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diff --git a/33747-h/33747-h.htm b/33747-h/33747-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8375abf --- /dev/null +++ b/33747-h/33747-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,12495 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of An Engagement of Convenience, by Louis Zangwill + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + margin: 3em auto 3em auto; + height: 0px; + border-width: 1px 0 0 0; + border-style: solid; + border-color: #dcdcdc; + width: 500px; + clear: both; +} + +hr.hr2 { + width: 250px; + margin: 3em auto 3em auto; +} + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: #999; +} /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + .blockquot2 { + margin-left: 35%; + margin-right: 20%; +} + + .center {text-align: center;} + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +/* Transcriber Notes */ +div.tn { + background-color:#EEE; + border:dashed 1px; + color:#000; + margin-left:20em; + margin-right:20em; + margin-top:5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + padding:1em; +} + +ul.corrections { + list-style-type:circle; +} + +/* Poetry */ + .poem { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + text-align: left; +} + + .poem br { display: none; } + + .poem .stanza { margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; } + + .poem span.i8 { + display: block; + margin-left: 1em; + padding-left: 8em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + .signature { + text-align: right; + margin-right: 5%; +} + + .signature2 { + text-align: left; + margin-left: 30%; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's An Engagement of Convenience, by Louis Zangwill + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: An Engagement of Convenience + A Novel + +Author: Louis Zangwill + +Release Date: September 17, 2010 [EBook #33747] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ENGAGEMENT OF CONVENIENCE *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Pat McCoy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1><i>An Engagement</i><br /> +<i>of Convenience</i></h1> + +<p> </p> + +<h3><i>A Novel</i></h3> + +<p> </p> + +<h4><i>By</i></h4> +<h3><i>Louis Zangwill</i></h3> + +<h4><i>Author of "The World and a Man,"<br /> +"One's Womenkind," &c., &c.</i></h4> + +<p> </p> + +<h4><i>London</i></h4> +<h3><i>Brown, Langham & Co., Ltd.</i></h3> +<h4><i>78 New Bond Street, W.<br /> +1908</i></h4> + +<hr /> + +<div class="blockquot2"> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i8">"In tragic life, God wot,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No villain need be!"</span> +</div></div> + +<div class="signature2"> +<span class="smcap">George Meredith.</span> +</div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h1>An<br /> +Engagement of Convenience</h1> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<h2>I</h2> + +<p>Miss Robinson had first seen Wyndham and +fallen in love with him on the day that he +appeared in the road as a neighbour and set +up his studio there. But that was years before, +and she had never made his acquaintance. He +was the Prince Charming of the romances, +handsome, of knightly bearing, with a winning +smile on his frank face. From her magic +window in the big corner house where the road +branched off into two, she had narrowly observed +his goings and comings, had watched +eagerly all that was visible of his romantic, +mysterious profession—the picturesque Italian +models that pulled his bell, the great canvasses +and frames that, during the earlier years at +least, were borne in through his door, to reappear +in due course as finished pictures on +their way to the exhibitions—and it was sometimes + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +possible to catch glimpses of stately +figure-paintings and fascinating scenes and +landscapes.</p> + +<p>Then, too, there was the suggestion of his +belonging to a brilliant social world: she had +indeed felt that at her first sight of him. +Smart broughams and victorias in which nestled +stylish people not unfrequently drew up at his +studio about tea-time, and in the season he +could be seen going off every night in garb of +ceremony; not to speak of his occasional +departures—to important country-houses, no +doubt—with portmanteaus and dressing-bags +stacked on the roof of his hansom.</p> + +<p>And not less eagerly had Miss Robinson +followed his work, scanning the magazines for +his drawings, and haunting the galleries in the +search for his paintings. No one guessed how +much he was the interest of her life: her +parents had no suspicion at all, though they +knew of their unusual neighbour, and spoke of +him occasionally at table. But Alice Robinson +was the humblest of womankind. Her youth +lay already in the past: she accounted herself +the plainest of the plain. So she idealised and +worshipped her hero at a distance, feeling +immeasurably farther from him than the +hundred yards of respectable Hampstead pavement +that separated their lives.</p> + +<p>One morning at breakfast her father read +out from his paper the news of a sensational + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +bankruptcy. A world-famous house of solicitors +had fallen, and some of the first families +in England were losers. Immense trust funds +had gone for building speculations, and +amongst the fashionable creditors who had +been hit the worst were Mr. Walter Lloyd +Wyndham, the artist, of Hampstead, and +Miss Mary Wyndham, his sister. It seemed a +curious little fact to Mr. Robinson that this +affair should vibrate so near to them, and a +mild and not unpleasant stimulation was thereby +imparted to the breakfast-table. But Miss +Robinson was hard put to it to dissimulate her +deeper interest in the announcement. Her +agitation was profound, shattering: she was +glad to escape, and sit alone with her secret. +It seemed a sacrilege that earthly vicissitude +should touch this brilliant existence. And +thereafter she watched her hero more narrowly +than ever, reading in his bearing a stern defiance +of adversity.</p> + +<p>At first indeed there was little difference +visible in Wyndham's outward seemings, and +Miss Robinson was thankful that the calamity +had ruffled him so imperceptibly. Yet, as the +year went by, it began to dawn upon her that +things nevertheless were changing. She had +learnt to read with consummate skill all the +little activities that beat around the studio, +and it did not escape her attention that he +was going into society rarely, that smart + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +visitors were fewer, and that pictures were being +returned to him after astonishingly brief +intervals. And gradually, as if in corroboration +of her own conclusions, she found his work +missing from the exhibitions, and knew with +a sinking of her heart that his brilliant days +were waning.</p> + +<p>And as time further passed, and one year +merged into another, she realised definitely +that his vogue had ended. She could not even +find anything of his in the magazines, though +she purchased them prodigally, and searched +them through with a hope that was desperation, +and a fear that was well-nigh frenzy.</p> + +<p>The last year or two a dead unnatural calm +had settled over the studio. Pictures were +neither despatched nor returned: if models +rang the bell, it was only to turn away the +next minute with disappointed faces. Of +fashionable visitors there was never a sign +now: not even a comrade or fellow-artist came +to look him up. But only a tall, sad-faced girl, +who somehow resembled him, called there at +long intervals, and Miss Robinson envied this +sister the sympathy she could bring him.</p> + +<p>He did not leave London now. All through +the summer he kept in town, lying low, as +Miss Robinson could well see from the pallor +of his face on her return from her own conventional +holiday at the seaside. She could +cherish no delusions—he was a beaten man!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> + Time and again she brushed close to him, +passing him by chance in the street, and +observed the languor of his step, the growing +sadness of his features. Other details did not +escape her. There was no one to attend on +him; no one to care for him. Even a charwoman +was a rarity at last, and Wyndham +could be seen shopping almost furtively in the +adjoining streets, and bearing back his own +provisions to the studio. Miss Robinson divined, +under their wrappings, the tin of sardines, the +potted tongue, the loaf of bread. She knew +that he never took a meal out now, and that, +if he left the studio in the daytime, it was only +to escape from the misery of solitude and hopelessness.</p> + +<p>She alone observed him so minutely. Her +mother had in some degree shared her interest +in his work, and had sometimes accompanied +her to the galleries; but the common interest +of the family in their neighbour was casual and +fitful. Miss Robinson hardly dared mention +his name now: it seemed to her that to draw +attention to his poverty was to humiliate him. +Besides, she feared to reveal her own emotion.</p> + +<p>One day Miss Robinson's own life caught her +with a breathless upheaval. An honoured and +intimate friend of her father's, successful, opulent, +came forward with an avowal of esteem +for her; deferentially desired her association +with him in his second essay in matrimony! + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +Mr. Shanner seemed to spring it on her with +untempered abruptness; though the attentive +courtesies that had preceded the crisis might +have glimmered some little warning. But Mr. +Shanner's footing in the house was as old-established +as the rest of his appertainings; +and Miss Robinson's spirit was ever at the +nadir of diffidence. Men as a rule shunned her: +women cared as little to talk to her. That +anybody might ever wish to marry her had +seemed impossible, inconceivable. Mr. Shanner +had many pretensions to style, yet, to her +spoiled eye, he seemed merely of clay indifferent.</p> + +<p>She strung herself to the ordeal of refusing +him, though her real strength knew no faltering. +For he proved insistent; wooed her—soberly—decorously—as +became the dignity of five +decades completed; wooed her with reasons of +urgency, and implications of sentiment. He was +to depart on a mission to the New World; +wished to bear her promise with him. He +would treasure it; would think of the new light +to shine in his household. But within her lay +an unfailing inspiration, and her innermost soul +stood like a tower impregnable; though she +was all wounds and distress, and quivered with +the hurt. Was not her heart with her Prince +Charming? her one dream in life the privilege +of helping him?</p> + +<p>Mr. Shanner had to sail away disconsolate!</p> + +<p>But, though Miss Robinson's mind was occupied + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +day and night with this problem of Wyndham's +salvation, she could arrive at no plausible +solution. For how should she ever dare to give +him a sign? She who would have yielded her +life for him could only watch him drifting +downwards with an agonised sense of her +helplessness.</p> + +<p>And he all the while unsuspecting of this +obscure, loving historian of his existence; of +the warm heart that beat for him in these evil +days on which he had fallen!</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> +<h2>II</h2> + +<p>For hours the rain had beaten against his +windows, and at last, now that a lull had +declared itself, Wyndham dragged himself to +the door, and looked out into the gray afternoon. +His eye took in the familiar vista, but, +as it rested on the great bow-windowed house +at the corner where the road branched into two, +he turned away with a shudder. For years the +sight of that house had irritated him: its ugly +brick bulk had been symbolic of all Suburbia, of +everything in life to which he was instinctively +hostile as an artist and a gentleman.</p> + +<p>But presently he laughed: it had struck him +as comic that he should have preserved in its +freshness his full youthful contempt for all this +Philistine universe!—he, a half-starved devil of +an artist, down in the mouth, with a solitary +half-crown in his pocket, speculating with bitter +humiliation whether his hard-worked sister had +yet a little to spare for him, after all the life-blood +which, leech-like, he had sucked out of +her! Nay, more, he was conscious that his +distaste for this surrounding wilderness of + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +affluent homes, in the midst of which he had so +long dwelt as an isolated superior intelligence, +had grown more marked in direct proportion as +he had become poorer and poorer.</p> + +<p>The prosperous figure of the owner of the +bow-windowed house rose before him. Immersed +in his own existence, Wyndham had deigned to +notice very few indeed of his neighbours. But +old Mr. Robinson was one of the few, not only +because of the regularity with which he passed +the studio every day at six o'clock as he came +home from business, but also because he invariably +bore something in a plaited rush-bag that +had a skewer thrust through it, suggesting visits +to Leadenhall Market, and purchases of game or +salmon for the good wife according to season. +But Mr. Robinson's mild aspect, benevolent +white beard, and gentle amble had never impressed +Wyndham with much of a sense of +human fellowship. He might concede that the +old man was "a decent sort, no doubt, in his +own way"; but they were creatures belonging +to different planets.</p> + +<p>Still amused at his own disdain, though the +corners of his mouth were set a trifle grimly, +Wyndham turned back into the studio with the +idea of making himself presentable and going +to see his sister—since it now seemed possible to +get across town without the prospect of an +absolute drenching. Happily his wardrobe had +substantial resources: in the old days he had + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +kept it well replenished, and his simple life of +late here in the studio had made small demands +on it. Thus he could still go out faultlessly clad +and shod. Nobody need suspect his poverty, he +flattered himself, if he ever chose to dip into his +own world again. Only he did not choose; +there was always so much questioning to face. +"We've seen nothing of yours in the last two +or three Academies—when are you going to +give us another masterpiece?" "Still on the +big picture? How is it getting along?" However +genially thrown out, such usual interrogation +annoyed him beyond measure. It was so +long since anything had been "getting along." +On all sides he was regarded as a doomed man, +and suspected it: suspecting it, he was morbidly +sensitive. His life was unnatural and not worth +the living. Months and months had been wasted +in apathy. Each day he dreamt of a new lease +of energy and courage to begin on the morrow; +but, after making his bed and clearing away his +breakfast and purchasing his food for the day, +he would find himself dejected and incapable of +a single stroke.</p> + +<p>And yet he could not wholly realise the +change that had come over the scene. He +rubbed his eyes sometimes, as if expecting to +awake from an unhappy dream. Was not the +flourish of early trumpets still in his ears? +The dazzle of admiration still on his retina? +The gush of extensive and important family + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +connections still tickling his self-esteem? The +sweeter approval of a superior art-clique still +flattering his deeper vanity?</p> + +<p>He had been born with a silver spoon; his +childhood and youth had been ideally happy. +From the playing-fields of Eton he had passed +to the quadrangles of Oxford. A distinguished +student of his college?—not in the ordinary +grooves; yet favourably known as an intellect +with enthusiasms. Phidias was more of an +inspiration to him than Aristotle; Titian more +actual than Todhunter. Ruskin, Pater, Turner, +had stirred him; left his mind subdued to their +colours. From boyhood had been his the swift +skill with pencil that ran as easily to grace as +to mockery. And, left early arbiter of his own +existence, with gold enough for freedom, he had +made for the one career that called to him.</p> + +<p>Genius cannot prove itself at a stroke: it has +its adventurings to make. Seldom it realises at +the outset that it is adventuring in the dark, +therein to grope as best it may to self-discovery. +Even this first stage may be long deferred; yet, +however sure of himself at last, the artist has +still to tread the unending road with the great +light of self-realisation ever in the distance. +There are the years of strenuous search, of +faithful labour; of bitterest failure on failure +to bring the deep, mysterious impulses to bloom +and fruition. But there is yet another, if independent, +adventuring. The great light that + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +crowns the artist's journey shines only in his +own spirit. The world sees and knows nothing +of it. He has none the less to find his way into +that other light—the lurid, mocking limelight +of the world's acceptance; to seek a place beside +or beneath the charlatan. This is the bitterest +stage of all—- to stand shivering in marketplaces +that are knee-deep with dung and offal; +to be upholding precious things to the vision +of swine. What wonder if in the course of so +harsh a journeying, as he lives and breathes +in his own universe of striving, his precise +moral relation to things external grows dim, +intangible; and, if money one day give out, he +clutches at any crust for sustenance.</p> + +<p>Wyndham began his journeyings. His advantages +were many and obvious; his disadvantages +subtle and unseen. There was the danger that +facile talent and social prestige might bring him +an early delusive success; a failure, rightly seen, +however tricked out with glamour.</p> + +<p>His beginnings, indeed, were pleasant: it was +great fun throwing himself into this new queer +Bohemian world of art. He worked hard as a +student, the sheer interest of his labours lightening +them astonishingly. And, after some preliminary +swayings in varying directions, he at +last "found himself," as he supposed; developing +a dexterous imitative craft, and joining an +advanced crowd with Whistler and Sargent for +his deities.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> + Wherever he pursued his studies—in London, +or Paris, or Italy—there he was remarkably +popular. Everybody said: "Wyndham belongs +to very good people. They're swells—tip-top!" +And indeed he had obviously the stamp of being +"the real thing," and even the elect of Bohemia +were flattered and fascinated by personal association +with him.</p> + +<p>When ultimately he set up his studio here in +Hampstead, he had his policy definitely before +him. With the means and the leisure to aim at +a high career, he would make no concessions +to popularity or the market. He had chosen +the locality deliberately. It was London, and +within reach of the world; but not so near the +world as to endanger his labours. The little +tide of fashion that rolled up to his door was +not a tribute to fame, but merely the fuss and +interest of his non-Bohemian circle pleased for +a time with the novelty of having a studio +and a genius connected with them.</p> + +<p>So in the early years he worked enthusiastically, +and was able to win some footing in the +galleries. But, in the eyes of his numerous +family connections, he was seriously launched; +especially when a couple of his pictures at last +attracted buyers, and he moreover found himself +earning guineas from the patronage of friendly +editors whose humbler commissions he carried +out in the same spirit of the dignified, ambitious +worker.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> + Then the financial crash came, leaving brother +and sister entirely dependent on their labours. +Both met the crisis with commendable philosophy. +Mary, who had long before taken up +educational work as an amateur, was soon able +to establish herself as a professional, and had +taught ever since at a high school in Kensington; +picturesquely settling herself in a tiny flat in +an artisan's building, and living as a homely +worker. The dignity and serene simplicity of +her life had of late furnished the one ideal thing +for Wyndham's contemplation.</p> + +<p>Wyndham himself had stood up straight and +felt very strong; had reassured his fussy, +frightened folk that he could rely on his profession. +He felt in himself an endless ardour +for achievement, a confidence of triumph in the +contest with men. Nay, more, he would gain +his bread without descending from his high +standpoint! The task was fully as difficult as +he had anticipated; but at any rate he contrived +to live for a couple of years. Then, somewhat +to his surprise, the Academy began to return +his pictures; and somehow, to his greater surprise, +everything else went against him at the +same time. He could not even get "illustrating" +to do. Those who had acclaimed him +before because he was a "swell" were now +turning against him apparently for the same +reason. Your aristocrats were never to be +taken seriously; they were necessarily amateurs! + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +It was all so unanimous, so settled and +persistent, that it had almost the air of a conspiracy. +Wyndham saw well enough that +everybody had tired of his work, that he had +had his hour and his vogue; his career lay like +a squib that had blazed itself out. All bangs +and fizzings, and then a blackened bit of casing, +silent, extinguished! Yet he had the discernment +to recognise that the dying-down had been +really inevitable; that his present relative +poverty had little or nothing to do with it. He +had been dexterous on the surface, but the +sameness of his note—without even the saving +grace of convention—had destroyed him commercially.