest i nat i on; i t r emai ned, suspended, f r ozen, i n mi d- ai r . Theot her t wo si st er s had t ur ned r ound t o l ook at t he i nt r uder .Car ol i ne st i l l gr asped her kni f e and f or k; Emmel i ne' s f i nger swere r ound t he st em of her cl aret gl ass. For what seemed a ver yl ong t i me, George and t he t hr ee si st ers st ar ed at one another i nsi l ence. They were a group of st atues. Then suddenl y t her e was

movement . Geor gi ana dr opped her chi cken bone, Carol i ne' s kni f eand f ork cl at t er ed on her pl ate. The movement pr opagated i t sel f ,



gr ew mor e deci si ve; Emmel i ne spr ang t o her f eet , ut t er i ng a cry. The wave of pani c r eached George; he t urned and, mumbl i ngsomet hi ng uni nt el l i gi bl e as he went , r ushed out of t he room anddown t he wi ndi ng st ai r s. He came t o a st andst i l l i n t he hal l ,and t her e, al l by hi msel f i n t he qui et house, he began t o l augh.

"At l uncheon i t was not i ced t hat t he si st er s at e a l i t t l e mor et han usual . Geor gi ana t oyed wi t h some Fr ench beans and aspoonf ul of cal ves ' - f oot j el l y. ' I f eel a l i t t l e s t ronger t o-day, ' she sai d t o Lord Ti mpany, when he congratul ated her on t hi si ncrease of appet i t e; ' a l i t t l e mor e mat er i al , ' she added, wi t h aner vous l augh. Looki ng up, she caught Geor ge' s eye; a bl ushsuf f used her cheeks and she l ooked hast i l y away.

" I n t he gar den t hat af t ernoon t hey f ound t hemsel ves f or a momental one.

"You won' t t el l anyone, George? Promi se you won' t t el l anyone, 'she i mpl or ed. ' I t woul d make us l ook so r i di cul ous. And

besi des, eat i ng I S unspi r i t ual , i sn' t i t ? Say you won' t t el lanyone. '

" ' I wi l l , ' sai d George brutal l y. ' I ' l l t el l everyone, unl ess . . . '

" ' I t ' s bl ackmai l . '

"' I don' t car e, sai d Geor ge. ' I ' l l gi ve you t went y- f our hour s t odeci de. '

"Lady Lapi t h was di sappoi nt ed, of cour se; she had hoped f orbet t er t hi ngs- - f or Ti mpany and a cor onet . But Geor ge, af t er al l ,wasn' t so bad. They were marr i ed at t he New Year .

"My poor grandf ather ! " Mr . Wi mbush added, as he cl osed hi s bookand put away hi s pi nce- nez. "Whenever I r ead i n t he papers aboutoppr essed nat i onal i t i es, I t hi nk of hi m. " He r el i ght ed hi sci gar . "I t was a mat er nal gover nment , hi ghl y cent r al i sed, andt her e wer e no r epr esent at i ve i nst i t ut i ons. "

Henr y Wi mbush ceased speaki ng. I n t he si l ence t hat ensued I vor ' swhi spered comment ary on t he spi r i t sket ches once more becameaudi bl e. Pr i sci l l a, who had been dozi ng, suddenl y woke up.

"What ?" she sai d i n t he st art l ed t ones of one newl y retur ned t oconsci ousness; "what ?"

J enny caught t he wor ds. She l ooked up, smi l ed, noddedr eassur i ngl y. "I t ' s about a ham, " she sai d.

"What ' s about a ham?"

"What Henr y has been r eadi ng. " She cl osed t he r ed not ebook l yi ngon her knees and sl i pped a r ubber band r ound i t . "I ' m goi ng t obed, " she announced, and got up.

"So am I , " sai d Anne, yawni ng. But she l acked t he ener gy t o r i sef r om her ar m- chai r .

The ni ght was hot and oppr ess i ve. Round t he open wi ndows t he

cur t ai ns hung unmovi ng. I vor , f anni ng hi msel f wi t h t he por t r ai tof an Ast r al Bei ng, l ooked out i nt o t he darkness and dr ew a



br eat h.

"The ai r ' s l i ke wool , " he decl ar ed.

" I t wi l l get cool er af t er mi dni ght , " sai d Henr y Wi mbush, andcaut i ousl y added, "per haps. "

"I shan' t sl eep, I know. "

Pri sci l l a t ur ned her head i n hi s di r ect i on; t he monument alcoi f f ur e nodded exor bi t ant l y at her sl i ght est movement . "Youmust make an ef f or t , " she sai d. "When I can' t sl eep, Iconcent r at e my wi l l : I say, ' I wi l l s l eep, I am asl eep! ' Andpop! of f I go. That ' s t he power of t hought . "

"But does i t wor k on st uf f y ni ght s?" I vor i nqui r ed. "I si mpl ycannot sl eep on a st uf f y ni ght . "

"Nor can I , " sai d Mar y, "except out of door s. "

"Out of door s! What a wonder f ul i dea!" I n t he end t hey deci dedt o sl eep on the t owers - - Mar y on t he west er n tower, I vor on t heeast ern. There was a f l at expanse of l eads on each of t het owers, and you coul d get a mat t r ess t hr ough t he t r ap door s t hatopened on t o t hem. Under t he st ars, under t he gi bbous moon,assuredl y t hey woul d sl eep. The mat t r esses were haul ed up,sheets and bl anket s were spr ead, and an hour l ater t he twoi nsomni ast s, each on hi s separat e t ower , wer e cr yi ng t hei r good-ni ght s across t he di vi di ng gul f .

On Mar y t he sl eep- compel l i ng char m of t he open ai r di d not workwi t h i t s expected magi c. Even t hrough t he mat t r ess one coul d notf ai l t o be aware t hat t he l eads wer e ext r emel y har d. Then t her ewer e noi ses: t he owl s scr eeched t i r el essl y, and once, r oused bysome unknown ter r or, al l t he geese of t he f armyar d bur st i nt o asudden f r enzy of cackl i ng. The st ars and t he gi bbous moondemanded t o be l ooked at , and when one met eori t e had st r eakedacr oss t he sky, you coul d not hel p wai t i ng, open- eyed and al er t ,f or t he next . Ti me passed; t he moon cl i mbed hi gher and hi gher i nt he sky. Mary f el t l ess sl eepy than she had when she f i r st cameout . She sat up and l ooked over t he parapet . Had I vor been abl et o sl eep? she wonder ed. And as t hough i n answer t o her ment alquest i on, f r om behi nd t he chi mney- st ack at t he f ar t her end of t her oof a whi t e f or m noi sel essl y emer ged- - a f or m t hat , i n themoonl i ght , was r ecogni sabl y I vor ' s. Spr eadi ng hi s ar ms t o r i ghtand l ef t , l i ke a t i ght - r ope dancer , he began t o wal k f or war dal ong t he r oof - t r ee of t he house. He swayed t er r i f yi ngl y as headvanced. Mary l ooked on speechl essl y; perhaps he was wal ki ng i nhi s sl eep! Suppose he were t o wake up suddenl y, now! I f shespoke or moved i t mi ght mean hi s deat h. She dar ed l ook no more,but sank back on her pi l l ows. She l i st ened i nt ent l y. For whatseemed an i mmensel y l ong t i me t here was no sound. Then t here wasa pat t er of f eet on t he t i l es, f ol l owed by a scrabbl i ng noi se anda whi spered "Damn!" And suddenl y I vor' s head and shoul der sappeared above t he par apet . One l eg f ol l owed, t hen t he other .He was on t he l eads. Mary pretended t o wake up wi t h a st ar t .

"Oh!" she sai d. "What are you doi ng here?"

" I coul dn' t sl eep, " he expl ai ned, " so I came al ong t o see i f youcoul dn' t . One get s bor ed by onesel f on a t ower. Don' t you f i nd



i t so?"

I t was l i ght bef or e f i ve. Long, nar r ow cl ouds bar r ed t he east ,t hei r edges br i ght wi t h orange f i r e. The sky was pal e andwat er y. Wi t h t he mour nf ul scr eam of a soul i n pai n, a monst r ouspeacock, f l yi ng heavi l y up f r om bel ow, al i ght ed on t he par apet of

t he t ower. I vor and Mary st art ed broad awake.

"Cat ch hi m! " cr i ed I vor , j umpi ng up. "We' l l have a f eat her . " The f r i ghtened peacock r an up and down t he parapet i n an absur ddi st r ess, cur t seyi ng and bobbi ng and cl ucki ng; hi s l ong t ai lswung ponderousl y back and f or t h as he t urned and t urned agai n. Then wi t h a f l ap and swi sh he l aunched hi msel f upon t he ai r andsai l ed magni f i cent l y ear t hwar d, wi t h a r ecover ed di gni t y. But hehad l ef t a t r ophy. I vor had hi s f eat her , a l ong- l ashed eye ofpur pl e and gr een, of bl ue and gol d. He handed i t t o hi scompani on.

"An angel ' s f eat her , " he sai d.

Mar y l ooked at i t f or a moment , gr avel y and i nt ent l y. Her pur pl epyj amas cl ot hed her wi t h an ampl eness t hat hi d t he l i nes of herbody; she l ooked l i ke some l ar ge, comf or t abl e, unj oi nt ed t oy, asor t of Teddy- bear - - but a Teddy bear wi t h an angel ' s head, pi nkcheeks, and hai r l i ke a bel l of gol d. An angel ' s f ace, t hef eat her of an angel ' s wi ng. . . Somehow t he whol e at mospher e of t hi ssunr i se was r at her angel i c.

"I t ' s ext r aor di nar y t o t hi nk of sexual sel ecti on, " she sai d atl ast , l ooki ng up f r om her cont empl at i on of t he mi r acul ousf eat her .

"Ext r aor di nar y!" I vor echoed. "I sel ect you, you sel ect me.What l uck! "

He put hi s ar m r ound her shoul der s and they st ood l ooki ngeast ward. The f i r st sunl i ght had begun t o war m and col our t hepal e l i ght of t he dawn. Mauve pyj amas and whi t e pyj amas; t heywere a young and char mi ng coupl e. The r i si ng sun t ouched t hei rf aces. I t was al l extr emel y symbol i c; but t hen, i f you choose t ot hi nk so, not hi ng i n t hi s wor l d i s not symbol i cal . Pr of ound andbeaut i f ul t r ut h!

" I must be get t i ng back t o my tower , " sai d I vor at l ast .

"Al r eady?"

"I ' m af r ai d so. The var l et r y wi l l soon be up and about . "

"I vor . . . " Ther e was a pr ol onged and si l ent f ar ewel l .

"And now, " sai d I vor , "I r epeat my ti ght - r ope st unt . "

Mar y t hr ew her arms r ound hi s neck. "You must n' t , I vor . I t ' sdanger ous. Pl ease. "

He had t o yi el d at l ast t o her ent r eat i es. "Al l r i ght , " he sai d," I ' l l go down thr ough t he house and up at t he ot her end. "

He vani shed t hr ough t he t r ap door i nt o t he dar kness t hat st i l ll ur ked wi t hi n t he shut t er ed house. A mi nut e l at er he had



r eappear ed on t he f ar t her t ower ; he waved hi s hand, and t hen sankdown, out of si ght , behi nd t he par apet . From bel ow, i n t hehouse, came t he t hi n wasp- l i ke buzzi ng of an al arum- cl ock. Hehad gone back j ust i n t i me.

CHAPTER XX.

I vor was gone. Loungi ng behi nd t he wi nd- scr een i n hi s yel l owsedan he was whi r l i ng across r ural Engl and. Soci al and amorousengagement s of t he most ur gent char act er cal l ed hi m f r om hal l t obar oni al hal l , f r om castl e to castl e, f r om El i zabet han manor -house t o Geor gi an mansi on, over t he whol e expanse of t he ki ngdom. To- day i n Somer set , t o- mor r ow i n War wi ckshi r e, on Saturday i n t heWest r i di ng, by Tuesday mor ni ng i n Ar gyl l - - I vor never r est ed. The whol e summer t hrough, f r om t he begi nni ng of J ul y t i l l t he endof September , he devoted hi msel f t o hi s engagement s; he was amart yr t o them. I n t he aut umn he went back t o London f or ahol i day. Cr ome had been a l i t t l e i nci dent , an evanescent bubbl e

on t he st r eam of hi s l i f e; i t bel onged al r eady t o t he past . Byt ea- t i me he woul d be at Gobl ey, and t here woul d be Zenobi a' swel comi ng smi l e. And on Thur sday morni ng- - but t hat was a l ong,l ong way ahead. He woul d t hi nk of Thursday morni ng when Thursdaymorni ng ar r i ved. Meanwhi l e t her e was Gobl ey, meanwhi l e Zenobi a.

I n t he vi si t or ' s book at Cr ome I vor had l ef t , accor di ng t o hi si nvar i abl e cust omi n t hese cases, a poem. He had i mpr ovi sed i tmagi st er i al l y i n t he t en mi nut es pr ecedi ng hi s depar t ur e. Deni sand Mr . Scogan st r ol l ed back t oget her f r om t he gat es of t hecour t yar d, whence they had bi dden thei r l ast f ar ewel l s; on thewr i t i ng- t abl e i n t he hal l t hey f ound t he vi si t or ' s book, open,and I vor ' s composi t i on scar cel y dr y. Mr . Scogan r ead i t al oud:

"The magi c of t hose i mmemor i al ki ngs,Who webbed enchant ment on t he bowl s of ni ght .Sl eeps i n t he soul of al l creat ed t hi ngs;I n t he bl ue sea, t h' Acrocer auni an hei ght ,I n t he eyed but t er f l y' s aur i cul ar wi ngsAnd or gi ed vi si ons of t he anchor i t e;I n al l t hat s i ngi ng f l i es and f l yi ng s i ngs,I n rai n, i n pai n, i n del i cat e del i ght .But much mor e magi c, much mor e cogent spel l sWeave here t hei r wi zardri es about my soul .Cr ome cal l s me l i ke t he voi ce of vesper al bel l s,Haunt s l i ke a ghost l y- peopl ed necr opol e.Fat e t ears me hence. Har d f ate! si nce f ar f r omCr omeMy soul must weep, r emember i ng i t s Home. "

"Ver y ni ce and t ast ef ul and t act f ul , " sai d Mr . Scogan, when hehad f i ni shed. "I am onl y t r oubl ed by t he but t er f l y' s aur i cul arwi ngs. You have a f i r st - hand knowl edge of t he worki ngs of apoet ' s mi nd, Deni s; per haps you can expl ai n. "

"What coul d be si mpl er , " sai d Deni s. "I t ' s a beaut i f ul wor d, andI vor want ed t o say t hat t he wi ngs were gol den. "

"You make i t l umi nousl y cl ear . "

"One suf f er s so much, " Deni s went on, "f r om t he f act t hat

beaut i f ul words don' t al ways mean what t hey ought t o mean.Recent l y, f or exampl e, I had a whol e poemr ui ned, j ust because



t he word ' carmi nat i ve' di dn' t mean what i t ought t o have meant .Car mi nat i ve- - i t ' s admi r abl e, i sn' t i t ?"

"Admi r abl e, " Mr . Scogan agr eed. "And what does i t mean?"

"I t ' s a wor d I ' ve t r easur ed f r om my ear l i est i nf ancy, " sai d

Deni s, " t r easur ed and l oved. They used t o gi ve me ci nnamon whenI had a col d- - qui t e usel ess, but not di sagr eeabl e. One pour ed i tdr op by dr op out of nar r ow bot t l es, a gol den l i quor , f i er ce andf i er y. On t he l abel was a l i st of i t s vi r t ues, and among ot hert hi ngs i t was descr i bed as bei ng i n t he hi ghest degr eecar mi nat i ve. I ador ed t he wor d. ' I sn' t i t car mi nat i ve?' I usedt o say t o mysel f when I ' d t aken my dose. I t seemed sowonder f ul l y t o descr i be t hat sensat i on of i nt er nal war mt h, t hatgl ow, t hat - - what shal l I cal l i t ? - - physi cal sel f - sat i s f act i onwhi ch f ol l owed t he dr i nki ng of ci nnamon. Lat er, when Idi scover ed al cohol , ' car mi nat i ve' descri bed f or me t hat si mi l ar ,but nobl er , more spi r i t ual gl ow whi ch wi ne evokes not onl y i n t hebody but i n t he soul as wel l . The car mi nat i ve vi r t ues of

bur gundy, of r um, of ol d br andy, of Lacr yma Chr i st i , of Mar sal a,of Al eat i co, of st out , of gi n, of champagne, of cl ar et , of t her aw new wi ne of t hi s year ' s Tuscan vi nt age- - I compar ed t hem, Icl assi f i ed t hem. Mar sal a i s rosi l y, downi l y car mi nat i ve; gi npr i cks and r ef r eshes whi l e i t war ms. I had a whol e t abl e ofcarmi nat i on val ues. And now" - - Deni s spr ead out hi s hands, pal msupwar ds, despai r i ngl y- - "now I know what car mi nat i ve r eal l ymeans. "

"Wel l , what DOES i t mean?" asked Mr . Scogan, a l i t t l ei mpat i ent l y.

"Car mi nat i ve, " sai d Deni s, l i nger i ng l ovi ngl y over t he syl l abl es,"car mi nat i ve. I i magi ned vaguel y t hat i t had somethi ng t o dowi t h car men- car mi ni s, st i l l mor e vaguel y wi t h car o- car ni s, andi t s der i vat i ons, l i ke car ni val and car nat i on. Car mi nat i ve- - t her ewas t he i dea of si ngi ng and the i dea of f l esh, r ose- col our ed andwar m, wi t h a suggest i on of t he j ol l i t i es of mi - Car eme and t hemasked hol i days of Veni ce. Car mi nat i ve- - t he war mt h, t he gl ow,t he i nt er i or r i peness wer e al l i n t he wor d. I nst ead of whi ch. . . "

"Do come t o t he poi nt , my dear Deni s, " pr otest ed Mr . Scogan. "Docome t o the poi nt . "

"Wel l , I wr ot e a poem t he ot her day, " sai d Deni s; "I wr ot e a poemabout t he ef f ect s of l ove. "

"Ot her s have done t he same bef ore you, " sai d Mr . Scogan. "Therei s no need t o be ashamed. "

" I was put t i ng f or war d t he not i on, " Deni s went on, " t hat t heef f ect s of l ove wer e of t en si mi l ar t o t he ef f ect s of wi ne, t hatEr os coul d i nt oxi cat e as wel l as Bacchus. Love, f or exampl e, i sessent i al l y car mi nat i ve. I t gi ves one t he sense of war mt h, t hegl ow.

' And passi on car mi nat i ve as wi ne. . . '

was what I wr ot e. Not onl y was t he l i ne el egant l y sonor ous; i twas al so, I f l at t er ed mysel f , ver y apt l y compendi ousl y

expr essi ve. Ever ythi ng was i n t he wor d car mi nat i ve- - a det ai l ed,exact f or egr ound, an i mmense, i ndef i ni t e hi nt er l and of



suggest i on.


I was not i l l - pl eased. And t hen suddenl y i t occur r ed t o me t hatI had never act ual l y l ooked up t he wor d i n a di ct i onar y.

Carmi nat i ve had gr own up wi t h me f r om t he days of t he ci nnamonbot t l e. I t had al ways been t aken f or gr ant ed. Car mi nat i ve: f orme t he word was as r i ch i n cont ent as some t r emendous, el aboratewor k of ar t ; i t was a compl et e l andscape wi t h f i gur es.


