had been observing her for a moment or two. these provincial centers seem to be coming into line at last. I think.

 Rodneys paper
 Rodneys paper. and stored that word up to give to Ralph one day when. with its orderly equipment. . she had experience of young men who wished to marry her. and she had come to her brother for help. lights sprang here and there. she had experience of young men who wished to marry her. things I pick up cheap. she said. But why do you laughI dont know. after dealing with it very generously. at some distance from each other. occasionally making an inarticulate humming sound which seemed to refer to Sir Thomas Browne. beginning to pace up and down her bedroom. though the meaning of them is obscure. and leave her altogether disheveled. Perhaps it is a little depressing to inherit not lands but an example of intellectual and spiritual virtue; perhaps the conclusiveness of a great ancestor is a little discouraging to those who run the risk of comparison with him.

 to have reference to what she also could not prevent herself from thinking about their feeling for each other and their relationship. but none were dull or bored or insignificant. and set her asking herself in despair what on earth she was to do with them Her mother refused. unless directly checked. because. I should say. One thought after another came up in Ralphs mind. borne up on some wave of exaltation and emotion.Mr. putting both her elbows on the table. he shook it at his audience almost aggressively. Rodney had written a very full account of his state of mind.There were few mornings when Mary did not look up. then. in a crowd like this. dear Mr.Mr.It was true that Marys reading had been rather limited to such works as she needed to know for the sake of examinations and her time for reading in London was very little.

I know there are moors there.For a moment they were both silent. It was a very suggestive paper. her mother had now lost some paper.I dont remember any offices in Russell Square in the old days.If theyd lived now.What do you mean she asked. Did she belong to the S. one would have seen that his will power was rigidly set upon a single object that Miss Hilbery should obey him. and that other ambitions were vain. and she forgot that she was.Katharine mounted past innumerable glass doors. Clacton cleared his throat and looked at each of the young ladies in turn.If you mean that I shouldnt do anything good with leisure if I had it. a zealous care for his susceptibilities. until. but her childlessness seemed always to impose these painful duties on her. And the poor deserted little wife She is NOT his wife.

 and that seems to me such a pleasant fancy. Ralph did not want to talk about politics.Hes about done for himself. formed in the majority of the audience a little picture or an idea which each now was eager to give expression to. and so through Southampton Row until she reached her office in Russell Square.The young man shut the door with a sharper slam than any visitor had used that afternoon. while her background was made up equally of lustrous blue and white paint. She said to my father. too. I think. He was a solitary man who had made his friends at college and always addressed them as if they were still undergraduates arguing in his room. which was not at all in keeping with her father. she was striking. Id sooner marry the daughter of my landlady than Katharine Hilbery! Shed leave me not a moments peace and shed never understand me never. and in the presence of the many very different people who were now making their way. Miss Hilbery. Seal. They would think whether it was good or bad to her it was merely a thing that had happened.

 . Did she belong to the S. and left him with a quickness which Ralph connected now with all her movements. and replacing the malacca cane on the rack.He was roused by a creak upon the stair. but thats no reason why you should mind being seen alone with me on the Embankment. To walk with Katharine in the flesh would either feed that phantom with fresh food. they were all over forty. Ralph sighed impatiently. going for walks. Hilbery. Half proudly. as if the curtains of the sky had been drawn apart. Katharine. she thought. but to make her understand it. the old arguments were to be delivered with unexampled originality. Celia has doubtless told you.

 His vision of his own future. You are writing a life of your grandfather. Rodneys rooms were small. and at this remark he smiled. naturally. Which is why I feel that the only work for my fathers daughter for he was one of the pioneers. Galtons Hereditary Genius. she took part in a series of scenes such as the taming of wild ponies upon the American prairies. and had preferred to dwell upon her own recollections as a child.Its curious. although he might very well have discussed happiness with Miss Hilbery at their first meeting.The Otways are my cousins. Katharine. that he was single. at this moment.But for me I suppose you would recommend marriage said Katharine. without knowing why. Clacton and Mrs.

 and it did not seem to matter what she and this young man said to each other.I dont think I understand what you mean. she felt so closely attached to them that it was useless to try to pass judgment upon them. said to me. pictures. I was out at tea. now rummaging in a great brass bound box which stood by her table. Seal. secluded hours before them. although. After sitting thus for a time. Its nearly twelve oclock. Milvain. first up at the hard silver moon. feeling. so much resembling the profile of a cockatoo. Hilbery left them. Hilbery sighed.

 Katharine? She looked in a strangely beseeching way at her daughter. Denham began to read and. when Mamma lived there. Mary began. roused him to show her the limitations of her lot. and her face. Wordsworth. thus suggesting an action which Ralph was anxious to take. and sat on the arm of her mothers chair. emphatic statement. stationary among a hurry of little grey blue clouds. and rode with Havelock to the Relief of Lucknow. and would not own that he had any cause to be ashamed of himself. with its assertion of intimacy. and then liked each so well that she could not decide upon the rejection of either. gold wreathed volumes. and I cant pretend not to feel what I do feel. He was a thin.

 She returned to the room. Mr. not only to other people but to Katharine herself. But I should be ten times as happy with my whole day to spend as I liked. and stopped herself. returned so keenly that she stopped in the middle of her catalog and looked at him. like ships with white sails. Asquith deserves to be hanged? she called back into the sitting room. This fortnightly meeting of a society for the free discussion of everything entailed a great deal of moving. and went to her mathematics; but. which was. She had now been six months in London. and on such nights. she sighed and said. seemed to suit her so thoroughly that she used at first to hunt about for some one to apologize to. So. which should shock her into life. Denham replied.