</p> + +<p>Well, he believed in himself, and he refused to +accept this erasure. On the contrary, he would +launch out more daringly than ever. An end to +facile imitation of other people's styles! He +must express his own deeper self. The strict +Whistlerian creed was much too narrow. Art +was not merely a bare abstract aesthetics: +humanity counted for something after all. +Was woman's loveliness something really apart +from woman herself? True that art meant +beauty—in the largest sense, of course; but why +should not humanity and beauty fuse together?</p> + +<p>So, scraping together all he could command in +the way of money, he set himself to work out +a large dramatic idea, suggested by the sight +of a May-day demonstration. The canvas was + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +gigantic, and he strove to depict a mob of +strikers straggling out of the Park after their +great meeting, with elements of fashion caught +in this <i>mêlée</i> of labour. The pictorial irony had +greatly interested him, and he felt that this +painting on the grand scale was being sincerely +born out of his own emotion, that it would +trumpet out a warning to the age.</p> + +<p>The beginnings were full of promise, and he +decided to stake everything on it. But for so +realistic a representation of Hyde Park Corner +he needed to make a great many sketches on +the spot. So, through the friendly offices of an +amiable acquaintance, he obtained access to a +convenient window in Grosvenor Place, and +made free use of the privilege. The master of +the house, a nobleman of the old school, who at +first sight seemed stately as the portraits in his +own dining-room, proved on acquaintance to be +singularly bluff and genial, sometimes almost +slap-dash. He had made Wyndham welcome +and at his ease, bidding him come and go as he +pleased, and "never to mind a bit about turning +the room into a studio." And this charming +nobleman had likewise a charming daughter, +who sometimes came for a minute or two to +talk to Wyndham and interest herself in the +sketches. Lady Betty was a brilliant figure of +a girl; had travelled a good deal and knew the +world. She was sunny and friendly, yet naturally +on a pedestal. She was clear-headed and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +capable; in the home supreme mistress. Wyndham +was the subject of many graceful little +attentions. If he came in the morning she saw +that his glass of sherry and biscuit was never +neglected; in the afternoon she presided over +tea in the drawing-room and expected him to +appear there.</p> + +<p>Of course poor Wyndham never dared tell +himself that he was in love with her. A girl +like that must naturally be reserved for a great +match, as regards both position and fortune. +He could not think of her save as presiding over +a plurality of palaces or voyaging in a magnificent +yacht. Palaces and yachts were not the +rewards of painters, so Wyndham kept his mind +sternly fixed on the purpose for which he was +there. Even so, the intervals between his +appearances grew wider and wider. And when, +after some couple of years of toil, discipline, +searching, it had come home to him that in this +terrible picture he had undertaken a task +beyond his strength and experience, he found +himself too shamefaced to "abuse" further the +courtesy that had been extended to him. The +consciousness, too, of his growing poverty was +becoming acuter and acuter. Already he was +drawing back into his shell, and, once he had +ceased going to Grosvenor Place for the sake of +his work, he had not the heart to continue his +visits as an ordinary acquaintance. More than +a year afterwards he read of Lady Betty's engagement + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +in the papers—it was the very match +one would naturally look for. Yet the news +"shattered him to bits"—absurdly enough, he +told himself, since he had known her at best +irregularly, and not in the ordinary course of +social intimacy. He was really half-surprised +at receiving an invitation to the wedding. He +could not prevail on himself to go; but, remembering +she had once admired one of his Academy +pictures, he sent her a photograph of it on a +miniature silver easel as a trifling wedding gift. +She wrote back a gracious acknowledgment, +which had since remained one of his treasures.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile he had been struggling on with +the picture, determined to conquer. But its +difficulties and problems were endless. After +all his toil it stood on his easel in a terribly +unfinished condition, though he had stinted his +own body to lavish his money on it. At last, +gulping down the humiliation, he was forced to +accept of Mary's little store of savings to pay his +rent and his models. It was his first step of the +kind, and he paid the full proverbial cost of it. +But he had still the hope of returning the loan a +thousandfold. Was not his success to redeem +her life as well as his?</p> + +<p>Certainly Mary believed in him and the picture, +and looked forward to its scoring a great +triumph. The whole heart and hope of the +sister centred on that vast canvas. She sometimes +ran across town to see it, though—poor + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +child!—Hyde Park Corner always looked the +same to her at every stage of its long creation. +But the picture was Wyndham's backbone; it +was his stock-in-trade before his world. He was +more and more of a recluse now, refusing all invitations, +discouraging his friends from coming +to interrupt him—as he put it. Certainly +Wyndham would rather have died than confess +to failure after all the magnificent trumpeting. +Even as it was, the time came soon enough +when the big picture no longer served to protect +his dignity. He imagined half-pitying glances +and ironic smiles, and so eventually he found +himself avoiding everybody without exception.</p> + +<p>It was only on Lady Betty's wedding day, +after more than three years of futile striving, +that he had the resolution to remove the great +canvas from the easel and stand it with its face +to the wall.</p> + +<p>He was tired now, but he must make an effort +to emancipate himself from Mary's exchequer. +Till then he could not hold his head up. So he +painted some smaller and pleasanter pictures, +but again he could do nothing with them. The +Academy sent them back, the minor galleries +sent them back, the Salon sent them back the +following year. The dealers offered less than +the cost of the frames. Meantime he had ceased +to count up the five-pound notes Mary had +starved herself to keep for him. He knew he +was a coward and dared not. He had reached + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +that stage of moral confusion which Nietzsche +registers as in the natural history of the artist-type, +and which may not be eyed too harshly +from the point of vantage of ordered and organised +existence in this outer universe. One idea +stood clear beyond all others; grew into his +mind; grew till it became his mind. He must +cling to his studio, hold desperately to this +atmosphere of paint and canvasses.</p> + +<p>He was getting on in years now—past thirty-three. +It was like the striking of a pitiless +clock, this adding of swift year after year to his +unsuccessful life. His hand began to fail him. +The necessity of now doing his own house-work; +of bothering with coals and cinders, preparing +his makeshift monotonous meals, pouring oil +into lamps, and boiling kettles, and washing +plates and teacups, had begun by encroaching +on his time and energies, and ended by absorbing +them altogether. The care of ministering +to his own primary needs had at last +superseded art as his profession. Even so, the +cobwebs multiplied and the dust lay thick.</p> + +<p>Months now slipped by, he scarcely knew +how; he was astonished to realise how time +might elude one, how a colourless day might be +trifled away without appearing to hold the +possibility of even a morsel of achievement. +Yet he still grasped the hope that something +would "arrive"—an unexpected magazine commission, +a request from a dealer. Ideas for a + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +new start would teem in his head as he lay tossing +on the narrow iron bed up in the gallery at +the end of the studio. Why not do some pretty +little things—to fetch ten guineas apiece, say—Cupids +playing amid wreathed flowers with pale +Doric structures in the background? If Mary +could manage just another few pounds for him, +he would have time to turn out a number of such +decorative trifles. Such things were in constant +demand and were a sure source of livelihood. +He had stood out long enough, much longer +indeed than he had had the right. He had consistently +worked on a basis of high endeavour, +but now he must withdraw his dignity and enter +on the pot-boiler phase. Better that than this +abominable leech-like existence. Continued +misfortune had befogged his wits, and this +last year certainly he had been half mad.</p> + +<p>So be it! He must wake up now, and no +longer lose his days in this stupid pottering +about!</p> + +<p>Every dog had his day, and his own turn +would come in time. He was an artist. He +felt it in his bones and blood. Art was his life +and destiny. He had blundered in attempting +too big a feat too early in his career, but he did +not intend that that should wreck his existence. +No, no! he would never throw up the sponge. +He would rather die than admit defeat, with all +those who knew him looking on at the game.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> +<h2>III</h2> + +<p>He dressed himself carefully to go to Mary's, +trying hard not to think of the real purpose +of his visit—he had merely informed her that +he would be in the neighbourhood and would +look in for a cup of tea. But, though it was +distasteful to dwell on these unending demands +on her earnings, he was anything but profligate +in spending them. He had spun out her previous +five-pound note so that it had kept him +going for weeks and weeks, and he had grudged +himself even a newspaper. In view of the +newly-projected work to tickle the dealers, he +regretted more than ever that he had not been +able to pull himself together sooner: in these +past precious weeks he might have knocked off +half a dozen of such pretty-pretty things.</p> + +<p>A series of omnibuses took him across London +to Kensington Church, where he descended, +presently turning out of the High Street. The +"Buildings" where Mary resided were in a side +alley at the back, and Wyndham made direct +for them. He walked straight in through the +large front door that stood perennially open, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +and followed the trail of muddy footmarks up +the worn stone stairway. On the third landing +he came to a stop, and pulled a bell half hidden +in the obscurity of a corner. The door opened, +and Mary stood before him. He could not help +seeing how unnaturally slim she appeared to-day; +how her simple stuff dress seemed to hang +loosely on her.</p> + +<p>"This is so good of you. I am so glad to see +you, dear." Her earnest face brightened with a +wistful yet pleasant smile.</p> + +<p>He stooped and kissed her, then followed her +into her tiny sitting-room. It was evidently the +home of a gentlewoman. With the shelf or two +of books, the escritoire, the few prints, and the +little trinkets and photographs she valued, she +had contrived to make a dainty little nest of it, +and all these simple things gave the place a +peculiar personal stamp. The table was laid +for tea, and the kettle sang on the fire.</p> + +<p>"You have had a dreary journey," she said, +as she gave him a chair.</p> + +<p>"No, the weather has been unexpectedly +kind," he reassured her. "The sun peeped out +just for one moment. I believe I was the only +person in London that noticed it: the rest of +the world were intent on other things. Have +you been keeping well?"</p> + +<p>"You forget I am just back from vacation."</p> + +<p>"Of course—I had forgotten," he laughed. +"How did you spend your time?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> + "I passed the first three weeks with Aunt +Eleanor, as I told you I should. We were a +big, merry party, and everybody made a great +fuss of your little sister." Again that wistful +smile. "They all spoiled and petted me shamefully."</p> + +<p>"Ah, that was good for you."</p> + +<p>"I am not so sure about that," she returned +thoughtfully. "I am certainly not used to the +sort of thing, and I really found it restful and +refreshing to go on to old Lady Glynn, who had +me to herself."</p> + +<p>"So that's your idea of a holiday—taking care +of paralytic, deaf old people whom everybody +else shuns like the plague." He shook his finger +at her. "And you call it restful and refreshing."</p> + +<p>"Service is the greatest of all happiness," she +answered gently. "Even as it is, I'm sadly +afraid I'm a sham and a fraud. I'm not really +a worker—in the same sense as others I know. +They have no fashionable friends with big houses +in the country."</p> + +<p>She brewed the tea and gave him his cup.</p> + +<p>"Do people inquire much about me?" he +asked, as the uncomfortable thought recurred +to him.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not of me," she returned. "You +neglect them, you refuse their invitations, they +never hear a word from you, and naturally they +suppose you wish to be quit of them all. And +so, no doubt, they feel it the proper thing not + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +to appear to wish to discuss you with your +sister." There was a pause. Both seemed lost +in thought for the moment. "And so you, poor +Walter, have had no holiday at all!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, well," he sighed. "I try to content +myself with the thought that I'm saving it up. +One of these days I daresay I shall go off to +Rome or Venice, and recuperate from several +points of view. I daresay a bit of luck will be +coming my way presently, and I'm keen on getting +back to Italy again. I've often planned it +out. A month or so at Paris, a couple of months +in the South of France, three at Rome, and three +at Venice—with a look-in at Naples some time, +of course."</p> + +<p>"What a lovely holiday that would be!" +He did not surprise her quick flash of longing. +Both remained pensive.</p> + +<p>"But tell me about everybody," he said at last. +"You see I take more interest in them all than +they suppose."</p> + +<p>"That's natural enough. After all, Hertfordshire's +your home."</p> + +<p>He winced visibly, half sorry that he had set +her mind in that direction. She, however, proceeded +to draw for him various pictures, and he +presently found himself listening with a deeper +eagerness than he had foreseen. She brought +him close again to his own world, uplifted him +in his own eyes: he had almost the sensation of +being restored to a sphere which it had been + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +more painful to abandon than he had ever +admitted. The minutes passed, bringing him a +warm, happy sense of social comradeship with +his sister. The little fire burned brightly, and +the feeling of the well-ordered nest was fragrant +and exquisite. He felt his bitterness softening +under its influence; a deep peace seemed to +surround him, filling the little haven, radiating +from Mary's wistful face, from her gentle smile +and voice. How thankful he was this terrible +London yet held her sympathy!</p> + +<p>"It is a great thing for me to have you to +come to, Mary," he broke in on her suddenly. +"It helps me tremendously."</p> + +<p>"Poor Walter!" she breathed. Her eyes +filled with tears.</p> + +<p>For a moment both were too moved to speak +again. But abruptly, as with a courage and +firmness long since resolved upon, she looked +straight at him.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you give it up, darling? This +art is ruining your life."</p> + +<p>He did not seem surprised at this sudden turn +of the conversation, though such a suggestion +had never before fallen from her lips. He took +her words as a cry of despair rather than an +attempt at a stern reckoning.</p> + +<p>"Why don't I give it up?" he echoed. +"That's an easy question to ask. The answer +is difficult. But I can't give it up. It is +impossible."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> + "It is not so impossible as it seems."</p> + +<p>"What can I turn to? I am fitted for +nothing."</p> + +<p>"Go to the Colonies. Labour on the soil—or +work with hammer and saw."</p> + +<p>"I am willing to labour, willing to face anything +in life. But, Mary—the confession of +failure—you don't see how deep, how mad the +pride is in me."</p> + +<p>"You have nothing to confess. The whole +world knows you are a failure. They talk +about it openly. They spare me as much as +possible, but I can't shut my ears."</p> + +<p>It was a staggering blow. "They despise +me!" he breathed.</p> + +<p>Her lips hesitated, clenched together, the +corners convulsed with pain.</p> + +<p>"They despise you!"</p> + +<p>He found his defence. "Because I have not +succeeded commercially." His voice was full of +scorn. "It matters little that these gross +Philistines misjudge me. They will yet regret +it. I shall yet show them that I am not so self-deceived +as they imagine. I am an artist—art +was born in my blood, art is my whole existence. +I shall stick to it till I fall dead. I ask you, +Mary, to believe in me a little longer."</p> + +<p>"Heaven knows I have never wavered in my +belief a moment. But it is not my belief that +can save you. You have made a brave attempt, +but you have been defeated. I am only facing + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +the simple facts. The present position seems to +me a hopeless one to start from. You have no +means behind you now, so what is there before +you save to go on in the same miserable way as +you have lived the last year or two? I see no +possibility of anything but repetition of the +same unhappy experience—the world is not +going to step out of its way for your sake. +And remember it has already made up its +mind about you."</p> + +<p>"Then I have lost your sympathy!" he exclaimed. +He stared gloomily into the fire.</p> + +<p>She saw now that the morbid sensibility of +the man who had failed would never face clear, +cold reason, however gently administered.</p> + +<p>"No, dear; you have not lost my sympathy. +Please don't think that," she pleaded. "Don't +you see I want to be a real friend to you; don't +you see that you are more to me than your +art?"</p> + +<p>"I must fight it out," he insisted. "To-morrow +I am starting a fresh lot of things—to +sell! I have always stood out for the big +accomplishment, but now I offer my labour in +the market. Pretty designs, prettily coloured—Cupids +and pearly clouds and wreaths of +flowers. The dealers will take them. You will +see, Mary, I shall manage to pull through yet."</p> + +<p>She shook her head incredulously. "Better +to give it up altogether before it is too late."</p> + +<p>"You can't mean it," he exclaimed. "You + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +have stood by me so long that I can't believe +you are going to turn against me."</p> + +<p>"I repeat that I care for you more than for +your art, and I cannot see you sacrificed. No, I +have not turned against you. I have been against +you all this long, unhappy time. To-day I am +your friend for the first time. Listen, darling. +When I got your letter yesterday, I knew that +things were as bad as ever, that you were at +your wits' ends again for money."</p> + +<p>He maintained a shamefaced silence, not +daring to make any pretence to the contrary. +She looked straight at him as she continued: +"I am sure you will be the last to think I have +ever considered the few pounds I have been able +to put aside for you—my heart's best affection +has always gone out to you with them. But the +whole of last night I kept awake, and prayed +for strength to refuse you any more money."</p> + +<p>He held his head down; he was too abased to +speak.</p> + +<p>"Strength has been granted me at last. You +are dear to me, and I will not help to continue +this unhappy state of affairs. Sell off your +studio, try your fortune in the Colonies, and you +will yet pull your life out of the mire."</p> + +<p>He rose, and took up his hat. "I daresay +you are right, Mary. But I am an artist. Art +is my life. Outside that there is nothing for me. +Don't think I am ungrateful for all you have +done. Goodbye!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> + "Goodbye, darling. Perhaps you will yet +think it over."</p> + +<p>He shook his head wearily and turned away, +not seeing that she had held her lips to him. +The next moment he was descending the muddy +staircase, slipping and stumbling on the bare +stone. He was conscious that Mary was standing +in the doorway a moment, but he did not see the +convulsive working of her face, nor know that +as soon as he was out of sight she had thrown +herself on her bed, heart-broken, her body shaken +in a terrible burst of sobbing.