I t was t he f i r st t i me I had ever commi t t ed t he wor d t o wr i t i ng,and al l at once I f el t I woul d l i ke l exi cogr aphi cal aut hor i t y f ori t . A smal l Engl i sh- Ger man di ct i onar y was al l I had at hand. It ur ned up C, ca, car , carm. Ther e i t was: ' Car mi nat i ve:wi ndt r ei bend. ' Wi ndt r ei bend! " he r epeat ed. Mr . Scogan l aughed.Deni s shook hi s head. "Ah, " he sai d, " f or me i t was no l aughi ng

mat t er . For me i t marked t he end of a chapt er , t he deat h ofsomethi ng young and pr eci ous. There were t he years- - years ofchi l dhood and i nnocence- - when I had bel i eved t hat car mi nat i vemeant - - wel l , car mi nat i ve. And now, bef ore me l i es t he r est of myl i f e- - a day, per haps, t en year s, hal f a cent ur y, when I shal lknow t hat carmi nat i ve means wi ndt r ei bend.

' Pl us ne sui s ce que j ' ai et eEt ne l e saur ai j amai s et r e. '

I t i s a r eal i sat i on t hat makes one r at her mel anchol y. "

"Car mi nat i ve, " sai d Mr . Scogan t hought f ul l y.

"Car mi nat i ve, " Deni s r epeat ed, and t hey wer e si l ent f or a t i me."Wor ds, " sai d Deni s at l ast , "wor ds- - I wonder i f you can r eal i sehow much I l ove t hem. You ar e t oo much preoccupi ed wi t h mer et hi ngs and i deas and peopl e to unders t and t he f ul l beaut y ofwor ds. Your mi nd i s not a l i t er ar y mi nd. The spect acl e of Mr .Gl adst one f i ndi ng thi r t y- f our r hymes t o t he name ' Margot ' seemst o you r at her pathet i c t han anythi ng el se. Mal l ar me' s envel opeswi t h t hei r ver si f i ed addr esses l eave you col d, unl ess t hey l eaveyou pi t i f ul ; you can' t see t hat

' Apt e a ne poi nt t e cabr er , hue!Poste et j ' aj out er ai , di a!Si t u ne f ui s onze- bi s RueBal zac, chez cet Her edi a, '

i s a l i t t l e mi racl e. "

"You' r e r i ght , " sai d Mr . Scogan. "I can' t . "

"You don' t f eel i t t o be magi cal ?"

"No. "

"That ' s t he t est f or t he l i t er ar y mi nd, " sai d Deni s; "t he f eel i ngof magi c, t he sense t hat words have power. The t echni cal , ver balpar t of l i t erat ur e i s si mpl y a devel opment of magi c. Wor ds ar e

man' s f i r st and most gr andi ose i nvent i on. Wi t h l anguage hecr eat ed a whol e new uni verse; what wonder i f he l oved words and



att r i but ed power t o t hem! Wi t h f i t t ed, harmoni ous wor ds t hemagi ci ans summoned r abbi t s out of empty hats and spi r i t s f r omt heel ement s. Thei r descendant s, t he l i t er ar y men, st i l l go on wi t ht he pr ocess, mor t i ci ng thei r ver bal f or mul as t oget her , and,bef or e t he power of t he f i ni shed spel l , t r embl i ng wi t h del i ghtand awe. Rabbi t s out of empt y hats? No, t hei r spel l s are more

subt l y powerf ul , f or t hey evoke emot i ons out of empt y mi nds.For mul ated by t hei r art t he most i nsi pi d st atement s becomeenor mousl y si gni f i cant . For exampl e, I pr of f er t he const at at i on,' Bl ack l adder s l ack bl adder s. ' A sel f - evi dent t r ut h, one onwhi ch i t woul d not have been wort h whi l e to i nsi st , had I chosent o f or mul at e i t i n such wor ds as ' Bl ack f i r e- escapes have nobl adder s, ' or , ' Les echel l es noi r es manquent de vessi e. ' Butsi nce I put i t as I do, ' Bl ack l adder s l ack bl adder s, ' i tbecomes, f or al l i t s sel f - evi dence, si gni f i cant , unf or get t abl e,movi ng. The cr eat i on by word- power of somethi ng out of nothi ng- -what i s t hat but magi c? And, I may add, what i s t hat butl i t er at ur e? Hal f t he wor l d' s gr eat est poet r y i s si mpl y ' Lesechel l es noi r es manquent de vessi e, ' t r ansl at ed i nt o magi c

si gni f i cance as, ' Bl ack l adder s l ack bl adder s. ' And you can' tappr eci at e wor ds. I ' m sor r y f or you. "

"A ment al car mi nat i ve, " sai d Mr . Scogan r ef l ect i vel y. "That ' swhat you need. "

CHAPTER XXI .

Per ched on i t s f our st one mushrooms, t he l i t t l e gr anar y st ood t woor t hr ee f eet above t he gr ass of t he gr een cl ose. Beneat h i tt here was a perpet ual shade and a damp gr owt h of l ong, l uxuri antgr asses. Here, i n t he shadow, i n t he gr een dampness, a f ami l y ofwhi t e ducks had sought shel t er f r omt he af t ernoon sun. Somest ood, pr eeni ng t hemsel ves, some r eposed wi t h t hei r l ong bel l i espressed t o the gr ound, as t hough t he cool gr ass were water .Li t t l e soci al noi ses burst f i t f ul l y fort h, and f romt i me t o t i mesome poi nt ed t ai l woul d execut e a br i l l i ant Li szt i an t r emol o.Suddenl y t hei r j ovi al r epose was shat t er ed. A pr odi gi ous thumpshook the wooden f l oor i ng above t hei r heads; t he whol e gr anaryt r embl ed, l i t t l e f r agment s of di r t and cr umbl ed wood rai ned downamong t hem. Wi t h a l oud, cont i nuous quacki ng t he ducks r ushedout f r om beneath t hi s namel ess menace, and di d not st ay t hei rf l i ght t i l l t hey wer e saf el y i n t he f ar myar d.

"Don' t l ose your t emper , " Anne was sayi ng. "Li st en! You' vef r i ght ened t he ducks. Poor dears ! no wonder . " She was si t t i ngsi deways i n a l ow, wooden chai r . Her r i ght el bow r ested on t heback of t he chai r and she suppor t ed her cheek on her hand. Herl ong, sl ender body dr ooped i nt o cur ves of a l azy gr ace. She wassmi l i ng, and she l ooked at Gombaul d t hr ough hal f - cl osed eyes.

"Damn you! " Gombaul d r epeated, and st amped hi s f oot agai n. Hegl ar ed at her r ound t he hal f - f i ni shed por t r ai t on t he easel .

"Poor ducks! " Anne r epeat ed. The sound of t hei r quacki ng wasf ai nt i n t he di stance; i t was i naudi bl e.

"Can' t you see you make me l ose my t i me?" he asked. " I can' twor k wi t h you dangl i ng about di st r act i ngl y l i ke t hi s. "

"You' d l ose l ess t i me i f you st opped t al ki ng and st ampi ng your



f eet and di d a l i t t l e pai nt i ng f or a change. Af t er al l , what amI dangl i ng about f or , except t o be pai nt ed?"

Gombaul d made a noi se l i ke a gr owl . "You' r e awf ul , " he sai d,wi t h convi ct i on. "Why do you ask me t o come and st ay her e? Whydo you t el l me you' d l i ke me t o pai nt your por t r ai t ?"

"For t he si mpl e r easons t hat I l i ke you- - at l east , when you' r e i na good t emper- - and t hat I t hi nk you' r e a good pai nt er. "

"For t he si mpl e r eason" - - Gombaul d mi mi cked her voi ce- - " t hat youwant me t o make l ove t o you and, when I do, t o have the amusementof r unni ng away. "

Anne t hrew back her head and l aughed. "So you t hi nk i t amuses met o have t o evade your advances! So l i ke a man! I f you onl y knewhow gross and awf ul and bor i ng men ar e when t hey t r y t o make l oveand you don' t want t hemt o make l ove! I f you coul d onl y seeyour sel ves t hr ough our eyes! "

Gombaul d pi cked up hi s pal et t e and br ushes and at t acked hi scanvas wi t h t he ar dour of i r r i t at i on. "I suppose you' l l besayi ng next t hat you di dn' t st ar t t he game, t hat i t was I whomade t he f i r st advances, and t hat you were t he i nnocent vi ct i mwho sat st i l l and never di d anythi ng t hat coul d i nvi t e or al l ur eme on. "

"So l i ke a man agai n! " sai d Anne. " I t ' s al ways the same ol dst or y about t he woman t empt i ng t he man. The woman l ures,f asci nat es, i nvi t es; and man- - nobl e man, i nnocent man- - f al l s avi ct i m. My poor Gombaul d! Sur el y you' r e not goi ng t o si ng t hatol d song agai n. I t ' s so uni nt el l i gent , and I al ways t hought youwere a man of sense. "

"Thanks, " sai d Gombaul d.

"Be a l i t t l e obj ect i ve, " Anne went on. "Can' t you see t hatyou' r e si mpl y external i si ng your own emot i ons? That ' s what youmen ar e al ways doi ng; i t ' s so bar barousl y nai ve. You f eel one ofyour l oose desi r es f or some woman, and because you desi r e herst r ongl y you i mmedi atel y accuse her of l ur i ng you on, ofdel i ber at el y pr ovoki ng and i nvi t i ng t he desi r e. You have t hement al i t y of savages. You mi ght j ust as wel l say t hat a pl at e ofst r awber r i es and cr eam del i ber at el y l ur es you on t o f eel gr eedy.I n ni net y- ni ne cases out of a hundred women are as passi ve andi nnocent as t he st r awberr i es and cream. "

"Wel l , al l I can say i s t hat t hi s must be t he hundr edt h case, "sai d Gombaul d, wi t hout l ooki ng up.

Anne shrugged her shoul ders and gave vent t o a si gh. " I ' m at al oss t o know whether you' r e mor e si l l y or more r ude. "

Af t er pai nt i ng f or a l i t t l e ti me i n si l ence Gombaul d began t ospeak agai n. "And t hen t here' s Deni s, " he sai d, r enewi ng t heconver sat i on as t hough i t had onl y j ust been br oken of f . "You' r epl ayi ng t he same game wi t h hi m. Why can' t you l eave t hatwr et ched young man i n peace?"

Anne f l ushed wi t h a sudden and uncont r ol l abl e anger . "I t ' sper f ect l y unt r ue about Deni s, " she sai d i ndi gnant l y. "I never



dreamt of pl ayi ng what you beaut i f ul l y cal l t he same game wi t hhi m. " Recover i ng her cal m, she added i n her or di nar y cooi ngvoi ce and wi t h her exacer bat i ng smi l e, "You' ve become verypr ot ect i ve t owar ds poor Deni s al l of a sudden. "

" I have, " Gombaul d repl i ed, wi t h a gr avi t y t hat was somehow a

l i t t l e t oo sol emn. "I don' t l i ke t o see a young man. . . "

". . . bei ng whi r l ed al ong t he r oad t o r ui n, " sai d Anne, cont i nui nghi s sent ence f or hi m. I admi r e your sent i ment s and, bel i eve me,I shar e t hem. "

She was cur i ousl y i r r i t ated at what Gombaul d had sai d aboutDeni s. I t happened t o be so compl etel y unt r ue. Gombaul d mi ghthave some sl i ght gr ound f or hi s repr oaches. But Deni s- - no, shehad never f l i r t ed wi t h Deni s. Poor boy! He was ver y sweet . Shebecame somewhat pensi ve.

Gombaul d pai nt ed on wi t h f ury. The r est l essness of an

unsat i sf i ed desi r e, whi ch, bef or e, had di st r act ed hi s mi nd,maki ng work i mpossi bl e, seemed now t o have convert ed i t sel f i nt oa ki nd of f ever i sh ener gy. When i t was f i ni shed, he t ol dhi msel f , t he por t r ai t woul d be di abol i c. He was pai nt i ng her i nt he pose she had nat ur al l y adopt ed at t he f i r st si t t i ng. Seat edsi deways, her el bow on t he back of t he chai r , her head andshoul der s t ur ned at an angl e f r om t he rest of her body, t owar dst he f r ont , she had f al l en i nt o an at t i t ude of i ndol entabandonment . He had emphasi sed t he l azy cur ves of her body; t hel i nes sagged as t hey crossed t he canvas, t he gr ace of t he pai nt edf i gur e seemed t o be mel t i ng i nt o a ki nd of sof t decay. The handt hat l ay al ong t he knee was as l i mp as a gl ove. He was at workon t he f ace now; i t had begun t o emer ge on the canvas, dol l - l i kei n i t s r egul ar i t y and l i st l essness. I t was Anne' s f ace- - but herf ace as i t woul d be, ut t er l y uni l l umi ned by the i nwar d l i ght s oft hought and emot i on. I t was t he l azy, expressi onl ess mask whi chwas somet i mes her f ace. The por t r ai t was t er r i bl y l i ke; and att he same t i me i t was t he most mal i ci ous of l i es. Yes, i t woul dbe di abol i c when i t was f i ni shed, Gombaul d deci ded; he wonder edwhat she woul d t hi nk of i t .

CHAPTER XXI I .

For t he sake of peace and qui et Deni s had r et i r ed ear l i er on t hi ssame af t ernoon t o hi s bedroom. He want ed t o work, but t he hourwas a dr owsy one, and l unch, so r ecent l y eaten, wei ghed heavi l yon body and mi nd. The mer i di an demon was upon hi m; he waspossessed by t hat bored and hopel ess post - pr andi al mel anchol ywhi ch t he coenobi t es of ol d knew and f ear ed under t he name of"acci di e. " He f el t , l i ke Er nest Dowson, "a l i t t l e wear y. " Hewas i n t he mood t o wr i t e somethi ng r ather exqui si t e and gent l eand qui et i st i n t one; somet hi ng a l i t t l e dr oopy and at t he samet i me- - how shoul d he put i t ?- - a l i t t l e i nf i ni t e. He t hought ofAnne, of l ove hopel ess and unat t ai nabl e. Per haps t hat was t hei deal ki nd of l ove, t he hopel ess ki nd- - t he qui et , t heor et i calki nd of l ove. I n t hi s sad mood of r epl et i on he coul d wel lbel i eve i t . He began t o wr i t e. One el egant quatr ai n had f l owedf r om beneat h hi s pen:

"A br oodi ng l ove whi ch i s at most The st eal t h of moonbeams when t hey sl i de,



Evoki ng col our ' s bl oodl ess ghost ,O' er some scar ce- br eat hi ng br east or si de. . . "

when hi s at t ent i on was at t r act ed by a sound f r om out si de. Hel ooked down f r om hi s wi ndow; t her e t hey were, Anne and Gombaul d,t al ki ng, l aughi ng t oget her . They crossed t he cour t yar d i n f r ont ,

and passed out of si ght t hr ough the gat e i n the r i ght - hand wal l . That was t he way t o t he green cl ose and t he granar y; she wasgoi ng t o si t f or hi m agai n. Hi s pl easant l y depr essi ng mel anchol ywas di ssi pat ed by a puf f of vi ol ent emot i on; angr i l y he t hr ew hi squatr ai n i nt o t he waste- paper basket and r an downst ai r s. "Thest eal t h of moonbeams, " i ndeed!

I n the hal l he saw Mr . Scogan; t he man seemed t o be l yi ng i nwai t . Deni s t r i ed t o escape, but i n vai n. Mr . Scogan' s eyegl i t t er ed l i ke t he eye of t he Anci ent Mar i ner .

"Not so f ast , " he sai d, st r et chi ng out a smal l saur i an hand wi t hpoi nt ed nai l s- - "not so f ast . I was j ust goi ng down t o t he f l ower

gar den t o t ake t he sun. We' l l go t oget her . "

Deni s abandoned hi msel f ; Mr . Scogan put on hi s hat and they wentout arm i n arm. On t he shaven t urf of t he t err ace Henr y Wi mbushand Mar y wer e pl ayi ng a sol emn game of bowl s. They descended byt he yew- t r ee wal k. I t was here, t hought Deni s, here t hat Annehad f al l en, here t hat he had ki ssed her , her e- - and he bl ushedwi t h r et r ospect i ve shame at t he memory- - here t hat he had t r i ed t ocar r y her and f ai l ed. Li f e was awf ul !

"Sani t y!" sai d Mr . Scogan, suddenl y br eaki ng a l ong si l ence."Sani t y- - t hat ' s what ' s wr ong wi t h me and that ' s what wi l l bewr ong wi t h you, my dear Deni s, when you' r e ol d enough to be saneor i nsane. I n a sane wor l d I shoul d be a gr eat man; as t hi ngsar e, i n t hi s cur i ous establ i shment , I am not hi ng at al l ; t o al li nt ent s and pur poses I don' t exi st . I am j ust Vox et praet er eani hi l . "

Deni s made no r esponse; he was t hi nki ng of other t hi ngs. "Af t eral l , " he sai d t o hi msel f - - "af t er al l , Gombaul d i s bet t er l ooki ngt han I , mor e ent er t ai ni ng, mor e conf i dent ; and, besi des, he' sal r eady somebody and I ' m st i l l onl y pot ent i al . . . "

"Ever yt hi ng t hat ever get s done i n t hi s wor l d i s done by madmen, "Mr . Scogan went on. Deni s t r i ed not t o l i st en, but t he t i r el essi nsi st ence of Mr . Scogan' s di scour se gr adual l y compel l ed hi sat t ent i on. "Men such as I am, such as you may possi bl y become,have never achi eved anyt hi ng. We' r e t oo sane; we' r e merel yr easonabl e. We l ack t he human t ouch, t he compel l i ng ent husi ast i cmani a. Peopl e ar e qui t e r eady t o l i st en t o t he phi l osopher s f ora l i t t l e amusement , j ust as t hey woul d l i st en t o a f i ddl er or amountebank. But as t o act i ng on t he advi ce of t he men of r eason- - never . Wher ever t he choi ce has had t o be made bet ween t he manof r eason and the madman, t he wor l d has unhesi t at i ngl y f ol l owedt he madman. For t he madman appeal s t o what i s f undament al , t opassi on and t he i nst i nct s; t he phi l osopher s t o what i ssuper f i ci al and super er ogat or y- - r eason. "

They enter ed t he garden; at t he head of one of t he al l eys st ood agreen wooden bench, embayed i n t he mi dst of a f r agr ant cont i nent

of l avender bushes. I t was her e, t hough t he pl ace was shadel essand one br eathed hot , dr y per f ume i nst ead of ai r - - i t was here



t hat Mr . Scogan el ect ed t o si t . He t hr i ved on unt emperedsunl i ght .

"Consi der , f or exampl e, t he case of Lut her and Erasmus. " He t ookout hi s pi pe and began t o f i l l i t as he t al ked. "Ther e wasErasmus, a man of r eason i f ever t her e was one. Peopl e l i st ened

t o hi m at f i r st - - a new vi r t uoso per f or mi ng on t hat el egant andr esour cef ul i nst r ument , t he i nt el l ect ; t hey even admi r ed andvenerat ed hi m. But di d he move t hem t o behave as he want ed t hemt o behave- - r easonabl y, decent l y, or at l east a l i t t l e l esspor ki shl y t han usual ? He di d not . And t hen Lut her appears ,vi ol ent , passi onate, a madman i nsanel y convi nced about mat t ers i nwhi ch t her e can be no convi ct i on. He shout ed, and men r ushed t of ol l ow hi m. Er asmus was no l onger l i st ened t o; he was revi l edf or hi s reasonabl eness. Lut her was ser i ous, Lut her was real i t y- -l i ke t he Gr eat War . Erasmus was onl y reason and decency; hel acked t he power , bei ng a sage, t o move men t o act i on. Eur opef ol l owed Luther and embar ked on a cent ury and a hal f of war andbl oody per secut i on. I t ' s a mel anchol y st or y. " Mr . Scogan

l i ght ed a mat ch. I n t he i nt ense l i ght t he f l ame was al l buti nvi si bl e. The smel l of bur ni ng t obacco began t o mi ngl e wi t h t hesweet l y acr i d smel l of t he l avender .