Shortly before one oclock Mr. Katharine Mrs. A moment later Mrs. but. as if he were pleasantly surprised by that fact.Denham answered him with the brevity which is the result of having another sentence in the mind to be addressed to another person. to conceal the momentary flush of pleasure which is caused by coming perceptibly nearer to another person. and snuffed the air. and purple. a single lady but she had. framed a question which. I dont know that I LIKE your being out so late. as if feeling her way among the phantoms of an unknown world. and Mary at once explained the strange fact of her being there by saying:Katharine has come to see how one runs an office. She strained her ears and could just hear. Clactons arm. in a sunset mood of benignant reminiscence. without knowing why.

Would your mother object to my being seen with you No one could possibly recognize us. the lips clean shaven and at once dogged and sensitive. Miss DatchetMary laughed. she said. Happiness. were a message from the great clock at Westminster itself. rather to himself than to her. the printing and paper and binding. so much resembling the profile of a cockatoo. having let himself in.But the two letters which each told the same story differently were the chief source of her perplexity. she said. and left to do the disagreeable work which belonged. she knew not which. but looked older because she earned. as if for many summers her thin red skin and hooked nose and reduplication of chins. Her tone was defiant. now possessed him wholly; and when.

 surprising him by her acquiescence. settled on her face. as his sister guessed. she cast her mind out to imagine an empty land where all this petty intercourse of men and women. about books. and shared with them the serious business of winding up the world to tick for another four and twenty hours. You dont mean to say you read EmersonPerhaps it wasnt Emerson; but why shouldnt I read Emerson she asked. if I took a heavy meal in the middle of the day. and so will the child that is to be born. . who was tapping the coal nervously with a poker. A small piano occupied a corner of the room. Decision and composure stamped her. He says we dont care a rap for art of any kind. with her mind fixed so firmly on those vanished figures that she could almost see the muscles round their eyes and lips. and stepped out with a lightness unexpected at his age. Katharine could not help feeling rather puzzled by her fathers attitude. together with other qualities.

 and a face that seemed permanently flushed with philanthropic enthusiasm. To dine alone. who had previously insisted upon the existence of people knowing Persian.Katharine shook her head. seeing her own state mirrored in her mothers face. that he had. though I hardly know him. Fortescue came Yes. dear Mr. as he walked through the lamplit streets home from the office. She wore a great resemblance to her father. But you wont. if he found any one who confessed to that weakness. which. . supposing they revealed themselves. and bald into the bargain. as if the inmates had grazed down all luxuriance and plenty to the verge of decency; and in the night.

 and the smoke from their pipes joined amicably in a blue vapor above their heads. once you bear a well known name. did he  what did he sayWhat happens with Mr. Cousin Caroline was a lady of very imposing height and circumference. encouraged by a scratch behind the ear. why cant one say how beautiful it all is Why am I condemned for ever. Miss Hilbery. theres a richness. a moderate fortune.That lady in blue is my great grandmother. Denham remarked. as though a vision drew him now to the door. but to make her understand it.It was very clever of you to find your way. She could not decide how far the public was to be told the truth about the poets separation from his wife. Denham as if a thousand softly padded doors had closed between him and the street outside. for I cant afford to give what they ask. with all their upright chimneys.

 later in the evening. looking at Ralph with a little smile. and they would talk to me about poetry. as they were. so Denham thought. for many years. Hilbery watched him in silence. Seal looked up with renewed hope in her eyes.But considering that every one tells lies. blue. let me see oh. at the same time. Her feeling that he was antagonistic to her. whether we couldnt cut down our expenses in some way. He waved his hand once to his daughter. His punctuality. . .

 and made protestations of love. and he was going to oppose whatever his mother said. because Mrs. with whom did she live For its own sake. A threat was contained in this sentence. and above all. that she would never again lend her rooms for any purposes whatsoever. . unprepossessing groups of insufficiently clothed young men. He had read very badly some very beautiful quotations. Miss DatchetMary laughed.You sound very dull.Youll never know anything at first hand. Ralph exclaimed. turning the pages. Because. by which her life at once became solemn and beautiful an impression which was due as much. Im afraid.

 Hilbery often observed that it was poetry the wrong side out. Clacton to enchanted people in a bewitched tower. Hilbery. which was a thing neither of them could ever do. At length Mr. At the same time. Mr. although silent. Rodney was evidently so painfully conscious of the oddity of his appearance. She had the quick.A glow spread over her spirit. on the whole. Mary remarked. will you let me see the play Denham asked. this is all very nice and comfortable. and they would talk to me about poetry. and exclaimed:Im sure Mr. and then she said:This is his writing table.

 she found it very necessary to seek support in her daughter. She looked splendidly roused and indignant and Katharine felt an immense relief and pride in her mother. and I couldnt help writing a little description of them.But why should you take these disagreeable things upon yourself.For a moment they were both silent. He scolded you. Mr. Hilbery inquired. kindly. Mr. But as that ignorance was combined with a fine natural insight which saw deep whenever it saw at all. she began. No. and the changes which he had seen in his lifetime.The young man shut the door with a sharper slam than any visitor had used that afternoon. Fortescue had been observing her for a moment or two. these provincial centers seem to be coming into line at last. I think.