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> +<h2>IV</h2> + +<p>In the High Street Wyndham waited impatiently +for an omnibus to take him home +again. Instinctively he turned for refuge to +the bleak studio, from whose loneliness he had +so often been impelled to escape. But it was his +own corner, and all he had. He would not light +his lamp; he would lie there in the gloom till +his pain and self-abasement should have worn +themselves out. Merciful sleep might come; +perhaps—and the idea seemed sweet to him—the +sleep of all sleeps.</p> + +<p>So he possessed his spirit as best he could, +while the vehicle lumbered along through the +endless streets; shivering a little in the autumn +dusk as now and then a gust of wind arose. +The sky clouded heavily, and, when finally he +descended, the rain was falling swiftly again.</p> + +<p>At last he was at home! He thought of the +studio now with affection, and quickened his +pace feverishly. Then he became aware that a +familiar figure, holding a familiar rush-bag with +a skewer thrust through it, was trudging just +ahead of him in the growing darkness. But he + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +was not surprised at catching sight of Mr. +Robinson, since it was the regular hour of the +merchant's appearance after his homeward +journey from the City. As usual, Mr. Robinson's +house filled the centre of vision, looming vast at +the cross-roads, and softened in the evening +mist; and for the first time the figure plodding +towards it under the dripping umbrella struck +Wyndham as interesting and strangely human.</p> + +<p>Steadily, steadily, Wyndham gained on his +neighbour; then, acting on some vague instinct, +slackened his step so as not to have to pass him +to get to his own door. But just outside the +studio Mr. Robinson slipped, swayed, then came +to the ground heavily. Wyndham at once +hurried forward, and helped him to his feet.</p> + +<p>"You are not hurt, I hope?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"I think not," returned the old man. He +leaned against the studio door, whilst Wyndham +took the rush-bag from his clenched fingers, +and gathered up the umbrella from the gutter +into which it had rolled. Mr. Robinson surveyed +his soiled garments ruefully, and shook his head +sadly.</p> + +<p>"It <i>is</i> beastly," assented Wyndham.</p> + +<p>"It can't be helped," said the old man; +"though mud like this on a new suit of clothes +puts a hard strain on a man's philosophy." +There was a good-natured gleam in his eye and +a brave smile on his face. Wyndham found himself +unexpectedly attracted, and was much concerned + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +when Mr. Robinson tried to take a step +or two, but was pulled up painfully.</p> + +<p>"Pray, don't alarm yourself, sir," said Mr. +Robinson, as Wyndham caught at his arm +solicitously. "I am only a little bruised, and +have had rather a wrench. I must just breathe +for an instant."</p> + +<p>"Won't you come into my studio, and rest for +a moment or two?" suggested Wyndham. "I +shall be delighted if you will."</p> + +<p>He produced the key from his pocket, turned +it in the lock, and threw open the door. Then +he offered Mr. Robinson the support of his arm.</p> + +<p>"It is very kind of you, sir," said the old man, +as he linked his arm in Wyndham's. "My name +is Robinson. I live just up the road. I daresay +you may have noticed me: I have often noticed +you."</p> + +<p>"I am enchanted to make your acquaintance, +though I regret the particular circumstances," +said Wyndham, as they passed through the little +ante-room into the dim interior.</p> + +<p>"I cannot share your regret," returned Mr. +Robinson, with a touch of suave conviction. +"No, not even if the accident were more serious, +since I have been afforded the pleasure of knowing +you."</p> + +<p>Wyndham was surprised at the sweetness and +old-world courtesy revealed in the old man's +personality. "You are very kind," he said +with a smile. "I hope indeed I am worth so + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +pretty a sentiment. But please take this arm-chair."</p> + +<p>He pushed it forward, then set the rush-bag +down on the table, hastily throwing a serviette +over the litter of his last meal, which he had +not had the energy to clear away, and which +now brusquely offended his fastidiousness. But +as Mr. Robinson, good careful soul, hesitated to +soil the chair, Wyndham got a rag and wiped +away the more lurid splashes from his garments. +Then, whilst the old man rested, Wyndham +trimmed his lamp; and presently the glooms +vanished before a cosy illumination. Mr. Robinson +at once began to scrutinise the studio on +all sides with amusingly deep interest. The +old Normandy presses, the model's throne, the +giant easel, the well-worn Persian carpet, the +hosts of canvasses of all sizes standing with their +faces to the wall, the disorder and informality +everywhere—all seemed to strike for him a note +of youth and gaiety, to animate him with a sense +of a new romantic universe. His face lighted +with pleasure. He gazed up at the lofty roof +and the oak cross-beams that supported it, and +finally his eye rested on the little stairway and +gallery at the far end, now almost lost in the +shadows.</p> + +<p>"Is your bedroom up there?" he hazarded, +his naïve interest slipping out on his tongue.</p> + +<p>"Yes," smiled Wyndham, as he tackled the +dying fire. "It's the traditional arrangement."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> + "What a fascinating place you've got here! +It's all a new world to me."</p> + +<p>"Ah, it's a very ordinary sort of world—when +once you've settled down to work."</p> + +<p>"I have never known an artist before," +pursued the old man, "and it is all fresh to me. +I think that if I were a youngster again, I +shouldn't at all dislike having a place like this, +and making my home of it. Not that I mean +I should ever have made anything of an artist," +he added with a smile. "It's the spirit of the +thing that appeals to me. You must be very +happy here."</p> + +<p>"Not necessarily," said Wyndham. He saw +the old man's eyes fixed on him gravely. "You +see, I'm not one of your successful artists, and +the years have a way of passing on." He +struggled with the fire, making the sticks blaze, +then piled up the coals unsparingly. Mr. Robinson +was the only person in the world to whom +he had ever admitted failure, but somehow it +did not seem to matter.</p> + +<p>The old man gazed at him in frank astonishment. +"Why, you are in the prime of early +manhood!" he exclaimed. "Really it is most +extraordinary to hear a splendid young man +like you complain of the years passing!"</p> + +<p>"I'm thirty-three," volunteered Wyndham. +"And an unlucky devil of thirty-three, who has +as much trouble in getting rid of his work as I, +feels old enough in all conscience."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> + "But you artists have to expect these adverse +experiences," said Mr. Robinson. "Art of +course isn't like other things—it isn't exactly a +business or profession in the ordinary sense, and +so long as a man has the gift, he ought not to +get disheartened. In our business world, of +course, pounds, shillings and pence are everything, +but in the world of art it wouldn't do to +set up a standard of that kind."</p> + +<p>Such sentiments on the part of a Philistine +who came home every evening from the City +at six o'clock struck Wyndham speechless.</p> + +<p>"The struggle of genius is proverbial," Mr. +Robinson added, before the younger man could +find his tongue; "and genius wouldn't be genius +without it."</p> + +<p>"Ah, if I were only a genius!" said Wyndham, +laughing.</p> + +<p>"I am sure you are a genius," said the old +man very gravely. "I have often thought +what a clever face yours was. At home we +have often spoken of you."</p> + +<p>"I suppose then I must be a conspicuous figure +in the road. I had no idea of it!" Wyndham +laughed again.</p> + +<p>"You've been in the neighbourhood some +years now," said Mr. Robinson half apologetically; +"and neighbours naturally notice one +another. Besides, if I may say so, you are quite +unlike the ordinary run of people. You are not +the sort of man one sees in the City."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> + "You interest me. In what way do I differ +from others?"</p> + +<p>"You have the stamp of belonging to leisured +people; it is plain from your walk and bearing, +from your voice and manner of speech. And +then there is something about your clothes even—I +don't quite know what." The old man's +eyes rested on him with a sort of approval and +satisfaction.</p> + +<p>Wyndham was amused. "You are really an +original character," he exclaimed. "I like you."</p> + +<p>Mr. Robinson smiled with gratification. "I +more than return the compliment, I can assure +you."</p> + +<p>"But pray go on," said Wyndham. "I believe +you're a wizard. I must get you to cast my +horoscope."</p> + +<p>Mr. Robinson raised his hands. "I don't +think I could manage that," he laughed. "I am +only a quiet observer of my fellow-men. In the +present case it is very easy to see that yours is +the face of a gentleman by birth. There is a +certain composure in your whole style. Whatever +you had to face, you would never have +that appearance that men get in the City—of +wearing themselves out."</p> + +<p>"Better to wear out than to rust out," said +Wyndham meditatively. "I rust out."</p> + +<p>He was astonished at his own frankness. +But there was a deep pleasure in being natural +for once, in throwing off the cover of sham and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +pretence that had characterised his intercourse +with his kind in the past. He did not even +consider it was strange that the person he +should be baring himself to so freely was one +whose existence hitherto he had merely +deigned to notice. But nothing could exceed +Mr. Robinson's amazement at this last profession +of his.</p> + +<p>"Rust out!" The old man's eyes opened +wide. "Why, you have done an immense +amount of work!" He waved his hand significantly +towards the army of canvasses ranged +against the walls.</p> + +<p>Wyndham affected to be impressed by the +consideration. "Yes," he admitted; "I have +used up a considerable amount of material in +my time, I must admit." He had suddenly +perceived that Mr. Robinson was largely discounting +his ingenuous frankness, and was +really taking his profession of failure, which, +as it happened, he had thrown out in an offhand +way, as rather affectation than literal +truth.</p> + +<p>"And no doubt will be using up still larger +amounts in the future." The old man smiled +and rose. "But I am taking up your time!"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," Wyndham assured him. "I +hope you have quite recovered now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, quite," returned Mr. Robinson. "I had +altogether forgotten the little accident in the +pleasure of our conversation."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> + There was a pause. "I am sorry there's no +light," said Wyndham; "else I should show +you some of my work—that is, if you cared +to see it."</p> + +<p>The old man looked eager. "Couldn't you +make the lamp do?" he exclaimed. "I'm sure +it would give me a very good idea of your pictures. +But I am presuming on your kindness."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," protested Wyndham.</p> + +<p>He began to move about the studio, conscious +of a new energy. Somebody was here to +appreciate him; somebody desired to see his +work, was looking up to him in admiration! +He felt strangely rejuvenated—it was as if he +had taken a dose of some wonderful elixir. He +selected half a dozen of the smaller pictures, and +brought them forward. Then, as he wheeled +the great easel into position, the whim took +him to see how his huge "masterpiece" looked +after all this long interval of time.</p> + +<p>For, since he had stood it with its face to the +wall on Lady Betty's wedding-day, he had never +had the heart to glance at it again. Not merely +failure and wasted years were associated with +it, but it stirred memories of the hours he had +spent at Grosvenor Place in the first freshness +of his hopes, when he had worked with the +passion of youth. Then, too, there was the +silent drama that had played itself out in the +depths of his own spirit. Looking back, it +seemed to him that no man could ever have + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +cherished a more hopeless love, or have encountered +a more inevitable one. Nor had the +lapse of time softened the bitterness of that +strange romantic chapter. Lady Betty's figure +and personality would remain with him as his +ideal of woman for the rest of his life; and he +clung to the memory of his hurt as typical of +his whole fortune.</p> + +<p>But though the thought of the picture to-night +inevitably stirred up some of these old +emotions, there was joined to them a sudden +overwhelming curiosity. What would be his +impression at the first glance? Would all its +deficiencies and crudities stand out in relief, and +make him turn away from it in sickness and +loathing? Or would it strike him, however +unfinished it might be, as having yet promise in +it, as justifying some at least of the time—nay, +even life-blood—he had consecrated to it?</p> + +<p>"What a huge thing!" ejaculated Mr. +Robinson, as Wyndham tilted it back from +the wall.</p> + +<p>"It <i>is</i> tremendous," smiled Wyndham. "I'm +afraid I shall have to ask you to give me a hand +with it."</p> + +<p>Together they carried it to the easel, and +Wyndham hoisted it to its old place. "I don't +know whether we shall be able to make head +or tail of it," he said; "but I'll do what I can +with the lamp. As you see, it's a powerful one."</p> + +<p>"Of course I don't profess to be a connoisseur + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +of oil paintings," Mr. Robinson warned him. +"But I know what I like, though I daresay you +will think me extremely benighted."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," protested Wyndham; "I shall +value your opinion highly." He worked away +at the little wheel at the back of the easel as he +inclined the canvas at the most favourable +angle, whilst the old man watched the process +fascinated.</p> + +<p>The next moment Wyndham was holding the +big lamp high in the air, and carefully illumining +the surface of the picture. For a +moment everything before his eyes was blurred, +and he could see nothing at all; but he stood +his ground firmly, and gripped the lamp heroically. +And before the mist could clear he heard +Mr. Robinson's voice rise in admiration.</p> + +<p>"Wonderful!" exclaimed the old man, his +tone vibrating with an immense conviction; and +at that moment Wyndham received the picture +full on his vision and felt at once he had there a +basis that could be worked up into a splendid +achievement.</p> + +<p>"The crowd of strikers with their banner is +the most life-like thing I've ever seen. Wonderful!" +Mr. Robinson gazed and gazed, his interest +overflowing into a running comment. "It's +Hyde Park Corner! Why, of course—there's +the Duke of Wellington's house, and there's +Lord Rothschild's. Marvellous! What a variety +of faces and characters! And the old fellow + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +there in the corner—what powerful features +full of despair! And the old woman with the +red shawl—she hasn't had a morsel of food, poor +creature, for twenty-four hours, I'll wager. +Why don't you leave her alone, you old ruffian +of a policeman! And then that fashionable lady +in her brougham with her over-fed poodle—what +contempt on her face for all these +artizans! How real everything is—the perspective +is grand! Why, you could take a walk +out there in the distance! Marvellous! It +doesn't need an art education to see that's a +work of genius."</p> + +<p>Wyndham stood listening in elation, though, +in his own perception of the work just now, he +felt as aloof from it as if it had sprung from +another's labours. His brain seemed emancipated +from the tangle of its old problems and all +his old flounderings. And as Mr. Robinson continued +his admiring ejaculations, Wyndham put +in now and again a word of explanation, +drawing attention to a point here and there, +though this was at first rather by way of +soliloquy than conversation. But, presently, as +he moved the lamp to and fro, up and down, he +warmed to the occasion; even enlarging on his +pet ideas, and pointing out where he had failed +to realise his own scheme and formula. Mr. +Robinson listened, wholly absorbed and fascinated +by these new horizons that opened before +him. His respect and worship for art was + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +contagious: Wyndham began to worship it +more himself.</p> + +<p>And the younger man grew eloquent, expatiated +on the old art and the new, on +academies and masters, on realism and symbolism, +on plein air and sunlight, on colour and +technique. And as he spoke, he was enchanted +with his own voice. It was splendid to feel +himself speaking again after all this long +suppression—he was realising the strength and +infallibility of his own artistic convictions. +Never before had he felt so sure of his conceptions; +his former humility had only led to +confusion and hesitation. In future, his own +mind should dominate—he would not be blown +about by all these conflicting schools and critics.</p> + +<p>He was conscious of standing more vigorously +upright; and, as he enlarged on the picture, he +seemed to get a new and sure hold of it, seeing +more and more the potentiality of a great and +powerful structure that no Academy could dare +refuse to recognise. He saw now that his long +interval of hibernation had not been unfruitful. +And it had made a necessary sharp division +between the two parts of his life—the first, +uncertain, stumbling, unsuccessful; the second, +confident, mature, triumphant.</p> + +<p>The picture before him was transformed. +Problems that had baffled him seemed to solve +themselves in a flash. Effects he had vainly +sought through maddening months stood at + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +once revealed, flowing naturally out of what he +had already set down. His hand longed to be +wielding the brush again.</p> + +<p>"But if I may make the remark," interposed +Mr. Robinson at length; "it seems matter for +surprise that a gentleman like you should be +attracted to the choice of such a subject. I +should hardly suppose that you have ever come +into any real contact with labour, and workmen +on strike would therefore scarcely come within +the sphere of your sympathy."</p> + +<p>"The artist is of universal sympathy," said +Wyndham gravely, and himself believed it. At +that moment he felt his endless sympathy +spreading itself out, embracing all creation. +"And then it was not only the humanity of the +scene that touched me, and inspired me to +attempt to put it down finely and greatly; +there was also the pure art part as it appealed +to the trained vision—the splendid difficulties to +be vanquished, the opportunities for draughtsmanship +and subtle colour, the sense of far-stretching +space to be produced from only a +narrow gamut of light and shade."</p> + +<p>"Marvellous!" echoed Mr. Robinson again.</p> + +<p>"But if I may make the remark in my turn," +said Wyndham, "your sympathy with labour +surprises me equally."</p> + +<p>"Why so?" asked Mr. Robinson.</p> + +<p>"The natural antagonism between capital and +labour!" smiled Wyndham.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> + "Oh, I started as a poor boy—right at the +foot of the ladder," explained Mr. Robinson. +"My father was a carpenter. Wages were low +in those days, and prices of all necessaries were +high. I remember in my childhood we had a +pretty hard time of it. In my own firm we +share the profits with all the employees. So +you see I'm rather partial to labour so long as +it's decent and reasonable. When I think of +my own struggles, I like to see every man get +fair opportunities. When a man has no particular +talent—such as myself, for instance—it +is ever so much the harder to go through discouragements. +But, at the worst of times, it +must be a great thing for a gifted man like +yourself to be conscious of his own powers."</p> + +<p>"So you set up to have no particular talent!" +explained Wyndham. "You amuse me. Haven't +you made your fortune unaided? I confess that +that seems to me the most difficult thing in the +world—immensely cleverer than anything in +the way of art or painting."</p> + +<p>Mr. Robinson laughed. "Now you're making +fun of me."</p> + +<p>"I was never more serious in my life," insisted +Wyndham, now wheeling forward a +smaller easel, in order to display the pictures he +had at first selected. "I consider it frightfully +clever to make money."</p> + +<p>"My dear sir, fools often make money," Mr. +Robinson assured him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> + Wyndham shook his head incredulously. +"Do you care much about this landscape?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"Very much indeed. It is so green and fresh +and airy, and those are grand old trees."</p> + +<p>"It's our old home in Hertfordshire. I lost +the property and a modest fortune through a +rascally set of lawyers."