" I f you want t o get men t o act r easonabl y, you must set aboutper suadi ng t hem i n a mani acal manner. The ver y sane precepts oft he f ounders of r el i gi ons are onl y made i nf ect i ous by means ofent husi asms whi ch t o a sane man must appear depl orabl e. I t i shumi l i at i ng t o f i nd how i mpot ent unadul t er at ed sani t y i s.Sani t y, f or exampl e, i nf orms us t hat t he onl y way i n whi ch we canpr eser ve ci vi l i sat i on i s by behavi ng decent l y and i nt el l i gent l y.Sani t y appeal s and ar gues; our r ul er s per sever e i n t hei rcust omary porki shness, whi l e we acqui esce and obey. The onl yhope i s a mani acal cr usade; I am r eady, when i t comes, t o beat at ambour i ne wi t h t he l oudest , but at t he same t i me I shal l f eel al i t t l e ashamed of mysel f . However" - - Mr . Scogan shrugged hi sshoul der s and, pi pe i n hand, made a gest ur e of r esi gnat i on- - " I t ' sf ut i l e t o compl ai n t hat t hi ngs ar e as they ar e. The f act r emai nst hat sani t y unassi st ed i s usel ess. What we want , t hen, i s a saneand r easonabl e expl oi t at i on of t he f or ces of i nsani t y. We sanemen wi l l have t he power yet . " Mr . Scogan' s eyes shone wi t h amor e t han or di nar y br i ght ness, and, t aki ng hi s pi pe out of hi smout h, he gave vent t o hi s l oud, dr y, and somehow r ather f i endi shl augh.

"But I don' t want power , " sai d Deni s. He was si t t i ng i n l i mpdi scomf ort at one end of t he bench, shadi ng hi s eyes f r om t hei nt ol er abl e l i ght . Mr . Scogan, bol t upr i ght at t he ot her end,l aughed agai n.

"Ever ybody want s power , " he sai d. "Power i n some f orm or other . The sor t of power you hanker f or i s l i t er ar y power . Some peopl ewant power t o persecute other human bei ngs; you expend your l ustf or power i n per secut i ng words, t wi st i ng t hem, moul di ng them,t or t ur i ng t hem t o obey you. But I di vagat e. "

"Do you?" asked Deni s f ai nt l y.

"Yes, " Mr . Scogan cont i nued, unheedi ng, " t he t i me wi l l come. Wemen of i nt el l i gence wi l l l ear n t o har ness t he i nsani t i es t o t he

servi ce of r eason. We can' t l eave t he wor l d any l onger t o t hedi r ect i on of chance. We can' t al l ow dangerous mani acs l i ke



Luther , mad about dogma, l i ke Napol eon, mad about hi msel f , t o goon casual l y appear i ng and t ur ni ng everyt hi ng upsi de down. I n t hepast i t di dn' t so much mat t er ; but our modern machi ne i s t oodel i cat e. A f ew mor e knocks l i ke t he Gr eat War, another Lut heror t wo, and t he whol e concer n wi l l go t o pi eces. I n f ut ur e, t hemen of r eason must see t hat t he madness of t he wor l d' s mani acs i s

canal i sed i nt o pr oper channel s, i s made to do usef ul wor k, l i ke amount ai n t or r ent dr i vi ng a dynamo. . . "

"Maki ng el ectr i ci t y t o l i ght a Swi ss hot el , " sai d Deni s. "Youought t o compl et e the si mi l e. "

Mr . Scogan waved away t he i nt er r upt i on. "Ther e' s onl y one t hi ngt o be done, " he sai d. "The men of i ntel l i gence must combi ne,must conspi r e, and sei ze power f r omt he i mbeci l es and mani acs whonow di r ect us. They must f ound t he Rat i onal St ate. "

The heat t hat was sl owl y paral ysi ng al l Deni s' s mental and bodi l yf acul t i es, seemed t o br i ng t o Mr . Scogan addi t i onal vi t al i t y. He

t al ked wi t h an ever- i ncr easi ng ener gy, hi s hands moved i n shar p,qui ck, pr eci se gest ur es, hi s eyes shone. Har d, dr y, andcont i nuous, hi s voi ce went on soundi ng and soundi ng i n Deni s' sear s wi t h t he i nsi st ence of a mechani cal noi se.

" I n the Rat i onal St ate, " he heard Mr . Scogan sayi ng, "humanbei ngs wi l l be separ at ed out i nt o di st i nct speci es, not accor di ngt o t he col our of t hei r eyes or t he shape of t hei r skul l s, butaccor di ng t o the qual i t i es of t hei r mi nd and t emperament .Exami ni ng psychol ogi st s, t r ai ned t o what woul d now seem an al mostsuper human cl ai r voyance, wi l l t est each chi l d t hat i s bor n andassi gn i t t o i t s pr oper speci es. Dul y l abel l ed and docket ed, t hechi l d wi l l be gi ven t he educat i on sui t abl e t o member s of i t sspeci es, and wi l l be set , i n adul t l i f e, t o per f or m t hosef unct i ons whi ch human bei ngs of hi s var i et y ar e capabl e ofper f or mi ng. "

"How many speci es wi l l t her e be?" asked Deni s.

"A great many, no doubt , " Mr . Scogan answered; " t hecl assi f i cat i on wi l l be subt l e and el abor at e. But i t i s not i nt he power of a pr ophet t o go i nt o det ai l s, nor i s i t hi sbusi ness. I wi l l do mor e t han i ndi cat e t he t hr ee mai n speci esi nt o whi ch t he subj ect s of t he Rat i onal St at e wi l l be di vi ded. "

He paused, cl ear ed hi s t hroat , and coughed once or t wi ce, evoki ngi n Deni s' s mi nd t he vi si on of a tabl e wi t h a gl ass and wat er -bot t l e, and, l yi ng across one cor ner , a l ong whi t e poi nt er f ort he l ant er n pi ctures.

"The t hr ee mai n speci es, " Mr . Scogan went on, "wi l l be these:t he Di r ect i ng I nt el l i gences, t he Men of Fai t h, and t he Her d.Among t he I nt el l i gences wi l l be f ound al l t hose capabl e oft hought , t hose who know how t o at t ai n a cert ai n degr ee off r eedom- - and, al as, how l i mi t ed, even among t he most i nt el l i gent ,t hat f r eedom i s! - - f r om t he ment al bondage of t hei r t i me. Asel ect body of I nt el l i gences, drawn f r omamong t hose who havet ur ned t hei r at t ent i on t o t he pr obl ems of pr acti cal l i f e, wi l l bet he gover nor s of t he Rat i onal St at e. They wi l l empl oy as t hei ri nst r ument s of power t he second great speci es of humani t y- - t he

men of Fai t h, t he Madmen, as I have been cal l i ng t hem, whobel i eve i n thi ngs unr easonabl y, wi t h passi on, and ar e ready t o



di e f or t hei r bel i ef s and t hei r desi r es. These wi l d men, wi t ht hei r f ear f ul pot ent i al i t i es f or good or f or mi schi ef , wi l l nol onger be al l owed t o r eact casual l y to a casual envi r onment . There wi l l be no mor e Caesar Bor gi as, no mor e Lut hers andMohammeds, no mor e J oanna Sout hcot t s, no mor e Comst ocks. Theol d- f ashi oned Man of Fai t h and Desi r e, t hat haphazard cr eat ur e of

brute ci r cumst ance, who mi ght dr i ve men t o t ear s and r epent ance,or who mi ght equal l y wel l set t hemon t o cut t i ng one anot her' st hr oat s, wi l l be r epl aced by a new sor t of madman, st i l lexter nal l y t he same, st i l l bubbl i ng wi t h a seemi ngl y spont aneousent husi asm, but , ah, how ver y di f f erent f r omt he madman of t hepast ! For t he new Man of Fai t h wi l l be expendi ng hi s passi on,hi s desi r e, and hi s ent husi asm i n t he pr opagat i on of somer easonabl e i dea. He wi l l be, al l unawar es, t he t ool of somesuperi or i nt el l i gence. "

Mr . Scogan chuckl ed mal i ci ousl y; i t was as t hough he were t aki nga r evenge, i n t he name of r eason, on ent husi ast s. "From t hei rear l i est year s, as soon, t hat i s, as t he exami ni ng psychol ogi st s

have assi gned t hem t hei r pl ace i n t he cl assi f i ed scheme, t he Menof Fai t h wi l l have had t hei r speci al educat i on under t he eye oft he I nt el l i gences. Moul ded by a l ong pr ocess of suggest i on, t heywi l l go out i nt o the wor l d, pr eachi ng and pr act i si ng wi t h agener ous mani a t he col dl y r easonabl e pr oj ect s of t he Di r ect or sf r omabove. When t hese proj ect s ar e accompl i shed, or when t hei deas t hat were usef ul a decade ago have ceased to be usef ul , t heI nt el l i gences wi l l i nspi r e a new generat i on of madmen wi t h a newet er nal t r ut h. The pr i nci pal f uncti on of t he Men of Fai t h wi l lbe to move and di r ect t he Mul t i t ude, t hat t hi r d gr eat speci esconsi st i ng of t hose count l ess mi l l i ons who l ack i nt el l i gence andar e wi t hout val uabl e ent husi asm. When any par t i cul ar ef f or t i sr equi r ed of t he Her d, when i t i s t hought necessary, f or t he sakeof sol i dar i t y, t hat humani t y shal l be ki ndl ed and uni t ed by somesi ngl e ent husi ast i c desi r e or i dea, t he Men of Fai t h, pr i med wi t hsome si mpl e and sat i sf yi ng cr eed, wi l l be sent out on a mi ssi onof evangel i sat i on. At ordi nar y t i mes, when t he hi gh spi r i t ualt emperatur e of a Cr usade woul d be unheal t hy, t he Men of Fai t hwi l l be qui et l y and ear nest l y busy wi t h t he gr eat wor k ofeducat i on. I n t he upbr i ngi ng of t he Her d, humani t y' s al mostboundl ess suggesti bi l i t y wi l l be sci ent i f i cal l y expl oi t ed.Syst emat i cal l y, f r om ear l i est i nf ancy, i t s member s wi l l beassured t hat t here i s no happi ness t o be f ound except i n work andobedi ence; t hey wi l l be made to bel i eve that t hey ar e happy, t hatt hey ar e t r emendousl y i mpor t ant bei ngs, and t hat everyt hi ng t heydo i s nobl e and si gni f i cant . For t he l ower speci es t he ear t hwi l l be r estor ed t o t he cent r e of t he uni ver se and man t o pr e-emi nence on t he ear t h. Oh, I envy t he l ot of t he commonal i t y i nt he Rat i onal St at e! Wor ki ng t hei r ei ght hour s a day, obeyi ngt hei r bet t er s, convi nced of t hei r own gr andeur and si gni f i canceand i mmor t al i t y, t hey wi l l be mar vel l ousl y happy, happi er t hanany race of men has ever been. They wi l l go t hr ough l i f e i n ar osy st at e of i nt oxi cat i on, f r om whi ch t hey wi l l never awake. The Men of Fai t h wi l l pl ay t he cup- bear er s at t hi s l i f el ongbacchanal , f i l l i ng and ever f i l l i ng agai n wi t h t he war m l i quort hat t he I nt el l i gences, i n sad and sober pr i vacy behi nd t hescenes, wi l l br ew f or t he i nt oxi cat i on of t hei r subj ects. "

"And what wi l l be my pl ace i n t he Rat i onal St ate?" Deni s dr owsi l yi nqui r ed f r om under hi s shadi ng hand.

Mr . Scogan l ooked at hi m f or a moment i n si l ence. " I t ' s



di f f i cul t t o see wher e you woul d f i t i n, " he sai d at l ast . "Youcoul dn' t do manual work; you' r e too i ndependent and unsuggest i bl et o bel ong t o the l arger Herd; you have none of t hechar act er i st i cs r equi r ed i n a Man of Fai t h. As f or t he Di r ect i ngI nt el l i gences, t hey wi l l have t o be mar vel l ousl y cl ear andmerci l ess and penet r at i ng. " He paused and shook hi s head. "No,

I can see no pl ace f or you; onl y the l et hal chamber. "

Deepl y hur t , Deni s emi t t ed t he i mi t at i on of a l oud Homer i c l augh."I ' m get t i ng sunst r oke her e, " he sai d, and got up.

Mr . Scogan f ol l owed hi s exampl e, and t hey wal ked sl owl y away downt he nar r ow pat h, br ushi ng t he bl ue l avender f l ower s i n t hei rpassage. Deni s pul l ed a spr i g of l avender and sni f f ed at i t ;t hen some dark l eaves of r osemary t hat smel t l i ke i ncense i n acavernous chur ch. They passed a bed of opi umpoppi es, di spet al ednow; t he round, r i pe seedheads were br own and dr y- - l i kePol ynesi an t r ophi es, Deni s t hought ; severed heads st uck on pol es.He l i ked t he f ancy enough t o i mpart i t t o Mr . Scogan.

"Li ke Pol ynesi an t r ophi es. . . " Ut t er ed al oud, t he f ancy seemedl ess char mi ng and si gni f i cant t han i t di d when i t f i r st occur r edt o hi m.

There was a si l ence, and i n a growi ng wave of sound t he whi r oft he reapi ng machi nes swel l ed up f r omt he f i el ds beyond the gardenand t hen r eceded i nto a r emoter hum.

"I t i s sat i sf actor y to thi nk, " sai d Mr . Scogan, as t hey str ol l edsl owl y onwar d, "t hat a mul t i t ude of peopl e ar e toi l i ng i n t hehar vest f i el ds i n or der t hat we may t al k of Pol ynesi a. Li keever y ot her good t hi ng i n t hi s wor l d, l ei sur e and cul t ur e have t obe pai d f or . For t unat el y, however , i t i s not t he l ei sur ed andt he cul t ur ed who have t o pay. Let us be dul y t hankf ul f or t hat ,my dear Deni s- - dul y t hankf ul , " he repeat ed, and knocked t he ashesout of hi s pi pe.

Deni s was not l i st eni ng. He had suddenl y r emember ed Anne. Shewas wi t h Gombaul d- - al one wi t h hi m i n hi s st udi o. I t was ani nt ol er abl e t hought .

"Shal l we go and pay a cal l on Gombaul d?" he suggest edcar el essl y. I t woul d be amusi ng t o see what he' s doi ng now. "

He l aughed i nwardl y t o t hi nk how f ur i ous Gombaul d woul d be whenhe saw t hem ar r i vi ng.

CHAPTER XXI I I .

Gombaul d was by no means so f ur i ous at t hei r appar i t i on as Deni shad hoped and expect ed he woul d be. I ndeed, he was rat herpl eased t han annoyed when t he two f aces, one brown and poi nted,t he ot her r ound and pal e, appeared i n the f r ame of t he open door . The ener gy born of hi s r est l ess i r r i t at i on was dyi ng wi t hi n hi m,r eturni ng t o i t s emot i onal el ement s. A moment more and he woul dhave been l osi ng hi s t emper agai n- - and Anne woul d be keepi ngher s, i nf ur i at i ngl y. Yes, he was posi t i vel y gl ad t o see t hem.

"Come i n, come i n, " he cal l ed out hospi t abl y.



Fol l owed by Mr . Scogan, Deni s cl i mbed t he l i t t l e l adder andst epped over t he t hr eshol d. He l ooked suspi ci ousl y f r om Gombaul dt o hi s si t t er , and coul d l ear n not hi ng f r om t he expr essi on oft hei r f aces except t hat t hey both seemed pl eased t o see t hevi si t or s. Wer e t hey r eal l y gl ad, or wer e t hey cunni ngl ysi mul at i ng gl adness? He wonder ed.

Mr . Scogan, meanwhi l e, was l ooki ng at t he port r ai t .

"Excel l ent , " he sai d appr ovi ngl y, "excel l ent . Al most t oo t r ue t ochar acter , i f t hat i s possi bl e; yes, posi t i vel y t oo t r ue. ButI ' m sur pr i sed t o f i nd you put t i ng i n al l t hi s psychol ogybusi ness. " He poi nt ed t o t he f ace, and wi t h hi s extended f i ngerf ol l owed t he sl ack cur ves of t he pai nt ed f i gur e. "I t hought youwer e one of t he f el l ows who went i n excl usi vel y f or bal ancedmasses and i mpi ngi ng pl anes. "

Gombaul d l aughed. "Thi s i s a l i t t l e i nf i del i t y, " he sai d.

"I ' m sor r y, " sai d Mr . Scogan. "I f or one, wi t hout ever havi nghad t he sl i ght est appr eci at i on of pai nt i ng, have al ways t akenpar t i cul ar pl easur e i n Cubi smus. I l i ke t o see pi ctures f r omwhi ch nature has been compl etel y bani shed, pi ct ures whi ch areexcl usi vel y the product of t he human mi nd. They gi ve me t he samepl easur e as I der i ve f r om a good pi ece of r easoni ng or amat hemat i cal pr obl em or an achi evement of engi neer i ng. Nat ur e,or anythi ng t hat r emi nds me of nat ur e, di st ur bs me; i t i s t ool ar ge, t oo compl i cat ed, above al l t oo ut t er l y poi nt l ess andi ncompr ehensi bl e. I am at home wi t h t he wor ks of man; i f Ichoose t o set my mi nd t o i t , I can underst and anyt hi ng t hat anyman has made or t hought . That i s why I al ways t r avel by Tube,never by bus i f I can possi bl y hel p i t . For , t r avel l i ng by bus,one can' t avoi d seei ng, even i n London, a f ew st r ay works of God- - t he sky, f or exampl e, an occasi onal t r ee, t he f l ower s i n t hewi ndow- boxes. But t r avel by Tube and you see not hi ng but t hewor ks of man- - i r on r i vet ed i nt o geomet r i cal f or ms, st r ai ght l i nesof concr et e, pat t er ned expanses of t i l es. Al l i s human and t hepr oduct of f r i endl y and compr ehensi bl e mi nds. Al l phi l osophi esand al l r el i gi ons- - what ar e t hey but spi r i t ual Tubes bor edt hr ough t he uni ver se! Thr ough t hese nar r ow t unnel s, wher e al l i sr ecogni sabl y human, one t r avel s comf ort abl e and secur e,cont r i vi ng t o f orget t hat al l r ound and bel ow and above t hemst r et ches t he bl i nd mass of ear t h, endl ess and unexpl ored. Yes,gi ve me the Tube and Cubi smus every t i me; gi ve me i deas, so snugand neat and si mpl e and wel l made. And preserve me f r om nat ure,pr eser ve me f r om al l t hat ' s i nhumanl y l arge and compl i cat ed andobscur e. I haven' t t he cour age, and, above al l , I haven' t t het i me t o st ar t wander i ng i n t hat l abyr i nt h. "

Whi l e Mr . Scogan was di scour si ng, Deni s had crossed over t o t hef ar t her si de of t he l i t t l e square chamber, where Anne wassi t t i ng, st i l l i n her gracef ul , l azy pose, on t he l ow chai r .

"Wel l ?" he demanded, l ooki ng at her al most f i ercel y. What was heaski ng of her ? He har dl y knew hi msel f .

Anne l ooked up at hi m, and f or answer echoed hi s " Wel l ?" i nanot her , a l aughi ng key.

Deni s had not hi ng more, at t he moment , t o say. Two or t hreecanvases st ood i n t he cor ner behi nd Anne' s chai r , t hei r f aces



t ur ned t o t he wal l . He pul l ed t hem out and began t o l ook at t hepai nt i ngs.

"May I see t oo?" Anne r equest ed.

He st ood t hem i n a r ow agai nst t he wal l . Anne had t o t ur n r ound

i n her chai r t o l ook at t hem. Ther e was t he bi g canvas of t heman f al l en f r om t he hor se, t her e was a pai nt i ng of f l ower s, t her ewas a smal l l andscape. Hi s hands on t he back of t he chai r , Deni sl eaned over her . From behi nd t he easel at t he ot her si de of t her oom Mr . Scogan was t al ki ng away. For a l ong t i me t hey l ooked att he pi ct ur es, sayi ng not hi ng; or , r at her , Anne l ooked at t hepi ct ur es, whi l e Deni s, f or t he most par t , l ooked at Anne.

" I l i ke t he man and t he hor se; don' t you?" she sai d at l ast ,l ooki ng up wi t h an i nqui r i ng smi l e.

Deni s nodded, and t hen i n a queer , st r angl ed voi ce, as t hough i thad cost hi m a gr eat ef f or t t o ut t er t he wor ds, he sai d, "I l ove

you. "

I t was a r emar k whi ch Anne had hear d a good many t i mes bef or e andmost l y heard wi t h equani mi t y. But on t hi s occasi on- - per hapsbecause they had come so unexpect edl y , per haps f or some ot herr eason- - t he words provoked i n her a cer t ai n sur pr i sed commot i on.

"My poor Deni s, " she managed t o say, wi t h a l augh; but she wasbl ushi ng as she spoke.

CHAPTER XXI V.

I t was noon. Deni s, descendi ng f r om hi s chamber , wher e he hadbeen maki ng an unsuccessf ul ef f ort t o wr i t e somethi ng aboutnot hi ng i n par t i cul ar , f ound t he dr awi ng- r oom deser t ed. He wasabout t o go out i nt o t he garden when hi s eye f el l on a f ami l i arbut myst er i ous obj ect - - t he l arge red not ebook i n whi ch he had soof t en seen J enny qui et l y and busi l y scri bbl i ng. She had l ef t i tl yi ng on t he wi ndow- seat . The t emptat i on was gr eat . He pi ckedup t he book and sl i pped of f t he el ast i c band t hat kept i tdi scr eet l y cl osed.

"Pr i vat e. Not t o be opened, " was wr i t t en i n capi t al l et t er s ont he cover . He r ai sed hi s eyebr ows. I t was the sor t of t hi ng onewr ote i n one' s Lat i n Gr ammar whi l e one was st i l l at one' spr epar at or y school .

"Bl ack i s t he r aven, bl ack i s t he r ook,But bl acker t he t hei f who st eal s t hi s book! "

I t was cur i ousl y chi l di sh, he t hought , and he smi l ed t o hi msel f .He opened t he book. What he saw made hi m wi nce as t hough he hadbeen st r uck.

Deni s was hi s own sever est cr i t i c; so, at l east , he had al waysbel i eved. He l i ked t o t hi nk of hi msel f as a mer ci l ess vi vi sect orpr obi ng i nt o t he pal pi t at i ng ent r ai l s of hi s own soul ; he wasBr own Dog t o hi msel f . Hi s weaknesses, hi s absurdi t i es- - no oneknew t hem bet t er t han he di d. I ndeed, i n a vague way he i magi ned

t hat nobody besi de hi msel f was awar e of t hem at al l . I t seemed,somehow, i nconcei vabl e t hat he shoul d appear t o ot her peopl e as



t hey appeared to hi m; i nconcei vabl e t hat t hey ever spoke of hi mamong t hemsel ves i n t hat same f r eel y cr i t i cal and, t o be qui t ehonest , mi l dl y mal i ci ous t one i n whi ch he was accust omed t o t al kof t hem. I n hi s own eyes he had def ects, but t o see t hemwas apr i vi l ege r eser ved t o hi m al one. For t he r est of t he wor l d hewas sur el y an i mage of f l awl ess crystal . I t was al most

axi omat i c.

On openi ng t he red not ebook t hat cr yst al i mage of hi msel f cr ashedt o t he ground, and was i r r eparabl y shat t ered. He was not hi s ownsever est cr i t i c af t er al l . The di scover y was a pai nf ul one.

The f r ui t of J enny' s unobt r usi ve scr i bbl i ng l ay bef or e hi m. Acar i cat ur e of hi msel f , r eadi ng ( t he book was upsi de- down) . I nt he background a danci ng coupl e, r ecogni sabl e as Gombaul d andAnne. Beneath, t he l egend: "Fabl e of t he Wal l f l ower and t heSour Gr apes. " Fasci nat ed and hor r i f i ed, Deni s por ed over t hedr awi ng. I t was mast er f ul . A mut e, i ngl ori ous Rouveyre appear edi n ever y one of t hose cruel l y cl ear l i nes. The expr essi on of t he

f ace, an assumed al oof ness and super i or i t y t empered by a f eebl eenvy; t he at t i t ude of t he body and l i mbs, an at t i t ude of st udi ousand schol ar l y di gni t y, gi ven away by t he f i dget y pose of t het ur ned- i n f eet - - t hese t hi ngs wer e t er r i bl e. And, mor e t er r i bl est i l l , was t he l i keness, was t he magi st er i al cer t ai nt y wi t h whi chhi s physi cal pecul i ar i t i es wer e al l r ecor ded and subt l yexaggerated.

Deni s l ooked deeper i nt o t he book. Ther e were car i cat ur es ofot her peopl e: of Pr i sci l l a and Mr . Bar becue- Smi t h; of Henr yWi mbush, of Anne and Gombaul d; of Mr . Scogan, whom J enny hadr epr esent ed i n a l i ght t hat was mor e t han sl i ght l y si ni st er , t hatwas, i ndeed, di abol i c; of Mar y and I vor . He scar cel y gl anced att hem. A f earf ul desi r e t o know t he wor st about hi msel f possessedhi m. He t ur ned over t he l eaves, l i nger i ng at nothi ng t hat wasnot hi s own i mage. Seven f ul l pages were devoted t o hi m.

"Pr i vat e. Not t o be opened. " He had di sobeyed t he i nj unct i on;he had onl y got what he deser ved. Thought f ul l y he cl osed t hebook, and sl i d t he r ubber band once mor e i nt o i t s pl ace. Sadderand wi ser , he went out on t o t he t err ace. And so t hi s, her ef l ect ed, t hi s was how J enny empl oyed t he l ei sure hour s i n heri vor y t ower apart . And he had t hought her a si mpl e- mi nded,uncr i t i cal cr eat ur e! I t was he, i t seemed, who was t he f ool . Hef el t no r esent ment t owar ds J enny. No, t he di st r essi ng t hi ngwasn' t J enny her sel f ; i t was what she and t he phenomenon of herr ed book repr esent ed, what t hey st ood f or and concr etel ysymbol i sed. They r epr esent ed al l t he vast consci ous wor l d of menout si de hi msel f ; t hey symbol i sed somet hi ng that i n hi s st udi oussol i t ar i ness he was apt not t o bel i eve i n. He coul d st and atPi ccadi l l y Ci r cus, coul d wat ch t he crowds shuf f l e past , and st i l li magi ne hi msel f t he one f ul l y consci ous, i nt el l i gent , i ndi vi dualbei ng among al l t hose t housands. I t seemed, somehow, i mpossi bl et hat other peopl e shoul d be i n thei r way as el abor at e andcompl et e as he i n hi s. I mpossi bl e; and yet , per i odi cal l y hewoul d make some pai nf ul di scovery about t he external wor l d andt he hor r i bl e r eal i t y of i t s consci ousness and i t s i nt el l i gence. The r ed notebook was one of t hese di scover i es, a f ootpr i nt i n t hesand. I t put beyond a doubt t he f act t hat t he out er wor l d r eal l yexi sted.

Si t t i ng on the bal ust r ade of t he ter r ace, he rumi nat ed thi s



unpl easant t r ut h f or some t i me. St i l l chewi ng on i t , he st r ol l edpensi vel y down t owards the swi mmi ng- pool . A peacock and hi s hent r ai l ed t hei r shabby f i ner y across t he t ur f of t he l ower l awn.Odi ous bi r ds! Thei r necks, t hi ck and gr eedi l y f l eshy at t her oot s, t aper ed up t o t he cruel i nani t y of t hei r br ai nl ess heads,t hei r f l at eyes and pi er ci ng beaks. The f abul i st s wer e r i ght , he

r ef l ected, when t hey took beast s t o i l l ust r at e t hei r t r actates ofhuman moral i t y. Ani mal s r esembl e men wi t h al l t he t r ut hf ul nessof a car i cat ur e. ( Oh, t he r ed notebook! ) He t hr ew a pi ece ofst i ck at t he sl owl y paci ng bi r ds. They r ushed t owar ds i t ,t hi nki ng i t was somet hi ng t o eat .

He wal ked on. The prof ound shade of a gi ant i l ex t r ee engul f edhi m. Li ke a gr eat wooden oct opus, i t spread i t s l ong ar msabr oad.

"Under t he spr eadi ng i l ex tr ee. . . "

He t r i ed t o r emember who t he poem was by, but coul dn' t .

"The smi t h, a br awny man i s he,Wi t h arms l i ke r ubber bands. "

J ust l i ke hi s; he woul d have t o t r y and do hi s Mul l er exerci sesmor e r egul ar l y.

He emerged once more i nto t he sunshi ne. The pool l ay bef ore hi m,r ef l ect i ng i n i t s br onze mi r r or t he bl ue and var i ous gr een of t hesummer day. Looki ng at i t , he t hought of Anne' s bar e arms andseal - sl eek bat hi ng- dr ess, her movi ng knees and f eet .

"And l i t t l e Luce wi t h t he whi t e l egs,And bounci ng Bar bary. . . "

Oh, t hese rags and t ags of other peopl e' s maki ng! Woul d he everbe abl e t o cal l hi s br ai n hi s own? Was t her e, i ndeed, anythi ngi n i t t hat was t r ul y hi s own, or was i t si mpl y an educat i on?

He wal ked sl owl y round t he water ' s edge. I n an embayed r ecessamong the sur r oundi ng yew t r ees, l eani ng her back agai nst t hepedest al of a pl easant l y comi c vers i on of t he Medi ci Venus,execut ed by some namel ess mason of t he sei cent o, he saw Mar ypensi vel y si t t i ng.

"Hul l o!" he sai d, f or he was passi ng so cl ose to her t hat he hadt o say somethi ng.

Mary l ooked up. "Hul l o! " she answered i n a mel anchol y,uni nt er est ed t one.

I n t hi s al cove hewed out of t he dark t r ees, t he atmosphere seemedt o Deni s agr eeabl y el egi ac. He sat down besi de her under t heshadow of t he pudi c goddess. There was a pr ol onged si l ence.

At br eakf ast t hat morni ng Mary had f ound on her pl ate a pi ct urepost car d of Gobl ey Gr eat Par k. A st at el y Geor gi an pi l e, wi t h af acade si xteen wi ndows wi de; part er r es i n t he f oregr ound; huge,smoot h l awns r ecedi ng out of t he pi ct ur e t o r i ght and l ef t . Tenyear s mor e of t he har d t i mes and Gobl ey, wi t h al l i t s peer s, wi l l

be deser t ed and decayi ng. Fi f t y year s, and t he count r ysi de wi l lknow t he ol d l andmarks no more. They wi l l have vani shed as t he



monast er i es vani shed bef ore t hem. At t he moment , however , Mary' smi nd was not moved by t hese consi der at i ons.

On t he back of t he post car d, next t o t he addr ess, was wr i t t en, i nI vor ' s bol d, l ar ge hand, a si ngl e quat r ai n.

"Hai l , mai d of moonl i ght ! Br i de of t he sun, f ar ewel l !Li ke br i ght pl umes moul t ed i n an angel ' s f l i ght , There sl eep wi t hi n my heart ' s most myst i c cel lMemori es of morni ng, memori es of t he ni ght . "

There f ol l owed a post scr i pt of t hree l i nes: "Woul d you mi ndaski ng one of t he housemai ds to f orward t he packet of saf ety-r azor bl ades I l ef t i n t he dr awer of my washst and. Thanks. - -I vor .

Seated under t he Venus' s i mmemori al gest ur e, Mary consi dered l i f eand l ove. The abol i t i on of her r epr essi ons, so f ar f r om br i ngi ngt he expected peace of mi nd, had brought nothi ng but di squi et , a

new and hi t her t o unexper i enced mi ser y. I vor , I vor . . . She coul dn' tdo wi t hout hi m now. I t was evi dent , on t he ot her hand, f r om t hepoem on t he back of t he pi ct ur e post car d, t hat I vor coul d ver ywel l do wi t hout her. He was at Gobl ey now, so was Zenobi a. Maryknew Zenobi a. She t hought of t he l ast ver se of t he song he hadsung t hat ni ght i n the gar den.

"Le l endemai n, Phi l l i s peu sageAurai t donne mout ons et chi enPour un bai ser que l e vol ageA Li set t e donnai t pour r i en. "

Mary shed t ears at t he memory; she had never been so unhappy i nal l her l i f e bef ore.

I t was Deni s who f i r st broke t he si l ence. "The i ndi vi dual , " hebegan i n a sof t and sadl y phi l osophi cal t one, "i s not a sel f -support i ng uni ver se. There are t i mes when he comes i nto cont actwi t h ot her i ndi vi dual s, when he i s f or ced t o t ake cogni sance oft he exi st ence of ot her uni ver ses besi des hi msel f . "

He had cont r i ved t hi s hi ghl y abst r act gener al i sat i on as apr el i mi nar y t o a per sonal conf i dence. I t was the f i r st gambi t i na conver sat i on t hat was t o l ead up t o J enny' s car i cat ur es.

"True, " sai d Mar y; and, gener al i si ng f or her sel f , she added,"When one i ndi vi dual comes i nt o i nt i mat e cont act wi t h another ,she- - or he, of cour se, as t he case may be- - must al most i nevi t abl yrecei ve or i nf l i ct suf f er i ng. "

"One i s apt , Deni s went on, " t o be so spel l bound by t he spect acl eof one' s own per sonal i t y t hat one f or get s t hat t he spect acl epr esent s i t sel f t o ot her peopl e as wel l as t o onesel f . "

Mar y was not l i st eni ng. "The di f f i cul t y, " she sai d, "makesi t sel f acut el y f el t i n mat t er s of sex. I f one i ndi vi dual seeksi nt i mat e cont act wi t h anot her i ndi vi dual i n t he nat ur al way, shei s cer t ai n t o recei ve or i nf l i ct suf f er i ng. I f on t he ot herhand, she avoi ds cont act s, she r i sks t he equal l y gr ave suf f er i ngst hat f ol l ow on unnat ur al r epr essi ons. As you see, i t ' s a

di l emma. "



"When I t hi nk of my own case, " sai d Deni s, maki ng a more deci dedmove i n t he desi r ed di r ect i on, " I amamazed how i gnorant I am ofot her peopl e' s ment al i t y i n gener al , and above al l and i npar t i cul ar , of t hei r opi ni ons about mysel f . Our mi nds ar e seal edbooks onl y occasi onal l y opened t o t he out si de wor l d. " He made agest ur e t hat was f ai nt l y suggest i ve of t he dr awi ng of f of a

r ubber band.

" I t ' s an awf ul pr obl em, " sai d Mar y t hought f ul l y. "One has tohave had per sonal exper i ence t o r eal i se qui t e how awf ul i t i s. "

"Exact l y. " Deni s nodded. "One has t o have had f i r st - handexper i ence. " He l eaned t owar ds her and sl i ght l y l ower ed hi svoi ce. "Thi s ver y mor ni ng, f or exampl e. . . " he began, but hi sconf i dences were cut shor t . The deep voi ce of t he gong, t emper edby di st ance to a pl easant boomi ng, f l oat ed down f r om t he house.I t was l unch- t i me. Mechani cal l y Mar y r ose t o her f eet , andDeni s, a l i t t l e hur t t hat she shoul d exhi bi t such a desper at eanxi et y f or her f ood and so sl i ght an i nt er est i n hi s spi r i t ual

exper i ences, f ol l owed her . They made t hei r way up t o t he housewi t hout speaki ng.

CHAPTER XXV.

" I hope you al l r eal i se, " sai d Henr y Wi mbush dur i ng di nner , " t hatnext Monday i s Bank Hol i day, and that you wi l l al l be expect ed t ohel p i n t he Fai r . "

"Heavens! " cri ed Anne. "The Fai r - - I had f or got t en al l about i t .What a ni ght mare! Coul dn' t you put a st op t o i t , Uncl e Henr y?"

Mr . Wi mbush si ghed and shook hi s head. "Al as, " he sai d, " I f earI cannot . I shoul d have l i ked t o put an end t o i t year s ago; butt he cl ai ms of Char i t y ar e st r ong. "

"I t ' s not char i t y we want , " Anne mur mur ed r ebel l i ousl y; "i t ' s j ust i ce. "

"Besi des, " Mr . Wi mbush went on, " t he Fai r has become ani nst i t ut i on. Let me see, i t must be t went y- t wo year s si nce west ar t ed i t . I t was a modest af f ai r t hen. Now. . . " he made asweepi ng movement wi t h hi s hand and was si l ent .

I t spoke hi ghl y f or Mr . Wi mbush' s publ i c spi r i t t hat he st i l lcont i nued t o t ol er at e t he Fai r . Begi nni ng as a sor t of gl or i f i edchur ch bazaar , Cr ome' s year l y Chari t y Fai r had gr own i nt o a noi syt hi ng of mer r y- go- r ounds, cocoanut shi es, and mi scel l aneous si deshows- - a r eal genui ne f ai r on t he gr and scal e. I t was the l ocalSt . Bar t hol omew, and t he peopl e of al l t he nei ghbour i ng vi l l ages,wi t h even a cont i ngent f r om t he count y t own, f l ocked i nt o t hepar k f or t hei r Bank Hol i day amusement . The l ocal hospi t alpr of i t ed handsomel y, and i t was t hi s f act al one whi ch pr event edMr . Wi mbush, t o whom t he Fai r was a cause of r ecur r ent and never-di mi ni shi ng agony, f r om put t i ng a st op t o the nui sance whi chyearl y desecrated hi s par k and garden.

" I ' ve made al l t he ar r angement s al r eady, " Henr y Wi mbush went on."Some of t he l arger marquees wi l l be put up t o- morr ow. The

swi ngs and the merr y- go- r ound ar r i ve on Sunday. "



"So t her e' s no escape, " sai d Anne, t ur ni ng t o t he r est of t hepar t y. "You' l l al l have t o do somet hi ng. As a speci al f avouryou' r e al l owed t o choose your sl aver y. My j ob i s t he t ea t ent ,as usual , Aunt Pr i sci l l a. . . "

"My dear , " sai d Mr s. Wi mbush, i nt er r upt i ng her , " I have mor e

i mpor t ant t hi ngs t o t hi nk about t han t he Fai r . But you need haveno doubt t hat I shal l do my best when Monday comes t o encouraget he vi l l ager s. "

"That ' s spl endi d, " sai d Anne. "Aunt Pr i sci l l a wi l l encour age t hevi l l ager s. What wi l l you do, Mar y?"