</p> + +<p>Mr. Robinson's face expressed deep concern. +"Yes, I remember the affair well," he said. "I +remember reading it over the breakfast-table +to my wife and daughter. We saw your name +among the creditors. It was a bad business."</p> + +<p>"They had managed all our family concerns +for thirty years."</p> + +<p>Wyndham was now wound up to enter into +more personal matters than he had so far +touched upon. As before, he was perfectly +frank, recounting in the intimacy of the moment +all the details of this financial catastrophe. He +spoke freely of his relations in the country, and +of his sister Mary, and the independent way in +which she was earning her bread; passing from +canvas to canvas the while, and breaking off +frequently to discuss the paintings.</p> + +<p>At last they had gone through all the selection, +but the unfailing appreciation of his visitor +was so pleasant to the artist that he could not +help bringing forward two or three more, and +then finally another. And still yet another +after!—like the preacher's "one word more."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> + "I have passed a very happy time here with +you," the old man declared, as Wyndham restored +the lamp to its usual place on the table. +"You see I was right; the occasion was well +worth the accident that brought it about."</p> + +<p>"Happily you were not really hurt. So all's +well that ends well."</p> + +<p>The old man took hold of his rush-bag. "I +mustn't forget my middle of salmon," he smiled. +"I generally fetch something home for my wife—some +game or fish fresh from the market."</p> + +<p>"You make me wish <i>I</i> had a husband in the +City," sighed Wyndham.</p> + +<p>Mr. Robinson laughed. "Well, I suppose I +must make up my mind to be off, else my wife +and daughter will be wondering what has +become of me."</p> + +<p>Wyndham came forward hurriedly. "I hope +I have not been keeping you," he murmured. +Somehow he did not like being left alone now. +The old man's coming had saved him for the +time being from the clutch of a terrible despair, +and he saw it waiting to descend swiftly on him. +The half-hour of self-respect would vanish like +an illusion.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Robinson's voice was breaking in on +his mood again.</p> + +<p>"Would it be presuming too much on our +slight acquaintance if I suggested——" The old +man hesitated with an evident shyness that +was very winning.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> + "Pray suggest anything you like," said +Wyndham.</p> + +<p>Thus encouraged, Mr. Robinson launched out +boldly. "Would you come home and dine with +us—quite without ceremony. We're the simplest +of people, but we shall offer you the heartiest of +welcomes."</p> + +<p>"That is very kind of you," said Wyndham. +"I should not be deranging your household?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure my wife and daughter will be as +delighted to see you as I am. Will you not +come home with me now—in a simple, friendly +way?"</p> + +<p>"Since I am to meet ladies," smiled Wyndham, +"I should like to make myself presentable. I +have just been across town, and in this filthy, +murky atmosphere one gets to feel so utterly +unclean."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; am I not in the same plight +myself?" smiled Mr. Robinson.</p> + +<p>Wyndham escorted him to the door, and the +old man again thanked him for the pleasure +the visit had afforded him.</p> + +<p>"We dine at half-past seven," was his parting +reminder, and Wyndham, promising faithfully +to be punctual, closed the door after him.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> +<h2>V</h2> + +<p>But his visitor had no sooner departed than +Wyndham experienced a sharp revulsion of +feeling. How stupid to have accepted this +invitation! His isolation in this suburban +wilderness had always afforded him a certain +satisfaction—he had consistently maintained +his magnificent want of interest in all this +Philistine population. His studio was his +castle, and if he chose to starve therein it was +at least a mitigation of his misery to be able to +do so without the sense of others' eyes prying at +him. And now he had surrendered his privacy. +The indiscretion was really inexplicable! And +he had let his tongue run on so recklessly and +confidentially! He might even have drawn +back at the very last—alleged an engagement, +and cut short the acquaintanceship there and +then. Perhaps it was not yet too late!</p> + +<p>In his annoyance he started pacing the length +of the studio. But the great canvas, still +glistening there on the easel, suddenly claimed +his attention again, and brought him to a standstill. +Impulsively he caught up the lamp, and +once more directed its light on to the surface. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +The picture took deep hold of him, and he stood +absorbed in it. And somehow Mr. Robinson's +wondering voice began to sound its praises. +"Marvellous!" the old man seemed to be saying. +"It doesn't need an art education to see that's +a work of genius." And as he recalled each +stroke of admiration, he nodded his head in +agreement.</p> + +<p>Was not the old man's appreciation of good +augury? Surely it foreshadowed a popular +Academy success. Whatever one's personal +art ideals, it did not detract from their worth +if one could carry them out and please the +crowd at the same time—incidentally, of course—without +deliberate intention. Did not +Molière first try his comedies on his housekeeper? +Mr. Robinson's tastes were the tastes +of the great public—nay, of even the better +classes that went to the galleries. Like him, +they dwelt entirely on the illustrative aspect of +painting, and were altogether swayed by the +humanity of a picture, by its dramatic or anecdotal +interest. No wonder some of his fellow-craftsmen +had been driven to the opposite +extreme, and tried to rule out humanity altogether. +But the human side of art need not +be necessarily on a low plane, or descend to +mere anecdote. In his hands art should be +the vehicle of real intellect and emotion.</p> + +<p>If only he were not forced to do those idiotic +trifles! After holding out so long, to capitulate + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +absolutely for want of bread! No, he would not +dine with Mr. Robinson—he would starve rather!</p> + +<p>"Better to starve than stoop to inferiors!" +he exclaimed, as he set down the lamp again. +How little, indeed, he had eaten all that day! +And with the thought a distressing weakness +came over him. There was a humming at his +temples: the studio disappeared in a mist, then +reappeared oscillating. He was constrained to +steady himself by clutching at the table.</p> + +<p>In a minute or two the vertigo passed off, +leaving him with a dull craving for food and +drink. He might make some sort of a meal +from such poor provender as his larder afforded—a +portion of a loaf, the remainder of a tin of +sardines, a hunk of cheese; but somehow the +prospect was singularly uninviting. He might, +indeed, add variety to the store by laying out +his last shilling in the streets adjoining, but the +shilling was too precious, and anyway he had +not the energy to go shopping. There swam up +before him the picture of a well-lighted, comfortable +dining-room with a heavily laden table, +and of a middle of salmon, piping hot, that was +being served with a dainty white sauce. And +then there were hosts of bottles on a mahogany +sideboard: fat, gold-tipped bottles; tall, long-necked +bottles; fantastic twisted bottles. Good +well-cooked food was nourishing him, a delicate +wine was moistening his feverish palate, touching +his whole dull self to a lighter mood.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> + He had accepted the invitation. The Robinsons +were expecting him, would be troubled and +put out if he did not arrive. He carried the +lamp up to the gallery, and began his preparations. +And then the whim took him to change +his clothes again. Not that he supposed the +Robinsons affected to be fashionable of an evening, +but the pride of the half-starved man rose +in irrational self-assertion.</p> + +<p>So he dressed carefully, tying his bow to +perfection, and arranging the set of his waistcoat +fastidiously. It was so long since he had +put on evening clothes, and as he saw himself in +the glass, well set up, and bearing himself +exquisitely, the fact of his poverty seemed +absurd and incredible. His face, too, seemed +to have recovered some of its olden confidence +as he scanned it critically. True the cheeks +were a trifle thin and shrunken, but the lines +of dejection and sadness had lightened at the +new stirring within him.</p> + +<p>Then for the first time in all these years he +made his way up the road to the ugly house at +the corner that had stamped itself upon him as +the symbol of all Suburbia, as the stronghold of +a type of life that Bohemia mocked at and +Belgravia waved aside as impossible.</p> + +<p>If he had not yet entirely overcome his +distaste, it was at least mitigated by a splendid +sense of condescension.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> +<h2>VI</h2> + +<p>A handsome Phyllis, in cap and apron, opened +the door, and Wyndham stepped into a broad +corridor, carpeted in red, and hung with +popular engravings that he had seen in the +windows of all the carvers and gilders in +London. Next, he was ushered under a +crimson door-hanging into a resplendent +drawing-room, lighted by a dazzling crystal +chandelier, and sensuously warmed by a great +red-hot fire. There was nobody to receive him +yet, and he was left to amuse himself with the +show-books on the tables—padded photograph +albums full of old-fashioned naïve people posing +against rococo backgrounds, collections of views +of the Valley of the Thames and of the Lake +District, and richly bound volumes of Tennyson +and Sir Walter Scott.</p> + +<p>The interest of these treasures was soon +exhausted, and Wyndham, sinking into a +remarkably soft arm-chair, impatiently beat +with his foot at a cluster of roses on the +brand-new "Aubusson" carpet. The room +was almost triangular, a large bow window +commanding the vista of the main road, and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +pairs of other windows, straight and tall, +overlooking the streets that branched on either +hand. And all these windows were elaborately +draped in a would-be Renaissance style, with +many loops and festoons, and with big gilt +cornices above. And between each pair of them +stood a gilded consol table surmounted by a +mirror that reached to the ceiling. Oval +mirrors with lighted candles in sconces glittered +from several points of vantage, and crimson +couches and the immense piano completed +the tale of splendours.</p> + +<p>At length the door opened softly, and Mr. +Robinson entered. Wyndham rose, not displeased +to observe that his host was likewise +in evening clothes; as he had been already +regretting the self-assertion to which he had +yielded.</p> + +<p>"Ah, you are in good time," said the old man, +coming forward in his quiet, gentle way, and +shaking hands again. "I am sorry to say that +my wife and daughter are not down yet."</p> + +<p>His tone was apologetic, and Wyndham +smiled, readily understanding that the announcement +of a guest to arrive had scared +the ladies to a more elaborate toilette than +usual.</p> + +<p>"They were enchanted when I told them you +were coming," Mr. Robinson continued. "As for +commiseration over my fall—not a word!"</p> + +<p>The two men had conversed for some few + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +minutes before the hostess and her daughter +came sweeping into the room; and, as he had +half expected, Wyndham found he knew them +more or less vaguely by sight. Mrs. Robinson +was a tall dame, fully sixty, with gray hair, and +a most amiable expression; stately, even handsome, +in her black silk dress with its tasteful +lace at the throat and wrists. The daughter +who followed rather shyly behind her gave +Wyndham the impression that he was beholding +the most simple, homely person he had ever met; +and this despite the complexity of her costume, +which seemed to be built up almost entirely of +old lace that lay over itself in thick folds and +rich creamy masses. Timidity of temperament +and modesty to the verge of self-distrust were +at once suggested by the almost awkward +constraint of her bearing and the quiet, half-averted +glance of her dark eyes. He could +see that she hardly dared look at him. He +gallantly supposed that she was a year or +two younger than himself, and as he met her +desperately friendly smile (intended for him +but hardly bestowed in his direction) with his +choicest bow, he received a further impression +that was distinctly more favourable than the +first of unrelieved plainness. For, once his eye +had taken in her features, the artist in him was +ready to do justice to her throat and arms, +which were really good: and her dark hair, her +greatest glory, lay in a superb coil, which, with + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +a surprising touch of coquetry, was set off by +a velvet band and some lilies of the valley. +It was curious that the figure of Lady Betty +should swim up before him just then, as if to +emphasise his real ideal of woman's beauty, and +to make him feel once for all how impossible +it was ever to step down from that standard. +But he could not help smiling covertly at the +thought that the family were making such a +serious business of so casual an invitation—these +toilettes were really so very much more +elaborate than anything he might conceivably +have looked for; though at any rate it reassured +his pride in the fullest degree—evidently, his +frank admissions to Mr. Robinson notwithstanding, +they were not taking him as a poor +devil of an artist, but were looking up to him +with a perfect appreciation of the respect that +was his due.</p> + +<p>Wyndham's presentation to the ladies over, +there followed an instant of general embarrassment. +Mrs. Robinson smiled again, and quickly +tried to make conversation.</p> + +<p>"How pleasant to become acquainted at last, +after being neighbours so many years!" she +murmured. "And so unexpectedly, too."</p> + +<p>"When the unexpected does happen," said +Wyndham, "it generally is delightful. I suppose +that's because most of us in this hard life +get into the habit of expecting only the opposite +sort of thing."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> + Miss Robinson laughed shyly, whilst her +mother seemed somewhat puzzled.</p> + +<p>"They say that the unexpected always happens," +ventured the younger woman tremulously. +"I'm sure the proverb must be wrong, because +nice things happen so seldom." Her voice was +soft, vibrating with gracious amiability.</p> + +<p>"I disagree with Mr. Wyndham," said her +father. "I was not at all expecting to slip +down. When the unexpected happened, I am +bound to say I did not find it delightful."</p> + +<p>They all laughed; and then Mrs. Robinson +resumed the interrupted tenour of her discreet, +agreeable way. She herself had often thought +how pleasant it would be to know him; but in +London one could live for ever so many years +and yet know absolutely nothing of one's next-door +neighbour. In the country, of course, +things were different: there etiquette was more +human, and people called of their own accord. +Was Mr. Wyndham exhibiting anything just +now? They had seen pictures of his in the +Academy in past years, and were great admirers +of his. Wyndham was by now too faint and +exhausted to do more than hold his own in a +smiling, conventional way: the splendours of +the room, too, dazzled him to the verge of confusion. +He was thankful when Phyllis appeared +with the announcement that dinner was served; +and Mr. Robinson, giving his arm to his daughter, +led the way across the hall, under another + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +crimson door-hanging, and into a long dining-room, +wherein was set out a great table with +flowers and fruit and silver. The covers were +laid at one end, which gave the dinner an air +of informality and family intimacy.</p> + +<p>A glass of sherry at the start revived +Wyndham considerably, and soon he fell to +conversing at his ease. Presently he found +he was somehow taking the lead, and their +evident respect and admiration for his lightest +word made him clearly perceive that he was +an important and brilliant figure for them. +Such grains of resentment as he still cherished +at having entered on the acquaintanceship were +dying away. Meanwhile the seductive prevision +of material joys that had risen before +him at the studio at that moment of physical +weakness was being literally realised, almost +comically so. There on the immense mahogany +sideboard stood bottles and decanters galore, +and now up came the middle of salmon with a +piquant sauce accompanying it! God! how +delicious it tasted, after all these months of +bread and cheese! Wine gave him inspiration, +and food the strength to live up to the rôle +they were allotting to him. He was good-looking +and knew it; his voice, his bearing, +his choice of words, were alike distinguished; +his experiences were of worlds that were to +them far-seeming and romantic. He was the +sort of hero they had read about in novels—a + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +handsome guardsman nonchalantly looking +in at a Park Lane dance at midnight, or a +brilliant attaché to an embassy in touch with +wonderful horizons.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the supply of dainty food continued; +a leg of lamb, spinach, fat, luscious +asparagus, a melon from a Southern clime, a +chicken, and the juiciest of French lettuces. +The hock was of the most delicate, the champagne +subtle and sparkling. Even so he felt +himself sparkling in the eyes of the others. +He was the lion to whom all this homage was +his rightful due, holding them fascinated with +his wide knowledge of men and cities, of social +life in European capitals. He drew upon his +wanderings in by-ways known only of artists; +fascinated them with sketches of the art life +of Rome and Paris. Reminiscences bubbled +up of his student days, and with them were +mingled deft touches of Eton and Oxford, and +charming cameos of county life; this last developing +insensibly into discussions of Anglo-Saxon +character, its comparison with the Latin, +relative estimations of intelligence, industry, +ambition. Mr. Robinson here had many shrewd +observations to offer, for they had now wandered +into the domain of affairs. Wyndham +was genuinely interested in his host's experiences, +in his accounts of unusual men of +business from strange, even barbarous parts of +the world, with whom he had had personal + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +relations. They even touched upon financial +operations; and Wyndham felt perfectly at +ease amid complications in which millions were +bandied about like tennis-balls, and the credit +of banks and States was pawned as simply and +swiftly as he might pawn his own watch. At +last, over the dessert, there was a perceptible +slackening. Wyndham, who so far had taken +care not to let his eye rest on the many heavy-framed +"oil paintings" that hung on the walls, +for fear some discussion of them might thence +arise, was now incautious enough to fix his gaze +markedly on some sheep pasturing just opposite +him. But Mr. Robinson seemed to welcome +the opportunity thus afforded.</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course I know you won't find any of +<i>those</i> things worth glancing at," he threw out +with a laugh; and the others chimed in, highly +amused at the thought of the impression "the +things" must be making on their guest.</p> + +<p>"Oh, some aren't at all half bad," conceded +Wyndham politely, his eye now promenading +freely. "The girl with the mandoline is laid +in with rather a charming touch, and the fruit-and-flower +piece is really decorative."</p> + +<p>"We always considered those two the best," +declared Mr. Robinson. "I bought them at an +auction in the City, many years ago now—more, +in fact, than I care to remember."</p> + +<p>Wyndham still affected to be examining the +collection.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> + "Now, of course," resumed Mr. Robinson, +"that Highland scene is the merest pot-boiler—a +stream in the middle, a mountain on one +side, and a cow on the other. I've seen hundreds +of them for sale. But it's not likely I +shall ever be taken in again that way, especially +after examining the work I saw at your +studio, Mr. Wyndham."</p> + +<p>Wyndham inclined his head smilingly, and +Mr. Robinson duly proceeded to describe to the +others the great masterpiece which that afternoon +he had had the privilege of inspecting. +His memory of the details proved to be extraordinarily +minute, and his face glowed all over +again with the wonder and enthusiasm he had +displayed at the studio. "The figures, the +faces," he wound up, "were simply marvellous. +I can't give you the faintest idea of how magnificent +it all is. I could spend hours looking +at it."</p> + +<p>Wyndham could do no less than suggest that +the ladies should come and see the picture for +themselves, though just then a whiff of unpleasant +thoughts urged on him again the imprudence +of such further social developments.