" I won' t do anyt hi ng wher e I have t o st and by and watch ot herpeopl e eat . "

"Then you' l l l ook af t er t he chi l dr en' s spor t s. "

"Al l r i ght , " Mar y agreed. " I ' l l l ook af t er t he chi l dr en' s

sport s. "

"And Mr . Scogan?"

Mr . Scogan r ef l ect ed. "May I be al l owed t o t el l f or t unes?" heasked at l ast . "I t hi nk I shoul d be good at t el l i ng f or t unes. "

"But you can' t t el l f or t unes i n t hat cost ume! "

"Can' t I ?" Mr . Scogan sur veyed hi msel f .

"You' l l have t o be dr essed up. Do you st i l l per si st ?"

" I ' m ready t o suf f er al l i ndi gni t i es . "

"Good!" sai d Anne; and turni ng t o Gombaul d, "You must be ourl i ght ni ng ar t i st , " she sai d. " ' Your por t r ai t f or a shi l l i ng i nf i ve mi nut es. ' "

"I t ' s a pi t y I ' m not I vor , " sai d Gombaul d, wi t h a l augh. "Icoul d t hr ow i n a pi ct ur e of t hei r Aur as f or an ext r a si xpence. "

Mar y f l ushed. "Not hi ng i s to be gai ned, " she sai d sever el y, "byspeaki ng wi t h l evi t y of ser i ous subj ects. And, af t er al l ,whatever your personal vi ews may be, psychi cal r esearch i s aper f ectl y ser i ous subj ect. "

"And what about Deni s?"

Deni s made a deprecat i ng gest ur e. " I have no accompl i shment s, "he sai d, " I ' l l j ust be one of t hose men who wear a t hi ng i n t hei rbut t onhol es and go about t el l i ng peopl e whi ch i s t he way t o t eaand not t o wal k on t he gr ass. "

"No, no, " sai d Anne. "That won' t do. You must do somethi ng moret han t hat . "

"But what? Al l t he good j obs are t aken, and I can do not hi ng butl i sp i n number s. "

"Wel l , t hen, you must l i sp, " concl uded Anne. "You must wr i t e apoem f or t he occasi on- - an ' Ode on Bank Hol i day. ' We' l l pr i nt i t



on Uncl e Henr y' s press and sel l i t at t wopence a copy. "

"Si xpence, " Deni s pr ot est ed. "I t ' l l be wor t h si xpence. "

Anne shook her head. "Twopence, " she r epeat ed f i r ml y. "Nobodywi l l pay more t han t wopence. "

"And now t here' s J enny, " sai d Mr Wi mbush. " J enny, " he sai d,r ai si ng hi s voi ce, "what wi l l you do?"

Deni s t hought of suggest i ng that she mi ght dr aw car i cat ur es atsi xpence an execut i on, but deci ded i t woul d be wi ser t o go onf ei gni ng i gnor ance of her t al ent . Hi s mi nd r ever t ed t o t he r ednot ebook. Coul d i t r eal l y be t r ue t hat he l ooked l i ke t hat ?

"What wi l l I do, " J enny echoed, "what wi l l I do?" She f r ownedt hought f ul l y f or a moment ; t hen her f ace bri ghtened and shesmi l ed. "When I was young, " she sai d, " I l ear nt t o pl ay t hedrums. "

"The drums?"

J enny nodded, and, i n proof of her asser t i on, agi t at ed her kni f eand f or k, l i ke a pai r of dr umst i cks, over her pl at e. "I f t her e' sany opport uni t y of pl ayi ng t he dr ums. . . " she began.

"But of cour se, " sai d Anne, " t her e' s any amount of oppor t uni t y.We' l l put you down def i ni t el y f or t he dr ums. That ' s t he l ot , "she added.

"And a ver y good l ot t oo, " sai d Gombaul d. " I l ook f orward t o myBank Hol i day. I t ought t o be gay. "

" I t ought i ndeed, " Mr Scogan assent ed. "But you may r est assuredt hat i t won' t be. No hol i day i s ever anythi ng but adi sappoi nt ment . "

"Come, come, " protest ed Gombaul d. "My hol i day at Cr ome i sn' tbei ng a di sappoi nt ment . "

" I sn' t i t ?" Anne t urned an i ngenuous mask t owards hi m.

"No, i t i sn' t , " he answer ed.

" I ' m del i ght ed t o hear i t . "

" I t ' s i n t he ver y nat ur e of t hi ngs, " Mr . Scogan went on; "ourhol i days can' t hel p bei ng di sappoi nt ment s. Ref l ect f or a moment .What i s a hol i day? The i deal , t he Pl at oni c Hol i day of Hol i daysi s surel y a compl ete and absol ute change. You agr ee wi t h me i nmy def i ni t i on?" Mr . Scogan gl anced f r om f ace t o f ace r ound t het abl e; hi s shar p nose moved i n a ser i es of r api d j er ks t hr oughal l t he poi nt s of t he compass. There was no si gn of di ssent ; hecont i nued: "A compl et e and absol ut e change; ver y wel l . Buti sn' t a compl ete and absol ut e change pr eci sel y t he t hi ng we cannever have- - never, i n t he ver y natur e of t hi ngs?" Mr . Scoganonce mor e l ooked r api dl y about hi m. "Of cour se i t i s. Asour sel ves, as speci mens of Homo Sapi ens, as member s of a soci et y,

how can we hope to have anyt hi ng l i ke an absol ute change? We ar et i ed down by the f r i ght f ul l i mi t at i on of our human f acul t i es, by



t he not i ons whi ch soci ety i mposes on us t hr ough our f atalsuggest i bi l i t y, by our own per sonal i t i es. For us, a compl et ehol i day i s out of t he quest i on. Some of us st r uggl e manf ul l y t ot ake one, but we never succeed, i f I may be al l owed t o expr essmysel f met aphori cal l y, we never succeed i n get t i ng f ar t her t hanSouthend. "

"You' r e depr essi ng, " sai d Anne.

" I mean t o be, " Mr . Scogan r epl i ed, and, expandi ng t he f i nger s ofhi s r i ght hand, he went on: "Look at me, f or exampl e. What sor tof a hol i day can I t ake? I n endowi ng me wi t h passi ons andf acul t i es Nat ur e has been hor r i bl y ni ggar dl y. The f ul l r ange ofhuman pot ent i al i t i es i s i n any case di st r essi ngl y l i mi t ed; myr ange i s a l i mi t at i on wi t hi n a l i mi t at i on. Out of t he t enoct aves t hat make up the human i nst r ument , I can compass per hapst wo. Thus, whi l e I may have a cer t ai n amount of i nt el l i gence, Ihave no aest het i c sense; whi l e I possess t he mathemat i calf acul t y, I am whol l y wi t hout t he r el i gi ous emot i ons; whi l e I am

nat ur al l y addi ct ed t o vener y, I have l i t t l e ambi t i on and am notat al l avar i ci ous. Educat i on has f ur t her l i mi t ed my scope.Havi ng been br ought up i n soci ety, I am i mpr egnated wi t h i t sl aws; not onl y shoul d I be af r ai d of t aki ng a hol i day f r om t hem,I shoul d al so f eel i t pai nf ul t o t r y t o do so. I n a wor d, I havea consci ence as wel l as a f ear of gaol . Yes, I know i t byexper i ence. How of t en have I t r i ed t o t ake hol i days, t o get awayf r ommysel f , my own bor i ng natur e, my i nsuf f er abl e ment alsurr oundi ngs! " Mr . Scogan si ghed. "But al ways wi t hout success, "he added, "al ways wi t hout success. I n my yout h I was al waysstr i vi ng- - how har d! - - t o f eel r el i gi ousl y and aesthet i cal l y.Her e, sai d I t o mysel f , are t wo t r emendousl y i mpor t ant andexci t i ng emot i ons. Li f e woul d be r i cher , war mer , br i ght er ,al t oget her mor e amusi ng, i f I coul d f eel t hem. I t r y t o f eelt hem. I r ead t he works of t he myst i cs. They seemed t o menot hi ng but t he most depl or abl e cl apt r ap- - as i ndeed t hey al waysmust t o anyone who does not f eel t he same emot i on as t he aut hor sf el t when t hey wer e wr i t i ng. For i t i s the emot i on t hat mat t er s. The wr i t t en wor k i s si mpl y an at t empt t o express emot i on, whi chi s i n i t sel f i nexpr essi bl e, i n t er ms of i nt el l ect and l ogi c. Themyst i c obj ecti f i es a ri ch f eel i ng i n t he pi t of t he st omach i nt oa cosmol ogy. For other myst i cs t hat cosmol ogy i s a symbol of t her i ch f eel i ng. For t he unr el i gi ous i t i s a symbol of not hi ng, andso appears merel y gr otesque. A mel anchol y f act ! But Idi vagate. " Mr . Scogan checked hi msel f . "So much f or ther el i gi ous emot i on. As f or t he aest het i c- - I was at even gr eat erpai ns to cul t i vat e t hat . I have l ooked at al l t he r i ght wor ks ofart i n every par t of Eur ope. There was a t i me when, I vent ur e t obel i eve, I knew more about Taddeo da Poggi bonsi , more about t hecr ypt i c Ami co di Taddeo, even t han Henr y does. To- day, I amhappy t o say, I have f orgot t en most of t he knowl edge I t hen sol abor i ousl y acqui r ed; but wi t hout vani t y I can asser t t hat i t waspr odi gi ous. I don' t pr et end, of cour se, t o know anythi ng aboutni gger scul pt ur e or t he l at er sevent eent h cent ur y i n I t al y; butabout al l t he peri ods t hat were f ashi onabl e bef ore 1900 I am, orwas, omni sci ent . Yes, I r epeat i t , omni sci ent . But di d t hatf act make me any mor e appr eci at i ve of ar t i n gener al ? I t di dnot . Conf r ont ed by a pi ct ur e, of whi ch I coul d t el l you al l t heknown and presumed hi st ory- - t he dat e when i t was pai nted, t hechar act er of t he pai nt er , t he i nf l uences t hat had gone to make i t

what i t was- - I f el t none of t hat st r ange exci t ement andexal t at i on whi ch i s, as I am i nf or med by t hose who do f eel i t ,



t he t r ue aest het i c emot i on. I f el t not hi ng but a cer t ai ni nt er est i n t he subj ect of t he pi ct ur e; or mor e of t en, when t hesubj ect was hackneyed and r el i gi ous, I f el t not hi ng but a gr eatwear i ness of spi r i t . Never t hel ess, I must have gone on l ooki ngat pi ct ur es f or t en year s bef or e I woul d honest l y admi t t o mysel ft hat t hey merel y bor ed me. Si nce t hen I have gi ven up al l

at t empt s t o t ake a hol i day. I go on cul t i vat i ng my ol d st al edai l y sel f i n t he r esi gned spi r i t wi t h whi ch a bank cl er k

per f or ms f r om t en t i l l s i x hi s dai l y t ask. A hol i day, i ndeed!I ' m sor r y f or you, Gombaul d, i f you st i l l l ook f or war d t o havi nga hol i day. "

Gombaul d shrugged hi s shoul ders. "Per haps, " he sai d, "myst andar ds ar en' t as el evat ed as your s. But per sonal l y I f oundt he war qui t e as t hor ough a hol i day f r om al l t he or di nar ydecenci es and sani t i es, al l t he common emot i ons andpr eoccupat i ons, as I ever want t o have. "

"Yes, " Mr . Scogan t hought f ul l y agr eed. "Yes, t he war wascer t ai nl y somethi ng of a hol i day. I t was a st ep beyond Sout hend;i t was West on- super- Mar e; i t was al most I l f r acombe. "

CHAPTER XXVI .

A l i t t l e canvas vi l l age of t ent s and boot hs had spr ung up, j ustbeyond the boundar i es of t he garden, i n the gr een expanse of t hepar k. A cr owd t hr onged i t s st r eets, t he men dr essed most l y i nbl ack- - hol i day best , f uner al best - - t he women i n pal e musl i ns.Her e and t her e t r i col our bunt i ng hung i ner t . I n t he mi dst of t hecanvas t own, scar l et and gol d and cr yst al , t he mer r y- go- r oundgl i t t ered i n t he sun. The bal l oon- man wal ked among t he cr owd,and above hi s head, l i ke a huge, i nvert ed bunch of many- col our edgr apes, t he bal l oons st r ai ned upwar ds. Wi t h a scythe- l i ke mot i ont he boat - swi ngs r eaped t he ai r , and f r om t he f unnel of t he engi newhi ch worked t he r oundabout r ose a t hi n, scar cel y waver i ng col umnof bl ack smoke.

Deni s had cl i mbed t o t he t op of one of Si r Fer di nando' s t ower s,and t her e, st andi ng on t he sun- baked l eads, hi s el bows r est i ng ont he par apet , he sur veyed t he scene. The st eam- organ sent uppr odi gi ous musi c. The cl ashi ng of aut omat i c cymbal s beat outwi t h i nexor abl e pr eci si on t he rhythm of pi er ci ngl y soundedmel odi es. The har moni es were l i ke a musi cal shat t er i ng of gl assand brass. Far down i n t he bass t he Last Trump was hugel ybl owi ng, and wi t h such per si st ence, such r esonance, t hat i t sal t er nat e t oni c and domi nant detached t hemsel ves f r omt he r est oft he musi c and made a tune of t hei r own, a l oud, monotonous see-saw.

Deni s l eaned over t he gul f of swi r l i ng noi se. I f he t hr ewhi msel f over t he par apet , t he noi se woul d sur el y buoy hi m up,keep hi m suspended, bobbi ng, as a f ount ai n bal ances a bal l on i t sbr eaki ng cr est . Anot her f ancy came t o hi m, t hi s t i me i n met r i calf or m.

"My soul i s a t hi n whi t e sheet of par chment st r etchedOver a bubbl i ng caul dr on. "

Bad, bad. But he l i ked t he i dea of somethi ng t hi n and di st ended



bei ng bl own up f r om under neat h.

"My soul i s a t hi n t ent of gut . . . "

or bet t er- -

"My soul i s a pal e, t enuous membr ane. . . "

That was pl easi ng: a t hi n, t enuous membrane. I t had t he r i ghtanat omi cal qual i t y. Ti ght bl own, qui ver i ng i n t he bl ast of noi syl i f e. I t was ti me f or hi m t o descend f r om t he ser ene empyrean ofwor ds i nt o t he act ual vor t ex. He went down sl owl y. "My soul i sa t hi n, t enuous membrane. . . "

On t he t er r ace st ood a knot of di st i ngui shed vi si t or s. Ther e wasol d Lor d Mol eyn, l i ke a car i cat ur e of an Engl i sh mi l or d i n aFr ench comi c paper : a l ong man, wi t h a l ong nose and l ong,droopi ng moust aches and l ong teet h of ol d i vor y, and l ower down,absur dl y, a shor t cover t coat , and bel ow t hat l ong, l ong l egs

cased i n pear l - gr ey tr ouser s- - l egs t hat bent unst eadi l y at t heknee and gave a ki nd of si deways wobbl e as he wal ked. Besi dehi m, shor t and thi ck- set , st ood Mr . Cal l amay, t he vener abl econservat i ve st atesman, wi t h a f ace l i ke a Roman bust , and shor twhi t e hai r . Young gi r l s di dn' t much l i ke goi ng f or mot or dri vesal one wi t h Mr . Cal l amay; and of ol d Lord Mol eyn one wonder ed whyhe wasn' t l i vi ng i n gi l ded exi l e on t he i sl and of Capr i among t heot her di st i ngui shed per sons who, f or one reason or anot her , f i ndi t i mpossi bl e t o l i ve i n Engl and. They wer e t al ki ng t o Anne,l aughi ng, t he one pr of oundl y, t he ot her hoot i ngl y.

A bl ack si l k bal l oon t owi ng a bl ack- and- whi t e st r i ped par achut eproved t o be ol d Mr s. Budge f r om t he bi g house on t he other si deof t he val l ey. She st ood l ow on t he gr ound, and t he spi kes ofher bl ack- and- whi t e sunshade menaced t he eyes of Pr i sci l l aWi mbush, who t owered over her - - a massi ve f i gur e dr essed i n purpl eand t opped wi t h a queenl y t oque on whi ch t he noddi ng bl ack pl umesr ecal l ed t he spl endour s of a f i r st- cl ass Par i si an f uner al .

Deni s peeped at t hem di scr eet l y f r omt he wi ndow of t he morni ng-r oom. Hi s eyes were suddenl y become i nnocent , chi l dl i ke,unpr ej udi ced. They seemed, t hese peopl e, i nconcei vabl yf ant ast i c. And yet t hey r eal l y exi st ed, t hey f unct i oned byt hemsel ves, t hey were consci ous, t hey had mi nds. Moreover , hewas l i ke t hem. Coul d one bel i eve i t ? But t he evi dence of t her ed notebook was concl usi ve.

I t woul d have been pol i t e t o go and say, "How d' you do?" But att he moment Deni s di d not want t o tal k, coul d not have t al ked.Hi s soul was a t enuous, t r emul ous, pal e membrane. He woul d keepi t s sensi bi l i t y i nt act and vi r gi n as l ong as he coul d.Caut i ousl y he cr ept out by a si de door and made hi s way downt owar ds t he park. Hi s soul f l ut t er ed as he appr oached t he noi seand movement of t he f ai r . He paused f or a moment on t he br i nk,t hen st epped i n and was engul f ed.

Hundr eds of peopl e, each wi t h hi s own pr i vat e f ace and al l oft hem r eal , separ at e, al i ve: t he t hought was di squi et i ng. Hepai d twopence and saw t he Tatooed Woman; t wopence mor e, t heLargest Rat i n t he Wor l d. Fr om t he home of t he Rat he emerged

j ust i n t i me t o see a hydrogen- f i l l ed bal l oon break l oose f orhome. A chi l d howl ed up af t er i t ; but cal ml y, a per f ect spher e



of f l ushed opal , i t mount ed, mount ed. Deni s f ol l owed i t wi t h hi seyes unt i l i t became l ost i n t he bl i ndi ng sunl i ght . I f he coul dbut send hi s soul t o f ol l ow i t ! . . .

He si ghed, st uck hi s st ewar d' s r oset t e i n hi s but t onhol e, andst ar t ed t o push hi s way, ai ml essl y but of f i ci al l y, t hr ough t he

cr owd.

CHAPTER XXVI I .