</p> + +<p>"We shall be only too delighted; it will be +a great pleasure," exclaimed Mrs. Robinson, +and Miss Robinson's eyes shone with unmistakable +excitement.</p> + +<p>"We must really take down that Highland +scene, my dear," proceeded Mrs. Robinson, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +addressing her husband. "It is altogether too +bad. We ought to have something better in +its place."</p> + +<p>It passed through Wyndham's mind that one +of his projected panels would do excellently, +but of course it was far too below the dignity +of the brilliant lion to appear to snatch at the +opportunity of turning a few honest guineas +through the grace of his humble entertainers.</p> + +<p>"Let us have the Highland scene down by +all means," said Mr. Robinson. "And I've an +idea! If we can induce Mr. Wyndham to paint +our Alice's portrait, why, then we should have +something first-rate to hang in its place."</p> + +<p>Miss Robinson turned fiery red; the quick +glance she flashed at her father was the more +conspicuous. "How splendid!" she exclaimed +breathlessly. Her bosom heaved. Wyndham +was almost painfully aware of the thumping of +her heart.</p> + +<p>But he himself was caught quite unprepared. +True that the unexpected had happened again, +but that very quality of the event was in this +instance disconcerting. No doubt they observed +his slight hesitation.</p> + +<p>"Of course it would be a great privilege +for us," interposed Mrs. Robinson; "but it +seems to me we are counting without Mr. +Wyndham's authority."</p> + +<p>Wyndham inclined his head graciously with +a smile; swiftly master of the situation again, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +and improving the occasion with a compliment.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I shall be most delighted." He gave his +proposed subject the professional glance that +the occasion authorised. "Miss Robinson will +afford me the opportunity of a most distinguished +piece of portraiture."</p> + +<p>Miss Robinson gazed at her plate, nervously +peeling a banana. She had not spoken much +during the dinner, but she had hung on Wyndham's +words with a naïve, unconscious admiration, +which, from a prettier and more brilliant +woman, he would scarcely have passed with so +little a sense of appreciation.</p> + +<p>"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Wyndham," +she said simply. "I am afraid the +distinction will be due more to your work +than to your sitter."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, Miss Robinson," he protested, +with a suave gravity that made his polished +assurance the more impressive and charming. +"I did not intend any compliment—I spoke +only as the artist." He was rather surprised +that a woman should display so little vanity. +And, in a subtle way, it did not enhance his +estimation of her.</p> + +<p>Miss Robinson's banana occupied her more +earnestly than ever; but her mother came to +the rescue by raising the important question +of costume. Wyndham, after further professional +consideration of his client, preferred to + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +paint Miss Robinson as he saw her now. And +with a ready sense of detail he saw, too, that +certain rings she wore, though he had not +observed them closely at first, would make +excellent spots in a scheme of decoration. +These rings were unusually chosen, and were +more artistic than extravagant. The one on +her right hand was a small, subtle cat's-eye +surrounded by fine pearls. On her left hand +were an aquamarine, and a scarab that shone +like the patina of an ancient bronze. Almost +without a pause he dashed at once at a scheme, +which he elucidated there and then, much to +their overwhelming. He would pose her on +an Empire chair. In a blue and white Oriental +vase on a high stand at the side should be +arranged three tall arum lilies amid some vivid +carnation blossoms. Why, the Nankin bowl on +the mantelpiece was the very thing! The +background of the picture should be vague and +of an olive-grey tone, laid in with free brushwork, +against which the masses of creamy lace +would show deliciously decorative. The great +surmounting coil of hair would give character +to the whole scheme, and the lilies of the valley +in the velvet band afford a final contrast of +lightness and graciousness against the intense +note of the coiffure.</p> + +<p>The parents were radiant with pleasure, +though poor Miss Robinson looked more and +more scared each instant. In her trepidation + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +she could only echo stammeringly the elder +people's wonder at his great skill and cleverness. +The scheme unfolded itself before them +richly beautiful—not one of your dull black +portraits, but a canvas glowing with exquisite +light and colour.</p> + +<p>"There, Alice, you ought to be proud of yourself," +said her father, rallying her good-naturedly +as a parting shot, when the women rose to +retire; and Wyndham attended their exit under +the crimson hanging with his most engaging +air.</p> + +<p>Left alone, the men drew their chairs to the +fire, and Mr. Robinson brought forward boxes +of fragrant-smelling cigars, large and rotund. +The atmosphere of comfort enveloped Wyndham +soothingly: the sense of unlimited abundance +seemed a miracle after his long privation. +Fortunately he had not been tempted to have +his glass filled too often: he had appreciated all +these good and luscious things with commendable +moderation, and had been stimulated to brilliancy +without losing cool command of himself. +He lighted his cigar at the little silver smoker's +lamp that just then came in with the coffee, +and, as he puffed, a splendid warm feeling of +well-being took possession of him. He helped +himself to cream and sugar with the masterful +calm and something of the gesture of a stage +hero.</p> + +<p>Presently Mr. Robinson raised the subject of + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +Wyndham's fee for the portrait, approaching +the point apologetically.</p> + +<p>"Of course, we could hardly discuss this side +of the matter before my wife and daughter," +said the old man. "But I must insist on your +accepting a fair remuneration for the work—shall +we say two hundred guineas?"</p> + +<p>"To be frank," said Wyndham, "if you had +left it to me, I should hardly have mentioned so +large a sum."</p> + +<p>"Naturally a gentleman of your disposition +would think more of the artistic pleasure of +the work than of the money it brought. Still, +in this life money has to be considered. In +all things, sublime or humble, the labourer is +worthy of his hire. I do not for a moment +suggest that the sum I have named in any way +expresses our appreciation of the work, even in +anticipation, and certainly not in any way our +sense of the privilege and honour you are +bestowing upon us."</p> + +<p>"I shall endeavour to merit your kind words," +said Wyndham, not to be outdone in polished +courtesy, though he conceded that, by force of +simple sincerity and good feeling, Mr. Robinson +seemed a past master in the delicate art. "At +any rate," he pursued, "the work is developing +in my mind. The more I dwell upon it, the +better and better I like the scheme, and I shall +work at it enthusiastically from start to finish."</p> + +<p>It being thus assumed that two hundred + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +guineas were to be the artist's reward, Mr. +Robinson seemed by no means loth to wander +from a point which he had approached with +great hesitation and an immense sense of its +difficult delicacy. As yet Wyndham did not +measure the radical change in his personal +situation; nor did he display any undue elation. +But his cool demeanour was no mere pose. +Indeed, he was surprised himself at the ease +with which he was accepting the transaction, +as if it were commonplace in his experience. +But he merely supposed that he was meeting +good fortune with the natural dignity of the +artist—to whom commissions are due as a +matter of right, however long they may be +deferred.</p> + +<p>They did not linger in the dining-room, but +joined the ladies after their first cigar; though +not before Mr. Robinson had sedulously inquired +as to his liking for the particular +brand, which, he assured Wyndham, was not +readily obtainable in London, and had made, +him promise to take a box away with him.</p> + +<p>In the drawing-room Miss Robinson played +to them, at first tremulously, but gaining confidence +with the experience. She displayed a +degree of trained taste and a certain individual +choice, favouring the tenderer and gentler +works of Mendelssohn and Mozart. She sang +also one or two of Heine's love songs in the +German with a touch of passion and regret, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +whilst Wyndham accompanied her; and he himself +wound up the evening in more jovial mood +with a rousing student's song from his old +Munich days.</p> + +<p>Their parting with him had almost a touch of +affection; and the final understanding was that +he was to plan out the arrangements for the +sittings, and to communicate with them in +the morning.</p> + +<p>He was forgetting his box of cigars at the +end, but Mr. Robinson carefully caught it up +from the hall table, and brought it after him +just as the servant was opening the door.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> +<h2>VII</h2> + +<p>The next morning early Wyndham jumped out +of bed with a bewildered sense of some change +in his life, and it was an instant or two before +his faculties cleared and he remembered his +adventure of the previous evening. His next +thought was one of pleasure that he had at +last carried out his resolution of rising early. +The autumn had developed with unusual +severity, but the morning was intensely clear, +and the studio full of a strong light. He +pushed aside the hanging, and looked down +from the gallery on the familiar scene below. +Ordinarily, on rising, the sight had filled him +with disgust and apathy, but now a freshness +and vigour pervaded him, a new imperious +desire, not merely in his mind but in all his +limbs and muscles, to enter again on the contest +with men. As his thought ran back through +the past intolerable year or two, his inaction +and sloth seemed almost incredible. He saw +himself rising at midday, suffering moral tortures +before the work he was powerless to +begin, letting the barren hours drift away into + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +the deep, then regretting them passionately. +Was it not all a nightmare from which he +had been curiously released?</p> + +<p>He dressed, and, whilst his little kettle was +boiling, took careful stock of his professional +materials. Colours, brushes, varnishes—all +needed renewing; there seemed nothing but +impracticable odds and ends, mere bits of +wreckage from his disastrous life's venture. +Then, too, the filth and disorder all around +him struck him brusquely, stung him to annoyance. +On every surface where dust might +accumulate it lay in serene possession. Wherever +spiders could spin, there the webs hung +thick, amazing and complicated citadels, prodigious +masses and networks.</p> + +<p>He felt he could not endure it a day longer. +There must be a thorough physical cleansing +at once. And he must return to the luxury +of a daily bed-maker. This preoccupation with +household things took off the keenest edge of +one's first energy and enthusiasm; he must +reserve himself jealously for his high calling.</p> + +<p>As he sipped his coffee he mused over the +little financial difficulties that immediately beset +him. Now that at last he had a valid ground +for appealing to Mary, he felt reluctant; +anxious to bring her only the sense of his +success without alloy. He might explain the +situation to Mr. Robinson, and ask for money +in advance; but that seemed as impolitic as it + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +was repugnant in this new rapture of fine +upstanding dignity. Payment of the quarter's +rent that was already due could be easily deferred—for +the bare humiliation of making the +request. But he needed something for equipment, +and must face the sacrifice of some of the +older pictures to which he had clung so long, +accepting any sum in exchange, if only shillings.</p> + +<p>He still felt no disposition to invest the +accident that had turned the tide for him +with any touch of superstition or romance. +He regarded the whole matter in the same +dry light as at his first acceptance of it the +evening before. He had sat waiting for +clients, and at last they had turned up. But +he did not at all dislike the Robinsons: they +were very much better than the great run of +their class—they had evidently ideals, and +aspired to a higher degree of refinement +than they as yet possessed, or, perhaps, were +capable of possessing. They were neither smug +nor self-satisfied, and, in giving him this work, +they had avoided indulging in any semblance of +bourgeois patronage, whereas other people of +their class, even if well meaning, might easily +have been gross and intolerable.</p> + +<p>He had studied his sitter pretty closely. The +profile, as is not unfrequently the case with +"plain" women, had a curious individual interest. +He felt it offered scope for "construction," +and he could import subtly into the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +drawing a certain distinguished sentiment that +was not really in the original, though somehow +it might easily have been there, and, in moments +of enthusiasm on the part of the observer, might +even be conceived to be there. Yes, the profile +was undoubtedly the thing: that way, too, the +great coil of hair could be handled the more +effectively. Indeed, it seemed to him that, +taking into consideration her dark eye with +its soft lashes, and the long shapely arms, +and the exquisite ivory tones of the old lace +dress, the scheme should really turn out, as +he had so promptly put it to Miss Robinson +herself, "a most distinguished piece of portraiture." +He was shrewd enough to understand +the essential shyness of her disposition, +and he felt he might well invest her expression +with some suggestion of this, though it should +come out as a sort of gentle spiritual modesty.</p> + +<p>And now his imagination returned to the +contemplation of his own fortunes, and went +soaring skywards. His luck having once +changed, who could say what might not turn +up next? Another sitter might appear, one of +your great heroines, stately and brilliant—a +sort of Lady Betty, in fact: he might as well +admit he <i>had</i> Lady Betty in mind! Such a +portrait, appropriately conceived, would form +a remarkable pendant to this one. Then, too, +he might make another dash at his masterpiece! +Such a display of versatility in the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +next year's exhibitions must place his name +on everybody's lips, must surely pave the way +to his reputation not only as a great decorative +portrait painter, but also as a modern of the +moderns, touched to inspiration by all the stress +and striving of his age!</p> + +<p>This roseate flight was abruptly disturbed +by the advent of the postman. The rat-tat, +one of the double sort, imperiously summoned +him to the door. Had the "something else" +already turned up? He rather prided himself +on the coolness with which he rose to meet it. +The postman handed him a packet and a letter. +But at a glance he saw that the packet was +a rejected drawing and the letter Mary's, and +he went straight down into the depths again. +He, however, affected a cheerful good morning +to the postman; then, no sooner alone, +tore open the letter, with the bitter taste of +yesterday's scene with his sister full in his +throat. To his astonishment, he pulled out two +five-pound Bank of England notes, and only +a few words accompanied them. "<span class="smcap">Dearest</span>," +she wrote,—"Since you left me to-day I have +suffered beyond endurance. That you will +ever forgive me for my harshness I cannot +hope. I am the only soul you have to turn +to, and yet I struck at you as with a whip. +Your face as you turned away will haunt me +for the rest of my life. I have been sobbing +and sobbing, feeling my heart must break. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +I ask you to be good to me now, and take this +little money. Darling, don't punish me by +sending it back. Better times are coming +presently, and, if God is good, this little help +now may bring you the best of fortune.—Your +loving sister, <span class="smcap">Mary</span>."</p> + +<p>Wyndham was unnerved; realising to the +full the torture her gentle, sympathetic nature +was inflicting on her. What it must have cost +her to gather up her strength for that critical +interview he could only remotely surmise. Yet +it had failed her after all!</p> + +<p>However touched he was by her sweetness, +however much he was moved to respond to +this prostration and surrender, he yet saw +only too clearly that at bottom it <i>was</i> a failure +of strength. The idea of using the money was +singularly distasteful; even though he told +himself he would have his hand cut off rather +than doubt her perfect goodness and sincerity +in sending it.</p> + +<p>This necessity of a difficult decision disturbed +the nice cool balance with which he had started +out to face the day. There was nothing for it +but to put aside the letter for the present in +the hope that counsel would come to him later. +And in the meanwhile he went on with his +programme. He tidied his papers, went to +hunt out his old charwoman, and, ultimately +leaving her in possession of the studio, he ran +into town to get his new materials, and look + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +up the various accessories for the scheme of +the picture.</p> + +<p>His first visit was to a shop in Oxford Street, +where he had dealt ever since his student days, +and where he could order what he needed +without immediate payment. A burly man in +a Norfolk jacket and knickerbockers was making +purchases at one of the counters, and his back +seemed not unfamiliar. Wyndham brought out +his list and was going through the various items +with one of the assistants when a heavy hand +was placed on his shoulder, and, turning, he +beheld the big powerful head and pointed beard +of one of the old gang of his Latin Quarter days.</p> + +<p>"Sadler!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>The big head was convulsed with laughter, +and Wyndham's hand wrung in a mighty grip.</p> + +<p>"How jolly! I was coming to look you up! +I've just ferreted out your address; you're still +fixed out there at Hampstead?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, do come—I shall be delighted," said +Wyndham genially. "Have you been in London +long?"</p> + +<p>"Three weeks. After knocking about for five +years—what do you think of that, my boy? +First went all over Spain—made scores of +studies. Gee! First-rate! Cheapest place in +Europe—exchange thirty-five to the sovereign—and +lots of good eating. Went to see a bit +of Velasquez down at Madrid. Gee-rusalem! +And the Titans, stuck up in a funny little + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +room! You never see anything so fine in +your life."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I've been there," smiled Wyndham.</p> + +<p>The vigour and enthusiasm of his old friend, +the nasalities of the deep voice, had almost a +complete freshness for him, after the long +interval since their last meeting. He was +pleased at the encounter—it brought him whiffs +of old days of happy comradeship. He felt the +stirring of the war-horse.</p> + +<p>"Then I put in a nice couple of years at +Munich; saw some Boecklin. Gee! He's great!"</p> + +<p>"I once saw some wretched things of his, +though," said Wyndham. "I remember—at a +modern exhibition at Venice."</p> + +<p>"I grant there are one or two rotten ones," +conceded Sadler; "but they're interesting, if you +take them in the right way—experiments that +failed, though they were fine as he had them +in him. Well—then I did a bit of a tour all +over the shop—came along through Holland—made +cart-loads of sketches; and then I came +right along here. Been getting lots of fun in +London; been round with the boys, and had a +rattling good time. Taking the opportunity, +too, of getting some nice suits of clothes." And +here Sadler turned abruptly from art, and +plunged into sartorial details. His interest +in such matters was astonishing, almost touching. +He revelled in fancy waistcoats and +rioted in tweeds and broadcloths. London was + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +the only place in the world where you could get +the rakish cut. He, Sadler, had never suspected +what a lovely figure he had, till this latest cutter +had revealed him to himself!</p> + +<p>He paused at last for breath.</p> + +<p>"Anything particular on with you?" he was +presently impelled to ask, observing that +Wyndham was exercising a marked fastidiousness +in the choice of his canvas.</p> + +<p>"A portrait," said Wyndham. "Not a bad +little commission."</p> + +<p>"Good!" ejaculated Sadler, his face shining +enthusiastically. "A lady?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Wyndham, "and I've rather +a charming scheme."</p> + +<p>"Good!" roared Sadler again. "I heard you +hadn't been doing much of late. They were +running your work down—some of the boys, +and I said they were talking rot. We nearly +came to blows about it. I think I fairly shut +them up."