Mr . Scogan had been accommodated i n a l i t t l e canvas hut . Dr essedi n a bl ack ski r t and a r ed bodi ce, wi t h a yel l ow- and- r ed bandanahandker chi ef t i ed r ound hi s bl ack wi g, he l ooked- - shar p- nosed,br own, and wr i nkl ed- - l i ke t he Bohemi an Hag of Fr i t h' s Der by Day.A pl acar d pi nned t o t he cur t ai n of t he doorway announced t hepr esence wi t hi n t he tent of "Sesost r i s, t he Sor cer ess ofEcbat ana. " Seat ed at a t abl e, Mr . Scogan r ecei ved hi s cl i ent s i nmyster i ous si l ence, i ndi cat i ng wi t h a movement of t he f i nger t hat

t hey wer e to si t down opposi t e hi m and t o extend t hei r hands f orhi s i nspect i on. He t hen exami ned t he pal m t hat was pr esent edhi m, usi ng a magni f yi ng gl ass and a pai r of horn spect acl es. Hehad a t er r i f yi ng way of shaki ng hi s head, f r owni ng and cl i cki ngwi t h hi s t ongue as he l ooked at t he l i nes. Somet i mes he woul dwhi sper , as t hough t o hi msel f , "Ter r i bl e, t er r i bl e! " or "Godpr eser ve us! " sket chi ng out t he si gn of t he cr oss as he ut t er edt he words. The cl i ent s who came i n l aughi ng grew suddenl y gr ave;t hey began t o t ake t he wi t ch ser i ousl y. She was a f or mi dabl e-l ooki ng woman; coul d i t be, was i t possi bl e, t hat t her e wassomet hi ng i n t hi s sor t of t hi ng af t er al l ? Af t er al l , t heyt hought , as t he hag shook her head over t hei r hands, af t eral l . . . And they wai t ed, wi t h an uncomf or t abl y beat i ng hear t , f ort he or acl e t o speak. Af t er a l ong and si l ent i nspect i on, Mr .Scogan woul d suddenl y l ook up and ask, i n a hoar se whi sper, somehor r i f yi ng quest i on, such as, "Have you ever been hi t on the headwi t h a hammer by a young man wi t h r ed hai r ?" When t he answer wasi n t he negat i ve, whi ch i t coul d har dl y f ai l t o be, Mr . Scoganwoul d nod sever al t i mes, sayi ng, "I was af r ai d so. Ever ythi ng i sst i l l t o come, st i l l t o come, t hough i t can' t be ver y f ar of fnow. " Somet i mes, af t er a l ong exami nat i on, he woul d j ustwhi sper , "Wher e i gnor ance i s bl i ss, ' t i s f ol l y to be wi se, " andr ef use t o di vul ge any det ai l s of a f ut ur e t oo appal l i ng t o beenvi saged wi t hout despai r . Sesost r i s had a success of hor r or .Peopl e st ood i n a queue out si de t he wi t ch' s boot h wai t i ng f or t hepri vi l ege of hear i ng sent ence pr onounced upon t hem.

Deni s, i n t he cour se of hi s r ound, l ooked wi t h cur i osi t y at t hi scr owd of suppl i ant s bef or e t he shri ne of t he oracl e. He had agreat desi r e t o see how Mr . Scogan pl ayed hi s part . The canvasboot h was a r i cket y, i l l - made st r uct ur e. Bet ween i t s wal l s andi t s saggi ng r oof wer e l ong gapi ng chi nks and cr anni es. Deni swent t o t he tea- t ent and bor r owed a wooden bench and a smal lUni on J ack. Wi t h t hese he hur r i ed back t o t he booth ofSesost r i s. Set t i ng down t he bench at t he back of t he booth, hecl i mbed up, and wi t h a gr eat ai r of busy ef f i ci ency began t o t i et he Uni on J ack t o t he t op of one of t he t ent - pol es. Thr ough t hecr anni es i n t he canvas he coul d see al most t he whol e of t hei nt er i or of t he t ent . Mr . Scogan' s bandana- cover ed head was j ustbel ow hi m; hi s t er r i f yi ng whi sper s came cl ear l y up. Deni s l ooked

and l i st ened whi l e t he wi t ch pr ophesi ed f i nanci al l osses, deat hby apopl exy, dest r uct i on by ai r - r ai ds i n t he next war .



" I s t her e goi ng t o be another war?" asked t he ol d l ady to whom hehad pr edi ct ed t hi s end.

"Ver y soon, " sai d Mr . Scogan, wi t h an ai r of qui et conf i dence.

The ol d l ady was succeeded by a gi r l dressed i n whi t e musl i n,gar ni shed wi t h pi nk r i bbons. She was wear i ng a br oad hat , sot hat Deni s coul d not see her f ace; but f r om her f i gur e and t her oundness of her bar e arms he j udged her young and pl easi ng. Mr .Scogan l ooked at her hand, t hen whi sper ed, "You ar e st i l lvi r t uous. "

The young l ady gi ggl ed and excl ai med, "Oh, l or ' ! "

"But you wi l l not r emai n so f or l ong, " added Mr . Scogansepul chr al l y. The young l ady gi ggl ed agai n. "Dest i ny, whi chi nt er est s i t sel f i n smal l t hi ngs no l ess than i n gr eat , has

announced t he f act upon your hand. " Mr . Scogan t ook up t hemagni f yi nggl ass and began once more t o exami ne the whi t e pal m."Ver y i nt er est i ng, " he sai d, as t hough t o hi msel f - - "ver yi nt er esti ng. I t ' s as cl ear as day. " He was si l ent .

"What ' s cl ear ?" asked t he gi r l .

"I don' t t hi nk I ought t o t el l you. " Mr . Scogan shook hi s head;t he pendul ous brass ear - r i ngs whi ch he had scr ewed on t o hi s ear st i nkl ed.

"Pl ease, pl ease! , " she i mpl or ed.

The wi t ch seemed t o i gnor e her r emar k. "Af t er war ds, i t ' s not atal l cl ear . The f at es don' t say whet her you wi l l set t l e down t omar r i ed l i f e and have f our chi l dr en or whet her you wi l l t r y t o goon t he ci nema and have none. They are onl y speci f i c about t hi sone r at her cr uci al i nci dent . "

"What i s i t ? What i s i t ? Oh, do t el l me! "

The whi t e musl i n f i gure l eant eager l y f or war d.

Mr . Scogan si ghed. "Very wel l , " he sai d, " i f you must know, youmust know. But i f anyt hi ng unt oward happens you must bl ame yourown cur i osi t y. Li st en. Li st en. " He l i f t ed up a shar p, cl aw-nai l ed f or ef i nger . "Thi s i s what t he f at es have wr i t t en. NextSunday af t er noon at si x o' cl ock you wi l l be si t t i ng on t he secondst i l e on t he f oot pat h t hat l eads f r om t he chur ch t o the l owerr oad. At t hat moment a man wi l l appear wal ki ng al ong t hef oot path. " Mr . Scogan l ooked at her hand agai n as t hough t or ef r esh hi s memory of t he det ai l s of t he scene. "A man, " her epeat ed- - "a smal l man wi t h a sharp nose, not exact l y goodl ooki ng nor preci sel y young, but f asci nat i ng. " He l i nger edhi ssi ngl y over t he wor d. "He wi l l ask you, ' Can you t el l me t heway t o Par adi se?' and you wi l l answer , ' Yes, I ' l l show you, ' andwal k wi t h hi m down t owar ds t he l i t t l e hazel copse. I cannot r eadwhat wi l l happen af t er t hat . " Ther e was a si l ence.

"I s i t r eal l y t r ue?" asked whi t e musl i n.

The wi t ch gave a shrug of t he shoul ders. " I mer el y t el l you what



I r ead i n your hand. Good af t er noon. That wi l l be si xpence. Yes, I have change. Thank you. Good af t er noon. "

Deni s st epped down f r om t he bench; t i ed i nsecur el y and crookedl yt o the t ent pol e, t he Uni on J ack hung l i mp on t he wi ndl ess ai r ."I f onl y I coul d do t hi ngs l i ke t hat ! " he t hought , as he car r i ed

t he bench back t o t he t ea- t ent .

Anne was si t t i ng behi nd a l ong t abl e f i l l i ng t hi ck whi t e cupsf r om an ur n. A neat pi l e of pr i nt ed sheet s l ay bef or e her on t het abl e. Deni s t ook one of t hem and l ooked at i t af f ect i onat el y.I t was hi s poem. They had pr i nted f i ve hundred copi es, and ver yni ce t he quart o br oadsheets l ooked.

"Have you sol d many?" he asked i n a casual t one.

Anne put her head on one si de depr ecat i ngl y. "Onl y t hr ee so f ar,I ' m af r ai d. But I ' m gi vi ng a f r ee copy t o ever yone who spendsmor e t han a shi l l i ng on hi s t ea. So i n any case i t ' s havi ng a

ci rcul at i on. "

Deni s made no r epl y, but wal ked sl owl y away. He l ooked at t hebr oadsheet i n hi s hand and r ead t he l i nes t o hi msel f r el i shi ngl yas he wal ked al ong:

"Thi s day of r oundabout s and swi ngs,St r uck wei ght s, shi ed cocoanut s, t ossed ri ngs,Swi t chbacks, Aunt Sal l i es, and al l such smal lHi gh j i nks - - you cal l i t f er i al ?A hol i day? But paper nosesSni f f ed t he ar t i f i ci al rosesOf r ound Venet i an cheeks t hrough hal fEach car ni val year , and masks mi ght l aughAt t hi ngs t he naked f ace f or shameWoul d bl ush at - - l augh and t hi nk no bl ame.A hol i day? But Gal ba showedEl ephant s on an ai r y road; J umbo t r od t he t i ght r ope t hen,And i n t he ci r cus ar med menStabbed home f or sport and di ed t o br eak Those dul l i mperat i ves t hat makeA pr i son of ever y worki ng day,Where al l must drudge and al l obey.Si ng Hol i day! You do not knowHow t o be f r ee. The Russi an snowf l owered wi t h br i ght bl ood whose roses spreadPet al s of f adi ng, f adi ng r ed That di ed i nt o t he snow agai n,I nt o t he vi r gi n snow; and menFrom al l anci ent bonds wer e f r eed.Ol d l aw, ol d cust om, and ol d cr eed,Ol d ri ght and wr ong there bl ed t o death; The f r ozen ai r r ecei ved t hei r breat h,A l i t t l e smoke t hat di ed away;And r ound about t hem wher e t hey l ay The snow bl oomed r oses. Bl ood was t hereA r ed gay f l ower and onl y f ai r .Si ng Hol i day! Beneat h t he TreeOf I nnocence and Li ber t y,

Paper Nose and Red CockadeDance wi t hi n the magi c shade



That makes t hem drunken, mer r y, and st r ong To l augh and si ng t hei r f er i al song:' Fr ee, f r ee. . . ! 'But Echo answersFai nt l y t o the l aughi ng dancer s,' Fr ee' - - and f ai nt l y l aughs, and st i l l ,

Wi t hi n t he hol l ows of t he hi l l ,Fai nt l i er l aughs and whi sper s, ' Free, 'Fadi ngl y, di mi ni shi ngl y:' Fr ee, ' and l aught er f ai nt s away. . .Si ng Hol i day! Si ng Hol i day!"

He f ol ded t he sheet car ef ul l y and put i t i n hi s pocket . Thet hi ng had i t s mer i t s. Oh, deci dedl y, deci dedl y! But howunpl easant t he cr owd smel t ! He l i t a ci gar et t e. The smel l ofcows was pref erabl e. He passed t hr ough t he gate i n t he par k wal li nt o t he gar den. The swi mmi ng- pool was a cent r e of noi se andact i vi t y.

"Second Heat i n t he Young Ladi es' Champi onshi p. " I t was t hepol i t e voi ce of Henr y Wi mbush. A cr owd of sl eek, seal - l i kef i gur es i n bl ack bat hi ng- dr esses sur r ounded hi m. Hi s gr ey bowl erhat , smoot h, r ound, and mot i onl ess i n t he mi dst of a movi ng sea,was an i sl and of ar i st ocrat i c cal m.

Hol di ng hi s t or t oi se- shel l - r i mmed pi nce- nez an i nch or t wo i nf r ont of hi s eyes, he r ead out names f r om a l i st .

"Mi ss Dol l y Mi l es, Mi ss Rebecca Bal i st er , Mi ss Dor i s Gabel l . . . "

Fi ve young per sons ranged t hemsel ves on t he br i nk. From t hei rseat s of honour at t he other end of t he pool , ol d Lord Mol eyn andMr . Cal l amay l ooked on wi t h eager i nt er est .

Henr y Wi mbush r ai sed hi s hand. There was an expect ant si l ence."When I say ' Go, ' go. Go!" he sai d. There was an al mostsi mul t aneous spl ash.

Deni s pushed hi s way t hrough t he spectators. Somebody pl uckedhi m by t he sl eeve; he l ooked down. I t was ol d Mr s. Budge.

"Del i ght ed t o see you agai n, Mr . St one, " she sai d i n her r i ch,husky voi ce. She pant ed a l i t t l e as she spoke, l i ke a shor t -wi nded l ap- dog. I t was Mr s. Budge who, havi ng r ead i n t he "Dai l yMi r r or" t hat t he Gover nment needed peach st ones- - what t hey neededt hemf or she never knew- - had made t he col l ect i on of peach st onesher pecul i ar "bi t " of war wor k. She had t hi r t y- si x peach t r eesi n her wal l ed gar den, as wel l as f our hot - houses i n whi ch t r eescoul d be f or ced, so that she was abl e t o eat peaches pr act i cal l yt he whol e year r ound. I n 1916 she ate 4200 peaches, and sent t hest ones t o t he Gover nment . I n 1917 t he mi l i t ar y aut hor i t i escal l ed up t hr ee of her gardener s, and what wi t h t hi s and t he f actt hat i t was a bad year f or wal l f r ui t , she onl y managed t o eat2900 peaches dur i ng that cr uci al per i od of t he nat i onaldest i ni es. I n 1918 she di d r at her bet t er , f or bet ween J anuar y1st and t he date of t he Ar mi st i ce she ate 3300 peaches. Si ncet he Ar mi st i ce she had r el axed her ef f or t s; now she di d not eatmore t han t wo or t hr ee peaches a day. Her const i t ut i on, shecompl ai ned, had suf f er ed; but i t had suf f ered f or a good cause.

Deni s answered her greet i ng by a vague and pol i t e noi se.



"So ni ce t o see t he young peopl e enj oyi ng t hemsel ves, " Mr s. Budgewent on. "And t he ol d peopl e t oo, f or t hat matt er . Look at ol dLor d Mol eyn and dear Mr . Cal l amay. I sn' t i t del i ght f ul t o seet he way they enj oy themsel ves?"

Deni s l ooked. He wasn' t sure whether i t was so ver y del i ght f ulaf t er al l . Why di dn' t t hey go and watch t he sack r aces? The t wool d gent l emen were engaged at t he moment i n congratul at i ng t hewi nner of t he race; i t seemed an act of superer ogatorygr aci ousness; f or , af t er al l , she had onl y won a heat .

"Prett y l i t t l e t hi ng, i sn' t she?" sai d Mr s. Budge huski l y, andpanted t wo or t hree t i mes.

"Yes, " Deni s nodded agr eement . Si xteen, sl ender , but nubi l e, hesai d t o hi msel f , and l ai d up the phrase i n hi s memory as a happyone. Ol d Mr . Cal l amay had put on hi s spect acl es t o congr at ul at et he vi ct or , and Lor d Mol eyn, l eani ng f or war d over hi s wal ki ng-

st i ck, showed hi s l ong i vor y teet h, hungr i l y smi l i ng.

"Capi t al per f or mance, capi t al , " Mr . Cal l amay was sayi ng i n hi sdeep voi ce.

The vi ct or wr i ggl ed wi t h embarr assment . She st ood wi t h her handsbehi nd her back, r ubbi ng one f oot ner vousl y on t he other . Herwet bathi ng- dr ess shone, a t orso of bl ack pol i shed mar bl e.

"Very good i ndeed, " sai d Lord Mol eyn. Hi s voi ce seemed t o comef r om j ust behi nd hi s t eet h, a t oot hy voi ce. I t was as t hough adog shoul d suddenl y begi n t o speak. He smi l ed agai n, Mr .Cal l amay readj ust ed hi s spect acl es.

"When I say ' Go, ' go. Go!"

Spl ash! The t hi r d heat had st ar t ed.

"Do you know, I never coul d l ear n t o swi m, " sai d Mr s. Budge.

"Real l y?"

"But I used t o be abl e t o f l oat . "

Deni s i magi ned her f l oat i ng- - up and down, up and down on a greatgr een swel l . A bl own bl ack bl adder ; no, t hat wasn' t good, t hatwasn' t good at al l . A new wi nner was bei ng congratul ated. Shewas at r oci ousl y st ubby and f at . The l ast one, l ong andhar moni ousl y, cont i nuousl y cur ved f r omknee t o br east , had beenan Eve by Cr anach; but t hi s, t hi s one was a bad Rubens.

" . . . go- - go- - go! " Henr y Wi mbush' s pol i t e l evel voi ce once mor epr onounced t he f or mul a. Anot her bat ch of young l adi es di ved i n.

Gr own a l i t t l e wear y of sust ai ni ng a conver sat i on wi t h Mr s.Budge, Deni s conveni ent l y r emembered t hat hi s dut i es as a st ewardcal l ed hi m el sewher e. He pushed out t hr ough t he l i nes ofspect ators and made hi s way al ong t he path l ef t cl ear behi ndt hem. He was t hi nki ng agai n t hat hi s soul was a pal e, t enuous

membr ane, when he was st art l ed by heari ng a t hi n, si bi l ant voi ce,speaki ng appar ent l y f r omj ust above hi s head, pr onounce t he



si ngl e wor d "Di sgust i ng! "

He l ooked up sharpl y. The pat h al ong whi ch he was wal ki ng passedunder t he l ee of a wal l of cl i pped yew. Behi nd t he hedge t hegr ound sl oped st eepl y up towards t he f oot of t he t er r ace and thehouse; f or one st andi ng on the hi gher gr ound i t was easy to l ook

over t he dar k barr i er . Looki ng up, Deni s saw t wo headsover t oppi ng t he hedge i mmedi atel y above hi m. He r ecogni sed t hei r on mask of Mr . Bodi ham and t he pal e, col our l ess f ace of hi swi f e. They were l ooki ng over hi s head, over t he heads of t hespect ators , at t he swi mmers i n t he pond.

"Di sgust i ng! " Mr s. Bodi ham r epeat ed, hi ssi ng sof t l y.

The r ect or t urned up hi s i r on mask t owar ds t he sol i d cobal t oft he sky. "How l ong?" he sai d, as t hough t o hi msel f ; "how l ong?"He l ower ed hi s eyes agai n, and they f el l on Deni s' s upt ur nedcur i ous f ace. There was an abr upt movement , and Mr . and Mr s.Bodi ham popped out of si ght behi nd t he hedge.

Deni s cont i nued hi s promenade. He wander ed past t he merr y- go-r ound, t hr ough t he thr onged st r eet s of t he canvas vi l l age; t hemembr ane of hi s soul f l apped t umul t uousl y i n the noi se andl aught er . I n a r oped- of f space beyond, Mary was di r ect i ng t hechi l dr en' s spor t s. Li t t l e creat ur es seet hed r ound about her ,maki ng a shr i l l , t i nny cl amour ; ot her s cl ust er ed about t he ski r t sand t r ouser s of t hei r par ent s. Mar y' s f ace was shi ni ng i n t heheat ; wi t h an i mmense out put of energy she st art ed a t hr ee- l eggedr ace. Deni s l ooked on i n admi r at i on.

"You' r e wonder f ul , " he sai d, comi ng up behi nd her and t ouchi ngher on t he arm. " I ' ve never seen such energy. "

She tur ned towar ds hi m a f ace, r ound, r ed, and honest as t heset t i ng sun; t he gol den bel l of her hai r swung si l ent l y as shemoved her head and qui vered t o rest .

"Do you know, Deni s, " she sai d, i n a l ow, ser i ous voi ce, gaspi nga l i t t l e as she spoke- - "do you know t hat t here' s a woman here whohas had thr ee chi l dr en i n t hi r t y- one mont hs?"