</p> + +<p>Wyndham had at first winced a little. Then +he felt like shrugging his shoulders. After all, +the past had to be lived down. Besides, Sadler's +championship was genuine and influential.</p> + +<p>"That was very kind of you. You always +did stick up for me."</p> + +<p>"Don't you mind 'em a bit, my boy. You +just go ahead, and you'll come out at the top +of the tree."</p> + +<p>"I'll do my best," said Wyndham, smiling.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> + "That'll be good enough, I guess," said Sadler. +"Perhaps this portrait will open up other things +for you."</p> + +<p>"How so?" inquired Wyndham.</p> + +<p>"It all depends on the crowd you strike—I +heard you came a bit of a cropper, and I daresay +you're not too well off now to despise a job +or two—you can always put decent work into +them. Now there's Jim Harley—he struck a +rich middle-class lot ten years ago, rotten out-and-out +Philistines, twenty guineas apiece—and +they've been keeping him going ever since. +Does fifty of 'em a year."</p> + +<p>"The prospect hardly tempts me. After all, +the main thing is to get back to big work."</p> + +<p>Sadler smiled. "I guess I should be the first +to drag you back again—after a while. But +Jimmy married young. A boy and girl affair. +His wife's family weren't satisfied with his +financial position, and there was a mighty row +at the time. Of course the girl had only her +pretty eyes."</p> + +<p>"Ah, you don't approve of idealistic love +affairs."</p> + +<p>"Not of that kind. I'm forty, and I've seen +something in my time."</p> + +<p>Wyndham had finished his purchases, and was +telling the assistant to send the parcel to his +studio. As they left the shop presently, Sadler +pressed Wyndham very hard to lunch with him +at a particular restaurant he mentioned, and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +Wyndham could not do otherwise than accept +the invitation, though he confessed the place +was unknown to him. Whereat Sadler expressed +great astonishment. It was one of the +very few places in London where the food was +fit to eat! Why, the cooking was even better +than at Lavenue's in the Quarter, and that +was saying a great deal. He, Sadler, could +not endure any other place during his sojournings +in London. Wyndham let the dear fellow +gallop on to his heart's content. Sadler was +a fine painter, and in the old days Wyndham +as the junior had sat at his feet, and in the +matter of technique had been greatly indebted +to him. But he had observed with covert +amusement at a very early stage in the acquaintanceship +that Sadler, like so many others in +the hard-working, hand-to-mouth world of the +arts, had an amiable weakness for "being in +the know" anent the good things of life, and +affected a lavishness in public that was off-set +by a sharp economy in the less visible phases of +his existence.</p> + +<p>At the restaurant Sadler scrutinised the carte +with the confident eye of a man about town, +grumbled a little, held a fussy colloquy with +the waiter, and finally ordered oysters and +chablis to begin upon, the while a chateaubriand +was being prepared for them.</p> + +<p>Over the meal Sadler talked a great deal of +old times. He seemed to have kept himself + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +well in touch with scores of men they had +known in common, despite scatterings and +vicissitudes. His mind kept leaping across the +world, beating them all out of their lairs for +Wyndham's enlightenment. Did he remember +Pycherley—the biggest duffer of them all? +Well, he had married an heiress on the +strength of his genius, and was painting awful +stuff out in California; and Snyders, who +had shared his studio, had built himself a +Moorish house high up on a mountain-side +overlooking the Gulf of Salerno; a third had +settled down to "black-and-white" in a queer +little creeper-clad house in St. John's Wood; a +fourth was decorating a municipal building at +Toronto. Marlowe was still in the avenue du +Maine, where the fascinating American actress +he had wed had since borne him a sheaf of +daughters: and the beautiful Mrs. Smith they +had known at Fontainebleau, the summer they +had spent there together, had long ago divorced +her husband, and married the Italian sculptor, +in whose studio she had made such sensational +progress. She now exhibited regularly, and +had already received a gold medal of the second +class.</p> + +<p>And so the conversation continued—for the +most part about men who were now pretty well +getting on into middle life, whose destinies had +found definite declaration and were visible to all +Wyndham expressed his pleasure that his own + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +future, on the contrary, still lay wrapped in +mystery; that, though the curtain was full up, +the interest of the drama was by no means +played out.</p> + +<p>"You can afford to talk like that, Wyndham," +shouted Sadler. "What are you? You're only +a boy! But I'm forty, and I tell you I'd give up +the interest of the drama for a safe income, and +think it a damned good bargain. I get along, I +sell my stuff, but I tell you I sweat and groan."</p> + +<p>"I admit I should like my old income back +again," said Wyndham; "not for itself, but for +the sake of the splendid freedom to work."</p> + +<p>"That's just my point," shouted Sadler. +"What the hell do I care about money for +itself? And I tell you what, my boy, the right +thing for an artist is to marry a woman with +money." He struck the table hard with his big +fist, making the whole restaurant rattle.</p> + +<p>Wyndham almost jumped. "Good gracious! +So that's what you were driving at! The idea +to me is perfectly loathsome."</p> + +<p>"That's just what I used to think," exclaimed +Sadler. "But you can't go on for ever with +your head in the clouds."</p> + +<p>"The thing's so awfully brutal and sordid," +insisted Wyndham, shuddering visibly. "It +makes my blood run cold."</p> + +<p>"You make me tired," snapped Sadler pettishly. +"Where's the sordidness? I don't say +a man ought to run after a fortune—but enough + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +to steady things. Taking it all round, we artists +have less chance of making money for ourselves +than other men of the same worth; and since +most of us do marry some time or other, we +ought to look to marriage to help our work, +and not to drag it down."</p> + +<p>Wyndham was unconvinced. "If you take +away the poetry out of life, the rest of it is too +hideous to bother about. If a man marries to +make himself comfortable, he's no better than +a contented pig wallowing in muck. Rather +than surrender the ideal, I'd give up marriage +altogether, stand by my guns, and die fighting."</p> + +<p>"We artists are a damned sentimental lot," +shouted Sadler. He lifted a juicy morsel to his +mouth. "This chateau's jolly good, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Excellent," admitted Wyndham.</p> + +<p>"Now you see I wasn't exaggerating when I +said it's as good here as at Lavenue's." Sadler +swallowed his mouthful. "We all begin with +your idyllic ideas—Rossetti, Meredith, and all +the rest of it. But I tell you it's hell! You +dig the work out of yourself with sweat, with +blood!" The veins began to swell in Sadler's +mighty forehead. "And when you're not one +of the lucky ones, what does the world do to +help you to work for it?" He had wrought +himself up to a tense excitement, and put the +question with a hoarse shout. "Nothing! It +prints your name in the papers, it talks about +you at dinner parties! Painting is starvation—painting + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +is death! By the time you've worried +along till you're forty, you begin to see a bit +straight, my boy. Look around you—what do +you see on all sides? You see the best of us +and the luckiest of us fixing up some pretty +little nook here in town or in the country, and +then trying to clear a few hundreds or so by +tempting somebody to buy it for double what +it cost. We begin with ideals, and afterwards +we are glad to come down to the level of the +common speculator. Let us have no delusions +about it—there's nobody keener for necessary +money than we artists when we begin to feel +the years slipping by. I tell you it's hell!" +He gulped down a glass of wine and wiped +his lips.</p> + +<p>"I see your point of view," said Wyndham; +"but I detest it. Better to fight to the end, +and stand alone."</p> + +<p>"You make me tired," snapped Sadler again. +"There are plenty of women of the right sort +who'd prefer an artist with a name to some +damned bore of a booby who hasn't an idea in +his head. They're not fools, those women, I tell +you. They know there's no money in the +profession; they know you can't get everything +in life. Life's a compromise. You've got to +give and take. And when women have money, +you'll find they understand these things better +than when they haven't. A romantic boy runs +after a rosy-cheeked, bread-and-butter miss + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +with nothing. The chit gives herself airs, +expects what they call 'an establishment'—the +rotten Philistines!—and then starts out to +please herself in every way, places her whims +and caprices first, and the happiness of the +household nowhere. The brute exacts every +sacrifice, and if she has to make the tiniest +concession, it rankles in her all her life."</p> + +<p>Wyndham dissented. The same things might +happen even if the chit were a millionaire.</p> + +<p>Sadler dissented in his turn. He insisted that +in woman money and good sense somehow +went together. It was a fact. "Look how +much happier French marriages are; look +how the husband and wife are comrades and +stick together. I tell you the French system +is the best in the world. Every girl brings +her husband a dowry of some kind, and they +both work together for the common good. +When the time comes it is easier to pass on +the money to their own daughter in their turn."</p> + +<p>Wyndham contended that these things were +all a matter of temperament. "Even at the +best you'd have to keep your mind very elastic +as to the type of person, whereas, for my own +part," he declared, with the Lady Betty type in +his mind, "I not only hold on to my poetic +standpoint, but there are certain personal ideals +I couldn't possibly surrender."</p> + +<p>"If you stick out too much for ideals, you'll +never get anywhere at all," said Sadler.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> + "There are things one must stick out for," +insisted Wyndham. "For instance, I could +never marry a woman who wasn't intelligent, +and certainly never one who wasn't beautiful."</p> + +<p>"Intelligent—yes. But what is beauty?" +asked Sadler, shrugging his shoulders. "And +if you get a woman too obviously beautiful, +you'll have every man a mile round making +love to her, like flies round a honey-pot. It's +a sort of primitive law of the universe, and +it'll hold good for all time, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I should chance all that," said Wyndham.</p> + +<p>"But what is beauty?" insisted Sadler.</p> + +<p>"I know when I see it," laughed Wyndham.</p> + +<p>"Give me character," said Sadler. "Unselfishness +and loyalty are the chief points, and a sort +of sweet reasonableness, of course. If a woman's +features aren't quite classical, it's wonderful +what a good dressmaker can do to set them +off. Waiter! Cigarettes!"</p> + +<p>When ultimately the waiter brought the bill, +Sadler produced a silver sovereign purse, saw +with unconcealed horror that it contained only +half a sovereign, then felt in his pockets for +loose silver. "It's rather awkward," he said, +pulling the longest of faces. "I'm afraid I +haven't enough left on me after paying for my +colours and materials this morning. I shall +have to ask you to lend me a little."</p> + +<p>A flash of surprise, an imperceptible raising of +the eyebrows; then swiftly Wyndham accepted + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +the situation, and threw down one of Mary's +banknotes. "Sorry I've nothing smaller," he +said, smiling.</p> + +<p>"All right, old fellow," said Sadler. "You +pay this time, I'll pay next time."</p> + +<p>By the time the waiter brought Wyndham +his change, the conversation had passed on to +the last exhibition of the New English Art +Club.</p> + +<p>Wyndham arrived home, after completing all +his business calls, late in the afternoon, and +found that the charwoman had finished her +work, and was replacing the furniture. A not +unpleasant tinge of turpentine permeated the +atmosphere. The oak presses, newly polished +with beeswax, shone and glowed even in the +shadow of the afternoon. For the first time +for months the hearth was clear of ashes and +cinders, and the stone scoured and whitened.</p> + +<p>When the woman had gone he devoted a +few minutes to wandering about his domain, +enjoying this new sensation of spotlessness, +appreciating the professional hand, the skill +of which had never before seemed so legitimate +a theme for admiration. Then he sat down +and wrote to Mary as follows:—</p> + +<p> </p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"<span class="smcap">My dear little Mary</span>,—Your sweet little +letter came this morning, and at a moment to +be of the greatest service to me. Fortune has +already smiled on me again. For the immediate + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +present I have a portrait commission for +a couple of hundred guineas! A great fortune—is +it not?—after all these seasons of leanness! +You will guess that I am now ambitious of +getting to grips again with the big picture. I +have taken a deep and engrossing look at it +again, and I see how to resolve all its difficulties, +I daresay, by the spring. I know this +letter will make you happy, so, for Heaven's +sake, don't give another thought to yesterday +afternoon. I have been a great trial to you +for so long, and I want to recognise your +goodness and kindness in the only way I can, +and that is by—succeeding. My heart is in +the work, and your belief in me shall find +justification.</p> + +<p>"I am keeping your money; it will remove +my last anxiety and enable me to work at +ease. I want you to come here as soon as I +have made some headway with the new work, +as I should like you to carry away the impression +on your next visit of something real +that has been accomplished.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +"Your loving brother, <br /> +"<span class="smcap">Walter</span>." +</div> +</div> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> +<h2>VIII</h2> + +<p>The first sitting was eminently satisfactory. +Miss Robinson and her mother were punctual +to the very stroke of the clock, the new canvas +stood waiting on the smaller easel, and everything +was ready for an immediate start. Wyndham +had been able to obtain on hire a most +lovely Empire chair, with swans' heads for armrests, +and exquisitely mounted with chiselled +garlands. It did not take him long to find his +arrangement, and he saw now how shrewd had +been his idea of the Empire chair. It was remarkable +how Miss Robinson and the chair +composed together: it gave her distinction, +heightened her personality, and the profile at +once seemed to take precisely the quality which +he considered essential to his scheme. Her right +arm rested lightly along the swan's neck, and +the subtle cat's-eye, with its border of tiny +pearls, showed deliciously against the long +hand and fingers that emerged from the lace +lying loosely about the wrist. Her left hand lay +on her lap, and here the ancient green scarab +and the aquamarine made important decorative + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +spots amid so great a mass of lace-work. The +nankin vase had been sent to the studio during +the morning, so that Wyndham was practically +able to build up his picture before him. Indeed, +so interesting was the result that it promised to +lessen by half the labour of creation.</p> + +<p>And, now that he had taken the measure of +the Robinsons, he was easily master of the situation. +They were not merely in his hands as +clients who were availing themselves of his skill; +but surrendered as to one naturally high above +them. In posing Miss Robinson, he had once or +twice given utterance to his satisfaction in so +spontaneous a way that the tremulous sitter +had no easy task to maintain her immobility. +And then the kind and condescending explanations +with which he accompanied the many +little changes and refinements in the arrangement +from moment to moment were so clever +and penetrating! It was really wonderful how +points struck him, and what surprising improvements +he accomplished with a wave of the +hand and imperceptible subtle shiftings of Miss +Robinson's position. At last, after many scrutinisings +of his sitter from varying standpoints he +suddenly expressed the conviction "Splendid!" +Then—"Wait; the left hand slightly forward, I +think; so as to soften the bend of the elbow.... +Ah, that's better. Now it couldn't possibly be +improved upon. Don't you think so, Mrs. +Robinson?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> + And the mother was as fluttered as her +daughter at this sudden appeal. "Alice looks +lovely," she broke out. "You know so well +how to make the best of people. I've never +seen her so beautiful."</p> + +<p>"It's the beautiful accessories that produce +the effect," stammered Alice.</p> + +<p>"They certainly produce some effect," conceded +Wyndham. "That is why they are there. But +it's you I'm painting, Miss Robinson. You are +the picture, and the picture will be you—and not +the surroundings."</p> + +<p>He had arranged his palette, and fell to with +the brush in earnest, bidding her speak the +moment she felt fatigued. And, indeed, he +insisted on her resting frequently, though she +struggled bravely to keep the spells of work as +long as possible, and confessed to cherishing +ambitions in that direction.</p> + +<p>Altogether the ladies were enchanted with +their experience. Like Mr. Robinson, they had +never before visited a studio, and it stirred them +with a sense of play rather than of work, +suggesting to them endless fun and merriment. +Pleased with the promise of the picture itself, +Wyndham chatted to them charmingly. Miss +Robinson, reassured and encouraged by his +gracious suavity, soon felt at her ease, and spoke +more freely than was her wont at any time. A +shade of animation came into her features, and +she was ready to break into a laugh at a jest, or + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +to listen to a more serious little disquisition +with the intensest absorption. They were not +infrequent these charming little disquisitions of +Wyndham's, and his visitors thought it wonderful +(and told him so with engaging frankness) +that he should be able to go on speaking so +beautifully, and yet never relax his attention +from the painting.</p> + +<p>He did not prolong the whole sitting beyond +two hours, when he expressed himself delighted +with this beginning, and offered them tea.</p> + +<p>They accepted eagerly. "Will you be making +it, Mr. Wyndham?" they asked, their eyes +shining with amusement.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm an old hand at it," he assured them. +He threw open a door which they had imagined +to indicate a cupboard. "Kitchen, scullery, and +every kind of domestic office rolled into one," he +explained, and promptly disappeared inside it. +They came peeping in gleefully, fascinated by +the rough white-washed doll's interior with its +miniature dresser, and they watched him fill +his kettle and put together the tea-things. +Then he emerged, set the kettle over the fire, +spread the table with a fresh cloth, and emptied +a large bag of cakes on to a fascinating plate +of old-seeming majolica.</p> + +<p>"How nice!" said Miss Robinson, her face +shining with make-believe gluttony.</p> + +<p>"There are some chocolate fingers among them—just +the sort you like," said her mother.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> + "And tiny cream-cakes—just the sort you like, +mamma," returned Alice.</p> + +<p>"How much tea do you put in the pot?" +inquired Mrs. Robinson.</p> + +<p>"One spoonful for the pot, and one for each +cup," quoted Wyndham promptly. "And I am +always careful to warm the pot first with a little +of the hot water, and, in scalding the leaves, I +am equally careful to catch the water at the +exact moment it boils."</p> + +<p>"If only our cook were as careful!" sighed +Mrs. Robinson.</p> + +<p>Wyndham asked them if they would like their +tea in the Russian style. They didn't quite know +what it was, but it sounded interesting, so they +said they'd certainly like to try it. Whereupon +he fished out a large lemon, and, cutting it +up, put slices into their cups. They were in +a happy mood. They kept him sternly to the +rôle of host, refusing to spoil the fun by moving +a finger to help him. And when he had completed +all the processes, and poured the tea for +them, they praised its fragrance and delicacy to +the skies, and in a trice he was called upon to +renew the supply. They likewise declared the +cakes delicious, and ate them with affected greed. +Meanwhile he let them see some of his pictures; +showing off his tall, handsome figure, and occasionally +balancing his cup to a nicety, as he +talked and manipulated the canvasses from his +point of vantage. And when tea was over, he + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +kept them some little time further, whilst he exhibited +his overwhelming masterpiece, which he +had kept to the end with its face turned away +from them. As he wheeled the big easel round, +and the picture came into view, a cry of admiration +broke from their lips. They were indeed +surprised to learn that it was "impossibly" unfinished; +to them it seemed that, if justice were +done, it should go straightway into the National +Gallery. Their pleasure and gratification were +extreme: they made not the least attempt to +hide their sense of the privilege of sitting at his +feet.