"Real l y, " sai d Deni s, maki ng r api d ment al cal cul at i ons.

"I t ' s appal l i ng. I ' ve been t el l i ng her about t he Mal t husi anLeague. One r eal l y ought . . . "

But a sudden vi ol ent r enewal of t he met al l i c yel l i ng announcedt he f act t hat somebody had won t he r ace. Mar y became once mor et he cent r e of a danger ous vor t ex. I t was t i me, Deni s thought , t omove on; he mi ght be asked t o do somethi ng i f he st ayed too l ong.

He t ur ned back t owards t he canvas vi l l age. The t hought of t eawas maki ng i t sel f i nsi st ent i n hi s mi nd. Tea, t ea, t ea. But t het ea- t ent was hor r i bl y t hr onged. Anne, wi t h an unusual expr essi onof gr i mness on her f l ushed f ace, was f ur i ousl y wor ki ng t he handl eof t he ur n; t he br own l i qui d spur t ed i ncessant l y i nt o thepr of f er ed cups. Por t ent ous, i n t he f ar t her cor ner of t he t ent ,Pr i sci l l a, i n her r oyal t oque, was encour agi ng t he vi l l ager s. I n

a moment ar y l ul l Deni s coul d hear her deep, j ovi al l aught er andher manl y voi ce. Cl ear l y, he t ol d hi msel f , t hi s was no pl ace f or



one who want ed t ea. He st ood i r r esol ut e at t he ent r ance t o t het ent . A beaut i f ul t hought suddenl y came t o hi m; i f he went backt o the house, went unobt r usi vel y, wi t hout bei ng obser ved, i f het i pt oed i nt o the di ni ng- r oom and noi sel essl y opened t he l i t t l edoor s of t he si deboar d- - ah, t hen! I n t he cool r ecess wi t hi n hewoul d f i nd bot t l es and a si phon; a bot t l e of cr ystal gi n and a

quar t of soda wat er , and t hen f or t he cups t hat i nebr i at e as wel las cheer . . .

A mi nut e l at er he was wal ki ng br i skl y up t he shady yew- t r ee wal k.Wi t hi n t he house i t was del i ci ousl y qui et and cool . Car r yi ng hi swel l - f i l l ed t umbl er wi t h car e, he went i nt o t he l i br ar y. Ther e,t he gl ass on t he cor ner of t he t abl e besi de hi m, he set t l ed i nt oa chai r wi t h a vol ume of Sai nte- Beuve. There was nothi ng, hef ound, l i ke a Causer i e du Lundi f or set t l i ng and soot hi ng t het r oubl ed spi r i t s. That t enuous membr ane of hi s had been t oor udel y buf f et ed by t he af t er noon' s emot i ons; i t r equi r ed a r est .

CHAPTER XXVI I I .

Towards sunset t he f ai r i t sel f became qui escent . I t was t he hourf or t he danci ng t o begi n. At one si de of t he vi l l age of t ent s aspace had been r oped of f . Acetyl ene l amps, hung r ound i t onpost s, cast a pi er ci ng whi t e l i ght . I n one cor ner sat t he band,and, obedi ent t o i t s scr api ng and bl owi ng, t wo or t hr ee hundr eddancer s t r ampl ed across t he dr y ground, wear i ng away the gr asswi t h t hei r boot ed f eet . Round t hi s pat ch of al l but dayl i ght ,al i ve wi t h mot i on and noi se, t he ni ght seemed pr et er natur al l ydar k. Bar s of l i ght r eached out i nt o i t , and ever y now and t hena l onel y f i gur e or a coupl e of l over s, i nt er l aced, woul d crosst he br i ght shaf t , f l ashi ng f or a moment i nt o vi si bl e exi st ence,t o di sappear agai n as qui ckl y and surpr i si ngl y as t hey had come.

Deni s st ood by t he ent r ance of t he encl osur e, watchi ng theswayi ng, shuf f l i ng cr owd. The sl ow vor t ex br ought t he coupl esr ound and round agai n bef ore hi m, as t hough he were passi ng t hemi n r evi ew. Ther e was Pr i sci l l a, st i l l wear i ng her queenl y t oque,st i l l encour agi ng t he vi l l ager s- - t hi s t i me by danci ng wi t h one oft he t enant f armers. There was Lor d Mol eyn, who had st ayed on t ot he di sor gani sed, passover i sh meal t hat t ook t he pl ace of di nneron t hi s f estal day; he one- st epped shambl i ngl y, hi s bent kneesmor e pr ecar i ousl y wobbl y t han ever , wi t h a ter r i f i ed vi l l agebeaut y. Mr . Scogan t r ot t ed r ound wi t h another . Mary was i n t heembrace of a young f armer of heroi c proport i ons; she was l ooki ngup at hi m, t al ki ng, as Deni s coul d see, ver y ser i ousl y. Whatabout ? he wonder ed. The Mal t husi an League, perhaps. Seated i nt he cor ner among t he band, J enny was per f ormi ng wonder s ofvi r t uosi t y upon t he dr ums. Her eyes shone, she smi l ed t oher sel f . A whol e subt err anean l i f e seemed t o be expr essi ngi t sel f i n t hose l oud r at - t at s, t hose l ong r ol l s and f l our i shes ofdrummi ng. Looki ng at her , Deni s r uef ul l y remember ed t he r ednot ebook; he wondered what sor t of a f i gur e he was cut t i ng now.But t he si ght of Anne and Gombaul d swi mmi ng past - - Anne wi t h hereyes al most shut and sl eepi ng, as i t wer e, on t he sustai ni ngwi ngs of movement and musi c- - di ssi pat ed t hese pr eoccupat i ons.Mal e and f emal e cr eat ed He t hem. . . There t hey were, Anne andGombaul d, and a hundr ed coupl es more- - al l st eppi ng har moni ousl yt ogether t o t he ol d t une of Mal e and Femal e cr eat ed He t hem. But

Deni s sat apar t ; he al one l acked hi s compl ement ary opposi t e. They wer e al l coupl ed but he; al l but he. . .



Somebody touched hi m on t he shoul der and he l ooked up. I t wasHenry Wi mbush.

" I never showed you our oaken drai npi pes, " he sai d. "Some of t heones we dug up are l yi ng qui t e cl ose to here. Woul d you l i ke t o

come and see t hem?"

Deni s got up, and t hey wal ked of f t oget her i nt o the darkness. The musi c grew f ai nt er behi nd t hem. Some of t he hi gher notesf aded out al t ogether . J enny' s dr ummi ng and t he st eady sawi ng oft he bass t hr obbed on, t unel ess and meani ngl ess i n t hei r ear s.Henr y Wi mbush hal t ed.

"Her e we ar e, " he sai d, and, t aki ng an el ect r i c t or ch out of hi spocket , he cast a di m beamover t wo or t hr ee bl ackened sect i onsof t r ee t r unk, scooped out i nt o t he sembl ance of pi pes, whi chwer e l yi ng f or l or nl y i n a l i t t l e depr essi on i n t he gr ound.

"Ver y i nt er est i ng, " sai d Deni s, wi t h a r at her t epi d ent husi asm.

They sat down on t he grass. A f ai nt whi t e gl ar e, r i si ng f r ombehi nd a bel t of t r ees, i ndi cat ed t he posi t i on of t he danci ng-f l oor . The musi c was not hi ng but a muf f l ed r hythmi c pul se.

" I shal l be gl ad, " sai d Henr y Wi mbush, "when thi s f unct i on comesat l ast t o an end. "

" I can bel i eve i t . "

" I do not know how i t i s, " Mr . Wi mbush cont i nued, "but t hespect acl e of number s of my f el l ow- cr eat ur es i n a st at e ofagi t at i on moves i n me a cer t ai n weari ness, r at her t han any gai etyor exci t ement . The f act i s, t hey don' t very much i nt erest me. They' r e ar en' t i n my l i ne. You f ol l ow me? I coul d never t akemuch i nt er est , f or exampl e, i n a col l ect i on of post age stamps.Pri mi t i ves or sevent eent h- cent ur y books- - yes. They ar e my l i ne.But st amps, no. I don' t know anyt hi ng about t hem; t hey' r e not myl i ne. They don' t i nt er est me, t hey gi ve me no emot i on. I t ' sr at her t he same wi t h peopl e, I ' m af r ai d. I ' m mor e at home wi t ht hese pi pes. " He j erked hi s head si deways t owards t he hol l owedl ogs. "The t r oubl e wi t h t he peopl e and event s of t he pr esent i st hat you never know anyt hi ng about t hem. What do I know ofcont emporar y pol i t i cs? Not hi ng. What do I know of t he peopl e Isee r ound about me? Nothi ng. What t hey t hi nk of me or ofanythi ng el se i n t he wor l d, what t hey wi l l do i n f i ve mi nut es't i me, ar e t hi ngs I can' t guess at . For al l I know, you maysuddenl y j ump up and t r y t o murder me i n a moment ' s t i me. "

"Come, come, " sai d Deni s.

"Tr ue, " Mr . Wi mbush cont i nued, " t he l i t t l e I know about your pasti s cer t ai nl y r eassur i ng. But I know not hi ng of your present , andnei t her you nor I know anyt hi ng of your f ut ur e. I t ' s appal l i ng;i n l i vi ng peopl e, one i s deal i ng wi t h unknown and unknowabl equant i t i es. One can onl y hope t o f i nd out anythi ng about t hembya l ong ser i es of t he most di sagr eeabl e and bor i ng human cont act s,i nvol vi ng a t er r i bl e expense of t i me. I t ' s t he same wi t h cur r ent

event s; how can I f i nd out anyt hi ng about t hem except by devot i ngyear s t o the most exhaust i ng f i r st - hand st udy, i nvol vi ng once



more an endl ess number of t he most unpl easant cont act s? No, gi veme t he past . I t doesn' t change; i t ' s al l t her e i n bl ack andwhi t e, and you can get t o know about i t comf ort abl y anddecor ousl y and, above al l , pr i vat el y- - by r eadi ng. By r eadi ng Iknow a gr eat deal of Caesar Bor gi a, of St . Franci s, of Dr . J ohnson; a f ew weeks have made me t horoughl y acquai nt ed wi t h

t hese i nt erest i ng char act er s, and I have been spar ed t he t edi ousand r evol t i ng pr ocess of get t i ng t o know t hemby per sonalcont act , whi ch I shoul d have t o do i f t hey wer e l i vi ng now. Howgay and del i ght f ul l i f e woul d be i f one coul d get r i d of al l t hehuman cont act s! Per haps, i n t he f uture, when machi nes haveat t ai ned t o a st at e of per f ecti on- - f or I conf ess that I am, l i keGodwi n and Shel l ey, a bel i ever i n per f ecti bi l i t y, t heper f ecti bi l i t y of machi ner y- - t hen, per haps, i t wi l l be possi bl ef or t hose who, l i ke mysel f , desi r e i t , t o l i ve i n a di gni f i edsecl usi on, sur r ounded by t he del i cat e at t ent i ons of si l ent andgr acef ul machi nes, and ent i r el y secur e f r om any human i nt r usi on.I t i s a beaut i f ul t hought . "

"Beaut i f ul , " Deni s agr eed. "But what about t he desi r abl e humancont acts, l i ke l ove and f r i endshi p?"

The bl ack si l houet t e agai nst t he darkness shook i t s head. "Thepl easures even of t hese contact s are much exaggerated, " sai d t hepol i t e l evel voi ce. "I t seems t o me doubt f ul whet her t hey ar eequal t o t he pl easures of pr i vat e r eadi ng and cont empl at i on.Human cont act s have been so hi ghl y val ued i n t he past onl ybecause readi ng was not a common accompl i shment and because bookswer e scarce and di f f i cul t t o r epr oduce. The wor l d, you mustr emember , i s onl y j ust becomi ng l i t erate. As r eadi ng becomesmore and more habi t ual and wi despr ead, an ever - i ncreasi ng numberof peopl e wi l l di scover t hat books wi l l gi ve t hem al l t hepl easur es of soci al l i f e and none of i t s i nt ol er abl e t edi um. Atpr esent peopl e i n sear ch of pl easure nat ur al l y t end t o congr egatei n l ar ge her ds and t o make a noi se; i n f ut ur e t hei r nat ur alt endency wi l l be t o seek sol i t ude and qui et . The pr oper s t udy ofmanki nd i s books. "

" I somet i mes t hi nk t hat i t may be, " sai d Deni s; he was wonder i ngi f Anne and Gombaul d were st i l l danci ng together .

" I nst ead of whi ch, " sai d Mr . Wi mbush, wi t h a si gh, " I must go andsee i f al l i s wel l on t he danci ng- f l oor . " They got up and begant o wal k sl owl y t owar ds t he whi t e gl ar e. "I f al l t hese peopl ewere dead, " Henr y Wi mbush went on, " t hi s f est i vi t y woul d beext r emel y agr eeabl e. Nothi ng woul d be pl easant er t han t o r ead i na wel l - wr i t t en book of an open- ai r bal l t hat t ook pl ace a cent ur yago. How char mi ng! one woul d say; how pret t y and how amusi ng!But when the bal l t akes pl ace t o- day, when one f i nds onesel fi nvol ved i n i t , t hen one sees t he t hi ng i n i t s t r ue l i ght . I tt ur ns out t o be merel y t hi s. " He waved hi s hand i n t he di r ect i onof t he acet yl ene f l ar es. " I n my yout h, " he went on af t er apause, "I f ound mysel f , qui t e f or t ui t ousl y, i nvol ved i n a ser i esof t he most phant asmagori cal amor ous i nt r i gues. A novel i st coul dhave made hi s f ort une out of t hem, and even i f I wer e to tel lyou, i n my bal d styl e, t he det ai l s of t hese advent ur es, you woul dbe amazed at t he r omant i c t al e. But I assur e you, whi l e t heywere happeni ng- - t hese r omant i c advent ures- - t hey seemed t o me nomor e and no l ess exci t i ng t han any ot her i nci dent of actual l i f e.

To cl i mb by ni ght up a r ope- l adder t o a second- f l oor wi ndow i n anol d house i n Tol edo seemed t o me, whi l e I was act ual l y perf ormi ng



t hi s r at her danger ous f eat , an act i on as obvi ous, as much t o bet aken f or gr ant ed, as- - how shal l I put i t ?- - as quot i di an ascat chi ng t he 8. 52 f r om Sur bi t on t o go t o busi ness on a Mondaymorni ng. Advent ures and r omance onl y t ake on t hei r adventurousand r omant i c qual i t i es at second- hand. Li ve t hem, and t hey are j ust a sl i ce of l i f e l i ke t he r est . I n l i t er at ure t hey become as

char mi ng as t hi s di smal bal l woul d be i f we wer e cel ebr at i ng i t st ercent enary. " They had come t o t he ent r ance of t he encl osur eand st ood t her e, bl i nki ng i n t he dazzl i ng l i ght . "Ah, i f onl y wewer e! " Henry Wi mbush added.

Anne and Gombaul d were st i l l danci ng t ogether .

CHAPTER XXI X.

I t was af t er t en o' cl ock. The dancer s had al r eady di sper sed andt he l ast l i ght s were bei ng put out . To- morr ow t he t ent s woul d best r uck, t he di smant l ed merr y- go- r ound woul d be packed i nt o

waggons and car t ed away. An expanse of worn grass, a shabbybr own patch i n the wi de gr een of t he par k, woul d be al l t hatr emai ned. Cr ome Fai r was over .

By t he edge of t he pool t wo f i gur es l i nger ed.

"No, no, no, " Anne was sayi ng i n a br eat hl ess whi sper , l eani ngbackwar ds, t ur ni ng her head f r om si de to si de i n an ef f or t t oescape Gombaul d' s ki sses. "No, pl ease. No. " Her r ai sed voi cehad become i mper at i ve.

Gombaul d r el axed hi s embr ace a l i t t l e. "Why not ?" he sai d. " Iwi l l . "

Wi t h a sudden ef f ort Anne f r eed her sel f . "You won' t , " sher et or t ed. "You' ve t r i ed t o t ake t he most unf ai r advant age ofme. "

"Unf ai r advant age?" echoed Gombaul d i n genui ne sur pr i se.

"Yes, unf ai r advant age. You at t ack me af t er I ' ve been danci ngf or t wo hour s, whi l e I ' m st i l l r eel i ng dr unk wi t h t he movement ,when I ' ve l ost my head, when I ' ve got no mi nd l ef t but onl y ar hyt hmi cal body! I t ' s as bad as maki ng l ove t o someone you' vedr ugged or i nt oxi cat ed. "

Gombaul d l aughed angr i l y. "Cal l me a Whi t e Sl aver and have donewi th i t . "

"Lucki l y, " sai d Anne, " I am now compl et el y sober ed, and i f yout r y and ki ss me agai n I shal l box your ear s. Shal l we t ake a f ewt ur ns r ound t he pool ?" she added. "The ni ght i s del i ci ous. "

For answer Gombaul d made an i r r i t ated noi se. They paced of fsl owl y, si de by si de.

"What I l i ke about t he pai nt i ng of Degas. . . " Anne began i n hermost det ached and conver sat i onal t one.

"Oh, damn Degas! " Gombaul d was al most shout i ng.

From wher e he st ood, l eani ng i n an at t i t ude of despai r agai nst



t he parapet of t he terr ace, Deni s had seen t hem, t he two pal ef i gur es i n a pat ch of moonl i ght , f ar down by t he pool ' s edge. Hehad seen the begi nni ng of what promi sed to be an endl esspassi onate embracement , and at t he si ght he had f l ed. I t was t oomuch; he coul dn' t st and i t . I n another moment , he f el t , he woul dhave bur st i nt o i r r epr essi bl e t ear s.

Dashi ng bl i ndl y i nt o t he house, he al most r an i nt o Mr . Scogan,who was wal ki ng up and down the hal l smoki ng a f i nal pi pe.

"Hul l o!" sai d Mr . Scogan, cat chi ng hi m by the ar m; dazed andhar dl y consci ous of what he was doi ng or wher e he was, Deni sst ood t her e f or a moment l i ke a somnambul i st . "What ' s t hemat t er ?" Mr . Scogan went on. "you l ook di st ur bed, di st r essed,depr essed. "

Deni s shook hi s head wi t hout r epl yi ng.

"Worr i ed about t he cosmos, eh?" Mr . Scogan pat t ed hi m on t he arm.

" I know t he f eel i ng, " he sai d. " I t ' s a most di st r essi ng sympt om.' What ' s t he poi nt of i t al l ? Al l i s vani t y. What ' s t he good ofcont i nui ng t o f unct i on i f one' s doomed t o be snuf f ed out at l astal ong wi t h everyt hi ng el se?' Yes, yes. I know exact l y how youf eel . I t ' s most di st r essi ng i f one al l ows onesel f t o bedi st r essed. But t hen why al l ow onesel f t o be di st r essed? Af t eral l , we al l know t hat t her e' s no ul t i mat e poi nt . But whatdi f f erence does that make?"

At t hi s poi nt t he somnambul i st suddenl y woke up. "What ?" hesai d, bl i nki ng and f r owni ng at hi s i nt er l ocut or . "What ?" Thenbreaki ng away he dashed up t he st ai r s, t wo st eps at a t i me.

Mr . Scogan r an t o t he f oot of t he st ai r s and cal l ed up af t er hi m." I t makes no di f f er ence, none what ever . Li f e i s gay al l t hesame, al ways, under what ever ci r cumst ances- - under what everci r cumst ances, " he added, r ai si ng hi s voi ce t o a shout . ButDeni s was al r eady f ar out of hear i ng, and even i f he had notbeen, hi s mi nd t o- ni ght was pr oof agai nst al l t he consol at i ons ofphi l osophy. Mr . Scogan r epl aced hi s pi pe between hi s teet h andr esumed hi s medi t at i ve paci ng. "Under any ci r cumst ances, " her epeat ed t o hi msel f . I t was ungr ammat i cal t o begi n wi t h; was i tt r ue? And i s l i f e r eal l y i t s own r ewar d? He wonder ed. When hi spi pe had bur ned i t sel f t o i t s st i nki ng concl usi on he t ook a dr i nkof gi n and went t o bed. I n t en mi nut es he was deepl y, i nnocent l yasl eep.

Deni s had mechani cal l y undr essed and, cl ad i n t hose f l owered si l k

pyj amas of whi ch he was so j ust l y pr oud, was l yi ng f ace downwardson hi s bed. Ti me passed. When at l ast he l ooked up, t he candl ewhi ch he had l ef t al i ght at hi s bedsi de had burned down al most t ot he socket . He l ooked at hi s wat ch; i t was near l y hal f - past one.Hi s head ached, hi s dr y, sl eepl ess eyes f el t as though t hey hadbeen br ui sed f r ombehi nd, and t he bl ood was beat i ng wi t hi n hi sear s a l oud ar t eri al dr um. He got up, opened t he door , t i pt oednoi sel essl y al ong the passage, and began t o mount t he st ai r st owar ds the hi gher f l oor s. Ar r i ved at t he ser vant s' quar t er sunder t he roof , he hesi t at ed, t hen turni ng to the ri ght he openeda l i t t l e door at t he end of t he cor r i dor . Wi t hi n was a pi t ch-

dar k cupboar d- l i ke boxroom, hot , st uf f y, and smel l i ng of dust andol d l eat her . He advanced caut i ousl y i nt o t he bl ackness, gr opi ng



wi t h hi s hands. I t was f r om t hi s den t hat t he l adder went up t ot he l eads of t he west er n t ower. He f ound t he l adder , and set hi sf eet on t he r ungs; noi sel essl y, he l i f t ed t he t r ap- door above hi shead; t he moonl i t sky was over hi m, he breat hed t he f r esh, coolai r of t he ni ght . I n a moment he was st andi ng on t he l eads,gazi ng out over t he di m, col our l ess l andscape, l ooki ng

per pendi cul arl y down at t he t er r ace sevent y f eet bel ow.

Why had he cl i mbed up t o t hi s hi gh, desol ate pl ace? Was i t t ol ook at t he moon? Was i t t o commi t sui ci de? As yet he har dl yknew. Deat h- - t he t ear s came i nto hi s eyes when he t hought of i t .Hi s mi sery assumed a cert ai n sol emni t y; he was l i f t ed up on t hewi ngs of a ki nd of exal t at i on. I t was a mood i n whi ch he mi ghthave done al most anyt hi ng, however f ool i sh. He advanced t owardst he f art her par apet ; t he dr op was sheer t her e and uni nt er r upt ed.A good l eap, and per haps one mi ght cl ear t he nar r ow t er r ace andso crash down yet another t hi r t y f eet t o t he sun- baked gr oundbel ow. He paused at t he corner of t he t ower , l ooki ng now downi nt o t he shadowy gul f bel ow, now up t owards t he r are st ars and

t he wani ng moon. He made a gest ure wi t h hi s hand, mut t eredsomethi ng, he coul d not af t erwards r emember what ; but t he f actt hat he had sai d i t al oud gave t he ut t er ance a pecul i ar l yt er r i bl e si gni f i cance. Then he l ooked down once mor e i nt o t hedept hs.

"What ARE you doi ng, Deni s?" quest i oned a voi ce f r om somewher ever y cl ose behi nd hi m.

Deni s ut t er ed a cr y of f r i ght ened sur pr i se, and ver y near l y wentover t he par apet i n good earnest . Hi s heart was beat i ngt er r i bl y, and he was pal e when, r ecover i ng hi msel f , he t ur nedr ound i n t he di r ect i on f r om whi ch t he voi ce had come.

"Ar e you i l l ?"

I n t he prof ound shadow t hat sl ept under t he east ern parapet oft he tower, he saw somethi ng he had not previ ousl y not i ced- - anobl ong shape. I t was a mat t r ess, and someone was l yi ng on i t .Si nce that f i r st memor abl e ni ght on the tower, Mar y had sl ept outever y eveni ng; i t was a sor t of mani f est at i on of f i del i t y.

" I t gave me a f r i ght , " she went on, " t o wake up and see youwavi ng your arms and gi bber i ng t her e. What on ear t h were youdoi ng?"

Deni s l aughed mel odr amat i cal l y. "What , i ndeed! " he sai d. I f shehadn' t woken up as she di d, he woul d be l yi ng i n pi eces at t hebot t om of t he t ower ; he was cer t ai n of t hat , now.

"You hadn' t got desi gns on me, I hope?" Mary i nqui r ed, j umpi ngt oo r api dl y to concl usi ons.

" I di dn' t know you wer e her e, " sai d Deni s, l aughi ng mor e bi t t er l yand ar t i f i ci al l y than bef or e.

"What I S t he mat t er, Deni s?"

He sat down on t he edge of t he mat t r ess, and f or al l r epl y wenton l aughi ng i n t he same f r i ght f ul and i mpr obabl e t one.

An hour l ater he was r eposi ng wi t h hi s head on Mary' s knees, and



she, wi t h an af f ect i onat e sol i ci t ude t hat was whol l y mat er nal ,was runni ng her f i nger s thr ough hi s tangl ed hai r . He had t ol dher ever yt hi ng, ever yt hi ng: hi s hopel ess l ove, hi s j eal ousy, hi sdespai r , hi s sui ci de- - as i t wer e pr ovi dent i al l y aver t ed by heri nt er posi t i on. He had sol emnl y pr omi sed never t o t hi nk of sel f -dest r uct i on agai n. And now hi s soul was f l oat i ng i n a sad

ser eni t y. I t was embal med i n t he sympat hy t hat Mary sogener ousl y poured. And i t was not onl y i n r ecei vi ng sympat hyt hat Deni s f ound ser eni t y and even a ki nd of happi ness; i t wasal so i n gi vi ng i t . For i f he had t ol d Mar y ever yt hi ng about hi smi ser i es, Mar y, r eact i ng t o t hese conf i dences, had t ol d hi m i nr et ur n ever ythi ng, or ver y near l y ever ythi ng, about her own.

"Poor Mar y!" He was ver y sor r y f or her . St i l l , she mi ght haveguessed t hat I vor wasn' t pr eci sel y a monument of const ancy.

"Wel l , " she concl uded, "one must put a good f ace on i t . " Shewant ed t o cr y, but she woul dn' t al l ow hersel f t o be weak. Ther ewas a si l ence.

"Do you t hi nk, " asked Deni s hesi t at i ngl y- - "do you r eal l y t hi nkt hat she. . . t hat Gombaul d. . . "

" I ' m sur e of i t , " Mar y answer ed deci si vel y. Ther e was anot herl ong pause.

"I don' t know what t o do about i t , " he sai d at l ast , ut t er l ydej ect ed.

"You' d bet t er go away, " advi sed Mar y. "I t ' s t he saf est t hi ng,and t he most sensi bl e. "

"But I ' ve ar r anged t o st ay here t hr ee weeks more. "

"You must concoct an excuse. "

"I suppose you' r e r i ght . "

"I know I am, " sai d Mar y, who was r ecover i ng al l her f i r m sel f -possessi on. "You can' t go on l i ke t hi s, can you?"

"No, I can' t go on l i ke t hi s, " he echoed.

I mmensel y pr act i cal , Mar y i nvent ed a pl an of act i on.St ar t l i ngl y, i n t he dar kness, t he chur ch cl ock st r uck t hr ee.

"You must go t o bed at once, " she sai d. " I ' d no i dea i t was sol ate. "

Deni s cl ambered down t he l adder , caut i ousl y descended t hecr eaki ng st ai r s. Hi s room was dar k; t he candl e had l ong agogut t er ed t o ext i nct i on. He got i nt o bed and f el l asl eep al mostat once.

CHAPTER XXX.

Deni s had been cal l ed, but i n spi t e of t he par t ed cur t ai ns he haddropped of f agai n i nto t hat drowsy, dozy st ate when sl eep becomes

a sensual pl easur e al most consci ousl y savour ed. I n t hi scondi t i on he mi ght have r emai ned f or another hour i f he had not



been di st ur bed by a vi ol ent r appi ng at t he door .

"Come i n, " he mumbl ed, wi t hout openi ng hi s eyes. The l atchcl i cked, a hand sei zed hi m by t he shoul der and he was rudel yshaken.

"Get up, get up! "

Hi s eyel i ds bl i nked pai nf ul l y apar t , and he saw Mar y st andi ngover hi m, br i ght - f aced and ear nest .

"Get up! " she r epeat ed. "You must go and send t he t el egr am.Don' t you remember?"

"O Lor d! " He t hr ew of f t he bed- cl ot hes; hi s t or ment or r et i r ed.

Deni s dressed as qui ckl y as he coul d and ran up t he r oad to t hevi l l age post of f i ce. Sat i sf acti on gl owed wi t hi n hi m as her etur ned. He had sent a l ong t el egr am, whi ch woul d i n a f ew

hours evoke an answer order i ng hi m back to t own at once- - onur gent busi ness. I t was an act per f ormed, a deci si ve st ep t aken- - and he so r ar el y t ook deci si ve st eps; he f el t pl eased wi t hhi msel f . I t was wi t h a whett ed appet i t e t hat he came i n t obr eakf ast .

"Good- mor ni ng, " sai d Mr . Scogan. " I hope you' r e bet t er . "

"Better?"

"You wer e rather wor r i ed about t he cosmos l ast ni ght . "

Deni s t r i ed t o l augh away the i mpeachment . "Was I ?" he l i ght l yasked.

" I wi sh, " sai d Mr . Scogan, "t hat I had not hi ng wor se t o pr ey onmy mi nd. I shoul d be a happy man. "

"One i s onl y happy i n act i on, " Deni s enunci at ed, t hi nki ng of t het el egr am.

He l ooked out of t he wi ndow. Gr eat f l or i d bar oque cl ouds f l oat edhi gh i n t he bl ue heaven. A wi nd st i r r ed among t he t r ees, andt hei r shaken f ol i age t wi nkl ed and gl i t t er ed l i ke met al i n t hesun. Ever ythi ng seemed mar vel l ousl y beaut i f ul . At t he t houghtt hat he woul d soon be l eavi ng al l t hi s beaut y he f el t a moment arypang; but he comf ort ed hi msel f by recol l ect i ng how deci si vel y hewas act i ng.

"Act i on, " he repeated al oud, and goi ng over t o t he si deboar d hehel ped hi msel f t o an agr eeabl e mi xtur e of bacon and f i sh.

Br eakf ast over , Deni s repai r ed t o t he t er r ace, and, si t t i ngt here, r ai sed t he enor mous bul war k of t he "Ti mes" agai nst t hepossi bl e assaul t s of Mr . Scogan, who showed an unappeased desi r et o go on t al ki ng about t he Uni ver se. Secur e behi nd t he cr ackl i ngpages, he medi t at ed. I n t he l i ght of t hi s br i l l i ant mor ni ng t heemot i ons of l ast ni ght seemed somehow r ather r emote. And what i fhe had seen t hem embr aci ng i n t he moonl i ght ? Per haps i t di dn' tmean much af t er al l . And even i f i t di d, why shoul dn' t he st ay?

He f el t st r ong enough t o st ay, st r ong enough t o be al oof ,di si nt er est ed, a mer e f r i endl y acquai nt ance. And even i f he



wer en' t st r ong enough. . .

"What t i me do you t hi nk t he t el egr amwi l l ar r i ve?" asked Marysuddenl y, t hr ust i ng i n upon hi m over t he t op of t he paper .

Deni s start ed gui l t i l y. "I don' t know at al l , " he sai d.

" I was onl y wonder i ng, " sai d Mary, "because t her e' s a ver y goodt r ai n at 3. 27, and i t woul d be ni ce i f you coul d cat ch i t ,woul dn' t i t ?"

"Awf ul l y ni ce, " he agr eed weakl y. He f el t as t hough he wer emaki ng arr angement s f or hi s own f uner al . Trai n l eaves Water l oo3. 27. No f l ower s. . . Mar y was gone. No, he was bl owed i f he' d l ethi msel f be hur r i ed down t o t he Necr opol i s l i ke t hi s. He wasbl owed. The si ght of Mr . Scogan l ooki ng out , wi t h a hungr yexpr essi on, f r om t he dr awi ng- r oom wi ndow made hi m pr eci pi t at el yhoi st t he "Ti mes" once more. For a l ong whi l e he kept i thoi st ed. Lower i ng i t at l ast t o t ake anot her caut i ous peep at

hi s surr oundi ngs, he f ound hi msel f , wi t h what ast oni shment !conf r ont ed by Anne' s f ai nt , amused, mal i ci ous smi l e. She wasst andi ng bef ore hi m, - - t he woman who was a t r ee, - - t he swayi nggrace of her movement arr est ed i n a pose t hat seemed i t sel f amovement .

"How l ong have you been st andi ng ther e?" he asked, when he haddone gapi ng at her .

"Oh, about hal f an hour , I suppose, " she sai d ai r i l y. "You wer eso ver y deep i n your paper - - head over ear s- - I di dn' t l i ke t odi st ur b you. "

"You l ook l ovel y t hi s mor ni ng, " Deni s excl ai med. I t was t hef i r st t i me he had ever had t he cour age t o ut t er a personal r emarkof t he ki nd.

Anne hel d up her hand as though t o ward of f a bl ow. "Don' tbl udgeon me, pl ease. " She sat down on t he bench besi de hi m. Hewas a ni ce boy, she t hought , qui t e charmi ng; and Gombaul d' svi ol ent i nsi st ences wer e r eal l y becomi ng r at her t i r esome. "Whydon' t you wear whi t e t r ousers?" she asked. " I l i ke you so muchi n whi t e t r ouser s. "

"They' r e at t he wash, " Deni s r epl i ed r at her cur t l y. Thi s whi t e-t r ouser busi ness was al l i n t he wr ong spi r i t . He was j ustprepar i ng a scheme t o manoeuvr e t he conversat i on back t o t heproper pat h, when Mr . Scogan suddenl y dart ed out of t he house,cr ossed t he t err ace wi t h cl ockwor k rapi di t y, and came t o a hal ti n f r ont of t he bench on whi ch t hey were seat ed.

"To go on wi t h our i nt erest i ng conver sat i on about t he cosmos, " hebegan, " I become more and more convi nced that t he vari ous par t sof t he concer n are f undament al l y di scr et e. . . But woul d you mi nd,Deni s, movi ng a shade t o your r i ght ?" He wedged hi msel f bet weent hemon t he bench. "And i f you woul d shi f t a f ew i nches t o t hel ef t , my dear Anne. . . Thank you. Di scr et e, I t hi nk, was what Iwas sayi ng. "

"You were, " sai d Anne. Deni s was speechl ess.

They wer e t aki ng t hei r af t er l uncheon cof f ee i n t he l i brar y when



t he t el egr am ar r i ved. Deni s bl ushed gui l t i l y as he t ook t heor ange envel ope f r om t he sal ver and t or e i t open. "Ret ur n atonce. Ur gent f ami l y busi ness. " I t was t oo r i di cul ous. As i f hehad any f ami l y busi ness! Woul dn' t i t be best j ust t o cr umpl e t het hi ng up and put i t i n hi s pocket wi t hout sayi ng anythi ng abouti t ? He l ooked up; Mar y' s l ar ge bl ue chi na eyes were f i xed upon

hi m, ser i ousl y, penet r at i ngl y. He bl ushed mor e deepl y t han ever ,hesi t at ed i n a hor r i bl e uncer t ai nt y.

"What ' s your t el egr am about ?" Mar y asked si gni f i cant l y.

He l ost hi s head, "I ' m af r ai d, " he mumbl ed, "I ' m af r ai d t hi smeans I shal l have t o go back t o t own at once. " He f r owned att he t el egr am f er oci ousl y.

"But t hat ' s absurd, i mpossi bl e, " cr i ed Anne. She had beenst andi ng by t he wi ndow t al ki ng t o Gombaul d; but at Deni s' s wordsshe came swayi ng acr oss t he r oom t owards hi m.

"I t ' s ur gent , " he r epeat ed desper at el y.

"But you' ve onl y been her e such a shor t t i me, " Anne pr ot ested.

"I know, " he sai d, ut t er l y mi ser abl e. Oh, i f onl y she coul dunder st and! Women were supposed t o have i ntui t i on.

" I f he must go, he must , " put i n Mar y f i r ml y.

"Yes, I must . " He l ooked at t he t el egr am agai n f or i nspi r at i on."You see, i t ' s ur gent f ami l y busi ness, " he expl ai ned.

Pr i sci l l a got up f r om her chai r i n some exci t ement . "I had adi sti nct pr esent i ment of t hi s l ast ni ght , " she sai d. "A di st i nctpr esent i ment . "

"A mere coi nci dence, no doubt , " sai d Mary, brushi ng Mr s. Wi mbushout of t he conver sat i on. "Ther e' s a ver y good t r ai n at 3. 27. "She l ooked at t he cl ock on t he mant el pi ece. "You' l l have ni cet i me t o pack. "

" I ' l l or der t he mot or at once. " Henr y Wi mbush r ang t he bel l . The f uner al was wel l under way. I t was awf ul , awf ul .

" I am wr et ched you shoul d be goi ng, " sai d Anne.

Deni s t ur ned t owar ds her; she r eal l y di d l ook wr et ched. Heabandoned hi msel f hopel essl y, f at al i st i cal l y to hi s dest i ny. Thi s was what came of act i on, of doi ng somet hi ng deci si ve. I fonl y he' d j ust l et thi ngs dr i f t ! I f onl y. . .

"I shal l mi ss your conver sat i on, " sai d Mr . Scogan.

Mar y l ooked at t he cl ock agai n. " I t hi nk perhaps you ought t o goand pack, " she sai d.

Obedi ent l y Deni s l ef t t he r oom. Never agai n, he sai d t o hi msel f ,never agai n woul d he do anyt hi ng deci si ve. Caml et , West Bowl by,Kni pswi ch f or Ti mpany, Spavi n Del awar r ; and t hen al l t he ot herst at i ons; and t hen, f i nal l y, London. The t hought of t he j our ney

appal l ed hi m. And what on ear t h was he goi ng t o do i n Londonwhen he got t her e? He cl i mbed wear i l y up t he st ai r s. I t was



t i me f or hi m t o l ay hi msel f i n hi s cof f i n.

The car was at t he door - - t he hear se. The whol e part y hadassembl ed t o see hi m go. Good- bye, good- bye. Mechani cal l y het apped the bar omet er t hat hung i n the porch; t he needl e st i r r edper cept i bl y t o t he l ef t . A sudden smi l e l i ght ed up hi s

l ugubr i ous f ace.

"' I t si nks and I am r eady t o depar t , ' " he sai d, quot i ng Landorwi t h an exqui si t e apt ness. He l ooked qui ckl y r ound f r om f ace t of ace. Nobody had not i ced. He cl i mbed i nt o t he hear se.

End of The Proj ect Gut enber g Et ext of Cr ome Yel l ow, by Al dous Huxl ey

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