</p> + +<p>And, when they rose to depart, they were +absurdly grateful for the lovely afternoon he +had given them. Still staggering under the +magnificent impression of his brilliancy as an +artist, Mrs. Robinson summoned her courage, +and suggested that, if he hadn't any other engagement +that evening, he might as well dine +with them as dine alone. The argument struck +him as forcible, and he accepted with an unhesitating +simplicity that won her heart still further. +He was thanking her for her kindness, but she +raised her hands in horrified deprecation to +check him.</p> + +<p>"Kindness," she cried. "Not at all, Mr. +Wyndham. We know we are not worthy of +the honour you do us."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is very good indeed of you to come," +chimed in Miss Robinson, as they shook hands. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +She smiled at him quite frankly now, and her +soft fingers lingered a friendly moment in his.</p> + +<p>He shut the door and turned back into the +studio; then, as the thought struck him for the +first time, his lips murmured almost involuntarily, +"I do believe Miss Robinson's half in love +with me." But he checked himself abruptly. +"Good heavens! what a caddish thing to say." +For, with his innate chivalry, he had certainly +never been addicted to the habit of imagining +that this or that woman was immediately +enamoured of him.</p> + +<p>He returned to the portrait, lingered over it +a moment or two, putting in here a stroke, there +a touch or a smear. And somehow the train +of "caddish" thought persisted in his mind; +mastered his will and desire to suppress it. +Suppose Miss Robinson should fall in love with +him! He recognised her worth as a human +being, but instinctively he placed her beyond +a certain pale. It was not with that kind of +woman that one connected the idea of loving or +falling in love; the true type had been fixed for +him once for all. The person, too, perhaps! As +he had all but felt in his discussion of the subject +with Sadler, matrimony was really excluded from +his mind. His business in life was work, achievement—his +spirit was almost one of revenge for +the past.</p> + +<p>Yet, suppose she <i>should</i> fall in love with him! +The speculation persisted, and again he tried to + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +brush it aside. Well, he hoped to goodness that +she would not, and brusquely wielded his paintbrush. +In any case, it was all in the day's work. +Take his own case, for instance! Had he not +suffered atrociously during all the time he had +known Lady Betty? In his bitter poverty he +had hardly dared say even to himself that he +had met the woman of his aspirations!</p> + +<p>Thus reflecting, he wheeled forward his +masterpiece again, and worked on it tentatively, +though he did not hope to make serious +headway till he should be able to do some +fresh sketches on the spot, and have a few at +least of the models pose to him over again. +But it was a pleasure to feel himself so eager-spirited +and hopeful. The Academy dare not +refuse it! The picture must establish his reputation!</p> + +<p>He went on till the light failed, then, after +reading an hour or two, he dressed for his +engagement with the Robinsons.</p> + +<p>He found the family had in no wise relaxed +from the pitch of ceremony to which his first +acquaintanceship had wrought them up. But +he reflected that, however indifferent the point +might be to him, it was just as well they should +feel it the right thing to meet him on his own +plane—as they understood it. Certainly it was +not without its amusing side—the spectacle of a +good honest family stimulated out of their customary +simplicity merely because a starving + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +artist was to regale himself at their table! +And fare sumptuously again the artist did +with a vengeance!</p> + +<p>He ate, too, with the satisfied contemplation +of a good day's work behind him. He had +somehow earned this provender, and the meal +had on that account an extra subtle relish. +Besides, he felt so much more at leisure and at +ease than on the former occasion. Then, his +visit had been an uncertain and not over-willing +experiment; now, he was acclimatised, his +impression of everything was cooler. The +greater self-possession of the family, too, made +the evening distinctly less of an effort for him. +Miss Robinson had largely got the better of her +distressing shyness, and her personality was +more in evidence. In her gentle way she was +rising to fill her important position as daughter +of the house.</p> + +<p>Wyndham's impression of the Robinsons was +thus definite and final; as much derived from +their surroundings as from themselves. He +noticed, for example, that the house itself and +everything in it was of an extreme solidity. +Indeed, the substantial walls and solid wood-work +were so unusual in suburban construction, +which was associated in Wyndham's mind with +jerry-building, that he could not help remarking +thereon when he and Mr. Robinson were left to +their coffee and cigars. The old man was +greatly pleased at this piece of discernment + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +and observation. He explained that he had +had the house built for him twenty years +before, and this solidity represented his dearest +philosophy. He hated nothing so much as a +superficial appearance which affected to be +superior to the underlying reality. "Soundness +and sincerity" had been his motto throughout +his life, and on that principle his prosperity had +been founded. Wyndham grew infected with +this unmetaphysical philosophy. The ground +he had trodden these last years seemed hideously +unstable to look back upon: there was really a +wonderful comfort in feeling himself here, +supported on so sure a flooring, surrounded +by these strong walls, and seated on this +thickly-cut mahogany arm-chair that was +framed to last three generations. The entire +furniture of the house was of the like soundness—even +the crimson couches of the drawing-room +were of a massive build, and the grand +piano, like this great dining-room table, had +the fattest of legs, and was resonant of strength +and durability.</p> + +<p>And in tune with all this solidity was the solid +prosperity of Mr. Robinson himself: his banking +account seemed an embodiment of his life-principles, +supporting all this substantiality on +its imperturbable back, like the fabled Buddhistic +tortoise nonchalantly supporting the +world. Wyndham's own existence seemed feeble +by contrast, ready to go down before the merest + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +puff of wind. He stretched himself luxuriously, +half incredulous, as if to assure himself it was +all no vain imagining; permitted Mr. Robinson +to recharge his glass with port; and lighted +another of those fragrant unpurchasable cigars. +It was so good to savour to the full this sensation +of prodigious security! Here one might +repose one's head: might hear the trump of +doom ring out, and pity the rest of the +universe.</p> + +<p>After all, was there not more than a grain of +truth in Sadler's gospel? In boyhood you could +be adventurous; life stretched before you so +endlessly that you could afford to gamble with +it. But, when the years were racing by, you +longed for a little peace, a little happiness. This +constant uncertainty of outlook, this perpetual +wear of heart and brain, how it sapped life +at the very foundation!</p> + +<p>To be "safe!" To be solidly established! The +import and significance of the conception sank +deep into him. Sadler was an older man, had +gone through all these phases. "Safety!" No +wonder his friend would not hesitate to barter +romance for all that the magic word doubtless +meant to him.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> +<h2>IX</h2> + +<p>It was this keynote of "safety" that sounded +more in his mind, this appreciation of the stability +and comfort of the house at the corner +that grew upon him as his visits to the Robinsons +continued; for it naturally came to be +the settled thing that he should dine with the +Robinsons on most of the evenings that he was +not engaged elsewhere or otherwise. The argument +at first had been the same simple one that +he might as well join them as dine alone, and +there seemed no reason for refusing their excellent +fare and their admiring society. On the +other hand, as his ever-insistent pride demanded +that they should not suppose he was cut off +from his own world; and as, too, he felt subtly +required to live up to the social rôle which he +fancied they as yet attributed to him, he was +thus stimulated to pick up again some of the old +threads of his existence. He called on remote +aunts in Eaton Square; on retired military +uncles in South Kensington. And as the winter +advanced he began to find a pleasure in renewing +old acquaintanceships, enjoying everybody's + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +surprise at his turning up again, smiling +and prosperous. It almost amounted to a self-vindication, +and he chuckled in secret, imagining +to himself their confusion.</p> + +<p>And since he <i>was</i> emerging from his retirement, +there seemed no longer any reason why +he should not mix again in the art world, and +Sadler, who had come up to his studio on one or +two occasions, induced him to show himself at +some of the clubs. At the same time he began +to cultivate again some of the smaller coteries +of which he had once been so popular a light. +Other men, too, began to look him up, and, best +of all, an editor one day sent him an unhoped-for +commission—half-a-dozen drawings for a +magazine story by a widely-read author.</p> + +<p>On the whole he was well satisfied to get back +into the world. It raised, or rather confirmed, +him in his own esteem, and saved him—as he +put it—from attaching too cheap a price to +himself. He was thus able to meet the +Robinsons from a real plane of vantage, and to +purge his mind of that slight consciousness of +charlatanism which had haunted him at the +outset.</p> + +<p>Were he not taking ultimate success for +granted, without a renewal of the more bitter +side of the struggle, he would scarcely have +resumed all these old relationships. Yet the +precariousness of the future, summon his coolness +and confidence as he might, was a thing to + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +be actively, even desperately, reckoned with. +The editor's cheque was a god-send, relieving +him of immediate anxieties, but he dared not +relax his efforts. His mornings were entirely +devoted to the big canvas now, and he rose early +to avail himself of every minute of light during +these short wintry days. He worked with a +passion and a concentration that he had never +yet known. Every fibre of his body bent to the +strain; every drop of his blood seemed to drain +its life into this frenzy to achieve. Withal, +a delightful sense of emancipation from the old +tired vision; a splendid consciousness of some +rich new store that had gathered in him during +the long period he had lain fallow!</p> + +<p>Yet he shuddered and grew sick at the possibility +that the Academy might still reject him! +In that case, what had he to build upon beyond +the coming fee for Miss Robinson's portrait? As +the weeks went by, something of a panic began +to overtake him; the future seemed to be +bearing down on him grim and remorseless.</p> + +<p>It was then that the well-garnished atmosphere +of the house at the corner seemed more +and more desirable and alluring. The flow +and abundance, the great glowing fires in this +raw winter, the naïve burning of incense at +his altar—all these things wooed him, wrapped +him in a certain balm. Ensconced with Mr. +Robinson, and sipping his after-dinner coffee, +he felt the load of his anxieties falling away + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +from him, The heavy decanters of cut glass +glowed richly at him—the softness of old +whiskey, the ruby and golden glint of wines, +the clear light of cunning distillations. The +great pineapples, the clusters of grapes, the +baskets of peaches, all the fragrant store of +Nature's bounty set out on a table that yet, +by no stretch of imagination, could be conceived +as "groaning"—all seemed to shine fatter and +finer than at the houses of his society friends. +And here, too, his footing was of an unique, +admirable character. He had his place at the +board practically as a matter of right. They +ranked him as a god; yet felt that the balance +of debt was heavily against them. Whereas, +elsewhere, he was one of a crowd, a merely +casual figure among others not less important +even where he had been most intimate. He +knew that his own world, despite its breeding +and traditions, would yet at bottom despise him +and his art if he could not earn an excellent +livelihood by its practice. But the Robinsons +worshipped him for himself; and money was +almost a vulgarity sullying the high artistic +universe in which he moved and breathed and +had his being.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> +<h2>X</h2> + +<p>Meanwhile the sittings were progressing in a +manner to gratify the artist beyond his hopes. +Miss Robinson seemed to find some mysterious +inspiration in this decorative scheme, seemed to +fuse into it, to lend herself to design and +draughtmanship. Her face, too, took on subtler +phases, was touched to a measure of nobility! +Her dark eyes shone softly under their long +lashes; her expression was full of goodness and +charity. Wyndham prided himself that he had +put on the canvas something remote from the +lines of ordinary portraiture—a simple soul, a +gentle Lady Bountiful, yet not less dignified +in her way than the heroines of the grand +portraiture.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Robinson did not insist on uninterrupted +chaperonage of her daughter; the ladies evinced +little fanaticism on this head. Often they +brought knitting or needle-work with them, +which occupied the mother in a peaceful, old-fashioned +way that Wyndham even found himself +admiring. Sometimes Mrs. Robinson would +appear only towards the end of the sitting, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +and sometimes she considerately announced +that Alice would have to come alone for the +next occasion as she herself was otherwise +busy. They both showed a tact and a good +taste in the matter which he fully recognised, +and for which in a way he was grateful.</p> + +<p>In the natural resulting intimacy between +artist and sitter, Miss Robinson expanded, +opened out her mind; at first timidly and tentatively, +ultimately with freedom and confidence. +She confessed that her experience of life had +been nothing at all, since she had always lived +in quiet shelter. Her unsophisticated simplicity +was certainly engaging; he could see that she +was a sheet entirely unwritten upon, that her +soul was as naïve and trusting as her outward +being. She was refreshingly a child of nature—no +bewildering complexity here—no shadow of +affectation. She spoke without reserve of the +poverty of her childhood, and admitted that she +had disagreeable qualms of conscience about their +present riches. Was it right to enjoy so much +when one thought of the state of the world +generally? They debated the subject endlessly; +considering it elaborately from every conceivable +standpoint: and his personal authority went far +to allay her disquietude. His theories, backed up +by high philosophy and poetry, fascinated her +with their harmony and originality; he had +such a charming way of arranging the order +of things into a beautiful artist's scheme, whilst + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +yet his sympathies were deep, true, and universal!</p> + +<p>Sometimes he was conscious of his sophistry, +and felt ashamed of it afterwards. Was he +playing a comedy of sentiment? he asked himself. +Well, why not? Men and women made +a careful toilette for an evening party: why +not a spiritual toilette for their sentimental +relations?</p> + +<p>The last words of his own thought, startled +him. Then it <i>was</i> a sentimental relation. "By +Jove, I must be careful!" he murmured to +himself. "She's an awfully good soul, and it +isn't fair to either of us." But the next moment +he shrugged his shoulders. Why trouble his +mind at all? Every relation between a man +and a woman who came into such close personal +touch was in a way sentimental—for the time +being! That was only the game of life, and +everybody had to play at it: the main thing +was to bow to the rules. Such temporary +relations might well be made as pleasant as +possible; but, when they were at an end, it +was incumbent on both parties to realise that.</p> + +<p>Yet he could not help being increasingly +conscious of his power over her; it was so +pathetically visible. Their conversations were +often amusingly like those of kindly tutor and +obedient, inquiring child; she hanging on his +words in entire self-surrender, as he discoursed +so graciously and brought his points so lightly + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +and simply within the range of her comprehension. +Sometimes, in following up an explanation, +he would be carried away by the flow of his +own ideas and his personal interest in the +matter, and then he would almost seem to be +addressing an equal in knowledge and experience. +But whenever that happened; whenever, +for example, he had let himself go too far into +the subtle mysteries of technique, he would find +himself regretting the unchecked surrender to +impulse, and remain strangely vexed about it +long afterwards. It was really soaring right +outside her limitations! She was not a Lady +Betty!</p> + +<p>Lady Betty was so often in his mind now: +she seemed to have established herself more +definitely there than ever before, as if to keep +him up to the proper pitch in his judgments of +women. He bowed his head low to Lady Betty, +recognised her as his full intellectual equal—in +some aspects his superior. She was brains and +beauty. She was stateliness itself. She was +sunshine and sweetness. What was Miss Robinson +by the side of her? And as he asked himself +the question, an impression of Miss Robinson, +as he had recently come upon her suddenly +in the streets, blotted out the more dignified +version on his own canvas. How plain and +homely she had seemed in her <a name="unobtrusive" id="unobtrusive"></a>unobtrusive walking-costume; +how insignificant her whole meek +bearing! Yes, that was the true Miss Robinson; + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +caught photographically in the act of being herself, +and fixed by his vision for always—extinguishing +the gorgeously-dressed person of these +incessant festal evenings no less than his own +artistic edition of her.</p> + +<p>In no respect could she claim to come up to +his measure. He appreciated all her virtues, +recognised her exceptional womanhood: by the +side of Lady Betty she was insipid, <i>bourgeoise</i>, +monotonously amiable.</p> + +<p>Yet he could never arrive at so harsh a verdict +without relenting at a rebound. "It is curious," +was his thought, "that in proportion as I get +more friendly with her and really like her, I +yet get harder and harder on her, poor child! +She's a jolly good sort! What a decent world +it would be if only there were ever so many +more women like her!"</p> + +<p>And, by way of atonement, his manner at +their next meeting would warm and soften +sensibly; and it came upon him always with a +degree of surprise that, however he might feel +about Miss Robinson theoretically, her actual +society was always pleasant and comrade-like.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> +<h2>XI</h2> + +<p>By mid-December the portrait needed only +the finishing touches, and, at his invitation, +several of his artist-friends came to see it. +Commendation of the work was general, +combined with a certain admiration of the +unknown sitter. Wyndham could not help +feeling that there was much speculation as +to her identity, and he gave himself all the +more credit as an artist for the qualities with +which he had endowed her, and which alone +bestowed upon her this interesting individuality.</p> + +<p>Wyndham, who made it a point never to +have his work interrupted, had so arranged +these visits that none of his friends had +stumbled upon the Robinsons. To the not +infrequent query of "Who is she?" he usually +responded, with a half-humorous gleam in his +eye, "She might be Brown or Jones: as a matter +of fact she is Robinson—the daughter of a respectable +citizen of that ilk." Yet what more, +in sober truth, could he tell them about her? +He might have put it differently, but it was + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +the information he supposed they wanted. +Yet one day he was to learn that this conciseness +had been construed as reserve. Sadler +lounged in one Sunday afternoon, when, as +it happened, Wyndham was awaiting his +sister, whose long-deferred visit had at last +been arranged for that day. And, in the course +of conversation, the visitor soon let slip out +a word that struck Wyndham like a blow. +Sadler had begun by referring to Miss Robinson +as "your friend;" but, presently, as he +still reviewed the painting, out came "your +<i>fiancée</i>."</p> + +<p>"My <i>fiancée</i>! What the devil——?"</p> + +<p>Sadler apologised; a shrewd meaning smile +clung about his massive jaws. "Of course +everybody understands that it's a secret, but +when you've heard of a thing, it's difficult to +keep it from slipping out, don't y' know."</p> + +<p>"This is all too absurd!" Wyndham was +suddenly impelled to laugh.</p> + +<p>"What's absurd about it? It seems likely +enough to me; else I shouldn't have believed +it."</p> + +<p>"An artist cannot accept a commission +without being engaged to his sitter?" urged +Wyndham indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Things have a way of getting about, you +know," maintained Sadler.</p> + +<p>"They have indeed," said Wyndham.</p> + +<p>"Well, what are you so annoyed at?" shouted + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +Sadler. "You make me tired. There's nothing +discreditable in being engaged by rumour to +a wealthy and beautiful woman."</p> + +<p>Wyndham laughed again. Beautiful! he +thought. If only Sadler had met the everyday +Miss Robinson shopping with her mother in +the Finchley Road!</p> + +<p>"Seriously, do you consider her beautiful?" +he asked in a more genial tone, suddenly curious +to hear Sadler's real impression.</p> + +<p>"What is beauty?" demanded Sadler. "The +moment you can define it, it ceases to be +beauty. Its essence is elusiveness. A touch, +a flash—and you've got it! The lines here +are not classical, but your Miss Robinson has +distinct individuality. The eyes are fine. She +looks the sort that would stick to a man. +Gee-rusalem! I shouldn't mind having a shot +at her myself. Look here, old fellow, will +you introduce me to her? If there's nothing +in it for you, give me a chance."</p> + +<p>"Goodbye," said Wyndham sweetly. "You +won't think me rude, but I've an engagement +in a minute or two."</p> + +<p>"Right!" said Sadler. "I'll be off. Goodbye, +Wyndham, old chap. You're a real damned +old swell. Gee-rusalem! you're just great at +getting rid of people."</p> + +<p>Left alone, Wyndham gave way to annoyance +again. It was a fine thing! Artists themselves +ought to know better than to indulge in tittle-tattle + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +of that kind. He worked himself up +into a towering rage. Then Mary rang the +bell, and he had abruptly to recall his graciousness.</p> + +<p>It was her first visit to the studio since the +new turn of affairs; her multifarious duties +as worker among the sick and poor after her +day's teaching leaving her so little freedom. +They had of course seen each other in the +interim; for Wyndham had himself looked in at +the "Buildings" in Kensington whenever his +engagements had taken him that way, and he +had been fortunate enough just to catch her +at home for a few moments on several occasions. +The poor girl had been overflowing with +happiness—had not a window on the skies +been opened, too, for her? And though both +had so far delicately avoided all reference +to that old painful interview, she had yet +often been impelled to throw herself at his +feet in contrition. Only she felt that he, in +his great magnanimity, would be hurt by such +an abasement.</p> + +<p>When he brought the picture well into the light, +her first exclamation was, "Oh, how beautiful!" +Then she kissed him impulsively.</p> + +<p>The tribute gave him more pleasure than +all the professional praise that had been +showered on the portrait.</p> + +<p>"What a charming girl! I should like to +know her," were her next words. "She has + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +such a good face, and I'm sure she's every bit +as beautiful as you've painted her."</p> + +<p>Wyndham's vexation at his rumoured +engagement seemed to take wing and be off +into the airs. He even felt a shy pride in Miss +Robinson. "I'm sure you'll like her," he said. +"Shall I arrange a tea here one of these days +before Christmas?"</p> + +<p>"That would be lovely." Mary's voice was +full of enthusiasm. "School breaks up in a +day or two, and I shall have so much more +time to myself," she added, still gazing at the +picture.</p> + +<p>"Any criticism?"</p> + +<p>"None," she returned. "You have caught the +character with rare genius. She is so simple +and unaffected; one could repose absolute trust +in her.... You see," she continued, smiling, +"I feel so strong an interest in her as being the +beginning of your good fortune. I have a sort +of conviction—don't laugh at me, please—that +it has come to stay."</p> + +<p>When he poured out her tea, she suddenly +laughed, remembering she had a message for +him which she had forgotten to deliver in the +absorption of contemplating Miss Robinson; +in fact, there was a heap of things she had +wanted to talk over. The most important, at +any rate, was the question of his Christmas +holiday. Aunt Eleanor wanted Mary to spend +the two or three weeks with her, but she was + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +anxious that Wyndham, too, should join their +little party over the New Year—since she now +understood that he had emerged to some extent +from his austere seclusion. A refusal Aunt +Eleanor would take to heart—she naturally +regarded her own home as his, as the place to +which his mind should spontaneously turn at +such a season.</p> + +<p>Wyndham welcomed the invitation. It was +more than two years since he had passed any +time in Hertfordshire, and the visit itself, which +last Christmas he had sullenly avoided, would +afford him the greatest satisfaction. Much as +he appreciated the Robinson housekeeping, +it was a relief to feel definitely that he was +not staying the year-end at his studio, with +no resource save their cordial hospitality.</p> + +<p>Mary went off in great elation. "I don't +know when I have felt so happy as to-day," +she declared, as she kissed him. "I leave my +best love for the work—and for the lady as +well," she added, smiling.</p> + +<p>It was arranged on the door-step that they +should travel down to Hertfordshire together, +and Mary insisted he must leave her to look +up the trains, and make all the arrangements.</p> + +<p>"It is just the sort of task I enjoy," +she assured him. "Looking up trains to get +into the country always sends me into a sort +of happy excitement; it is part of the joy of +anticipation."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> + Wyndham was left, somehow, a greater +admirer of Miss Robinson. He studied her +again in his own picture, and accepted her as +a far finer creature than he had realised—even +allowing for this idealisation of her in paint. +"My feeling against her must be purely morbid, +and it's really too bad when she likes my +society so much!—she has no idea how much +she shows it." Her unsophistication, hitherto a +deficiency, began to take on a certain charm. +How refreshing this womanly simplicity in a +world of showy coquettes and chattering, +feather-headed females! Even Mary, who was +so shrewd and fastidious, had been compelled +to pay her homage. The Robinson family was +charming! What fine old-world courtesy in the +father—many a born aristocrat might well take +a lesson from him! How unassuming, too, the +mother, full of quiet virtues and womanly +excellencies!</p> + +<p>And Mary's significant smile remained with +him. Good gracious! was she, too, taking the +sort of thing for granted? This power of suggestion +from every side was annoying: still—it +would not be right to let that prejudice him!</p> + +<p>Wyndham paced to and fro feverishly. Why +should he not——?</p> + +<p>It was the first time he was impelled to put +the question to himself in clear seeking. Obscure +in his mind these last weeks, it crystallised +itself brusquely—surprised him with its swift + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +definiteness: but he broke it off, all unprepared +to meet it yet. He had a shamefaced remembrance +of his matrimonial conversation with +Sadler, of the lofty convictions he had then +expressed.</p> + +<p>Well, he had spoken honestly, he argued, and +his convictions had changed not a jot. "Only +now that I am face to face with the actual +possibility, I see aspects of the case that then +escaped me. Till now I have always viewed +marriage as the great central fact to which the +whole of life has to converge, from which everything +else takes its significance. Hence it was a +case of the ideal or nothing—there seemed no +other choice. But now I recognise that matrimony +that is not ideal may yet take its place +as an accessory to life, may be accepted as a +good without filling the whole horizon."</p> + +<p>He resumed his feverish pacing. Well, why +should he not seize an opportunity which presented +itself so favourably? By the loss of his +money he had become reduced in his own world +to the rank of a mere "detrimental." Had he +not already felt that sufficiently? He laughed +harshly at the memory. No, no, a Lady Betty +he could not hope to marry. Such wondrous +beings did not grow on every bush; nor did life +permit of his setting out in search of one. This +holding out for the perfect ideal only meant +humiliation and sadness in the end. The world—the +hard world of fact—was like that, and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +you had to take it as you found it. No folly +could be greater than to forget that life was as +it was, and not as you thought it ought to be!</p> + +<p>Yet he vacillated again. Did he really want +to marry at all? Had he not decided—wholly, +absolutely, irrevocably—that his business in life +was work? Though he would never have +spoken of it to another, he was proud in his +heart of his sentimental loyalty to Lady Betty, +and marriage seemed almost an unfaithfulness. +Better perhaps to bend himself sternly to the +task before him!</p> + +<p>Yes, but this task before him—unaided, he +could never accomplish it. Let him confess it +now, since he was master again of his full sanity. +He had been beaten, smashed! But for this +timely piece of good fortune all would have +been at an end by now. The Robinson support +once withdrawn, he would not be strong enough +to stand. He had gauged his powers in the +great contest, and, in this moment of supreme +lucidity, he foresaw he must be conquered again. +One portrait could not suffice for the rebuilding +of his future; even on the money side his fee +would be absorbed immediately. And the finishing +of the great picture meant more outlay. To +try to "fake" it without proper models would +be a folly of follies—far better to abandon it +altogether. His blind optimism at the turn of +things had certainly been of benefit to him, had +stimulated him to his best; but with this first + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +piece of work practically accomplished, the +moment for estimating and facing the situation +with mathematical exactitude had certainly +arrived.</p> + +<p>He could not fight the world alone. However +he might desire nothing in life save self-consecration +to work, he could not even achieve +that much without reinforcing his own strength +by means that were unexceptionable and +honourable.</p> + +<p>He came to an abrupt stop as the words +swept from his brain. "By Jove, that hits the +nail pretty square!" he murmured, his lips +ashen. Naked and ugly, his primary motive +stood before him as in a mirror. For one clear +moment he saw himself brutally, and shuddered. +"I am not in love with her. If she were dowerless, +I should never have worked myself up to +this stage of appreciation; I should never have +dressed up the Robinson menage to make it +palatable. The portrait would never have +come out like this. I should have dashed in a +brutal modern study of a plain woman, full of +bravura passages. If I am going in for a thing +of this kind, let me at least be honest with +myself."</p> + +<p>And then he laughed with the irony of it all. +He, the lover of poesie; he, the fastidious +gourmet in things of the spirit; who had +followed the cult of all that was lyrical and +exquisite; he planned to mate beneath him for + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +the sake of crude money. Faugh! A vulture +hovering over a heap of carrion!</p> + +<p>But the violence of the metaphor brought a +reaction. "Rubbish!" he murmured, and paced +again. The pacing grew into a striding. Up +and down the length of the studio he stamped, +face and eyes working intensely. "I am +exaggerating. I am morbid about it all; I am +rushing to the other extreme. When have I +ever hidden from myself that the thing would +be primarily a means to my great impersonal +end—I may as well admit it has been in my +mind all along! What could be a greater +degradation than my old way of living? Poor +Mary! Why, I owe it to her as a duty to put +an end to all this misery. I'd face anything on +earth now to make up to her for the past! +Besides, the idea is not at all so inhuman as I am +trying to make out. In a mildish sort of way, +of course, I am really fond of Miss Robinson. +Her virtues <i>are</i> a reality! She is plain, I admit—very +plain; but my eye has learnt to see her its +own way—the way of the portrait!"</p> + +<p>Brusquely he flung his hesitations from him. +Why should he not marry Miss Robinson? Even +in the driest aspect of the case, the match was +not inequitable. The "crude money"—yes, let +him use the words deliberately—the "crude +money" on her side; on his a full equivalent in +his personal self, his no doubt brilliant career +once sordid matters were disposed of, and a sphere + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +of existence that was obviously interesting to her. +If he brought no immediate fortune himself, +his future earnings, once he were free to work +without anxiety, might well be considerable. +What was there in the idea to wound his pride? +How absurd his metaphor of the vulture!</p> + +<p>And then he turned to dwell again with relief +at the pleasanter aspects of the case. Even if +he were not attaining to passionate poetic +dreams, he would yet be carrying into effect a +charming domestic ideal of peace and tranquillity. +And the very poetry of marriage began +to invest Miss Robinson with something of its +own glamour. He saw her in a bridal veil +holding a big bouquet. His enthusiasm +mounted.</p> + +<p>And Mary's voice seemed to echo again in +the studio: "What a charming girl! She has +such a good face, and I'm sure she's every bit +as beautiful as you've painted her." He almost +felt himself blushing in embarrassment; it was +as if he himself were being commended. "She +is so simple and unaffected," went on Mary's +voice with its unmistakable ring of conviction. +"One could repose absolute trust in her."</p> + +<p>How shrewd and true was his sister's reading +of the character! Moreover, Mary had confessed +to an almost superstitious thrill at +gazing on the features of the woman who had +been the beginning of his good fortune. Could +he say that he was entirely free from the same + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +sort of superstitious sentiment? Alice Robinson +had begun his good fortune; why should +she not complete it? If only that confounded +set of fools hadn't started their silly tittle-tattle!</p> + +<p>Undoubtedly there was a substratum of truth +and good sense in the views so stoutly and +passionately maintained by Sadler; only Sadler +imagined it was possible to compromise, to step +down from the ideal and yet find great happiness. +He himself would give up the dream of +happiness in the ideal sense: his would be +frankly a case of convenience, though were it +not for the many virtues of Miss Robinson, his +mind would never have become reconciled to it. +No! not even were she as rich as Croesus. He +must do that amount of justice to himself. At +his age he could appreciate the importance of +the rarer qualities of character in his life's mate—loyalty, +modesty, devotion! He would be +making a wise marriage! not a sordid one. He +would be choosing the deep calm of life instead +of the elusive and often mocking flash of superficial +passion and beauty.</p> + +<p>And, on his part, he was prepared to be the +best and most dutiful of husbands!</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> +<h2>XII</h2> + +<p>When, that same evening, Wyndham was +ushered into the Robinsons' drawing-room, he +was mildly surprised to find a sedate gentleman +there in familiar conversation with the family. +The stranger vibrated with neuter lights; yet +dry, clean lights. Tall spare figure, hair and +close-trimmed beard, tailed morning coat and +sharp-creased trousers, brow and visage, air and +movement—all a chiaroscuro in grey; accentuated +curiously, too, against the host's correct +black and white, and the laces and chiffons and +shimmering brilliance of the ladies.</p> + +<p>"My friend, Mr. Shanner," said Mr. Robinson, +introducing them; and Wyndham remembered +at once that the Robinsons had mentioned Mr. +Shanner occasionally as an intimate of the +house who was away in the New World for the +interests of the concern in which he was junior +partner.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Shanner, though he shook hands +cordially, yet gave him a swift look up and +down that had something of antagonism in it. +And in Wyndham, too, arose some obscure + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +enmity, likewise masked by the conventional +friendliness of greeting.</p> + +<p>"As I was just telling Mr. Robinson," said +Mr. Shanner, with an obviously forced smile +that yet illumined the man, broke through and +flashed away the greyness for an instant, "I +hadn't the least idea that I was going to +stumble on an evening party. I feel quite out +of it." His voice was full of affable vibrations, +and he smiled again, with a general nod that +indicated all this ceremonial get-up around him.</p> + +<p>"I am sure we shall do our best to amuse +you," returned Wyndham, naturally associating +himself with the family, but feeling hopelessly +out of sympathy with the new-comer.</p> + +<p>Miss Robinson had reddened as the two men +approached each other, but on her father's +again mentioning that Mr. Shanner was just +back from his tour in the New World, she came +into the conversation bravely, and rose above +her shade of embarrassment.</p> + +<p>"Have <i>you</i> ever crossed to America, Mr. +Wyndham?" she asked, smiling at him.</p> + +<p>"No," he confessed; "though America has +largely crossed to me."</p> + +<p>Mr. Shanner looked puzzled.</p> + +<p>"How do you mean—America has crossed to +you, Mr. Wyndham?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope I did not seem to suggest that I +have been a centre of pilgrimage," laughed +Wyndham. "Only, in past years, when I was + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +running a good deal about the Continent, I +often used to live with New York, Chicago, and +Boston, for considerable periods."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wyndham has often given us charming +sketches of the Americans," chimed in Miss +Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't pretend to be much of a hand +at that sort of thing," said Mr. Shanner, with +pleasant humility. "I can only just give my +impressions as a plain observer. But then I'm +a man of affairs, and nothing at all of an artist +or a literary man." Wyndham observed how +careful and honeyed his delivery was; it seemed +to advertise a perpetual self-consciousness of +being a gentleman.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Shanner is unduly modest," put in Mr. +Robinson. "His descriptions are most entertaining."</p> + +<p>"Well, of course, I can speak of things within +my experience, and make myself fairly clear—in +my own way, of course. But, from all that you +people have been telling me, I shouldn't attempt +to emulate Mr. Wyndham."</p> + +<p>Mr. Shanner gave a strange little laugh, full +of insincere echoes; which failed in its implication +of good-fellowship, and only emphasised +the ill-nature it was meant to cover. +Wyndham was not a little bewildered; conscious +of some suppressed excitement in the +man, some ruffling of the ashen chiaroscuro. +This impression was deepened when dinner was + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +announced, and Mr. Shanner made what was +perilously like a dart to the side of Miss Robinson +and offered his arm. Wyndham stepped +out of their way, bowing as they passed him.</p> + +<p>At table Mr. Shanner gave no undue signs +of modesty or self-distrust, but talked about +"things within his experience" with the utmost +unconstraint. An unmistakable note of assurance +animated the honeyed voice, which +soared away occasionally, yet sedulously recollected +itself; drew back within bounds, reverted +to the lesser pitch and the deliberate +pace. Mr. Shanner was at pains to let it be +seen that he was a man of affairs on the grand +scale, one to be ranked with diplomatists and +ambassadors. In the course of business he had +come into contact with exalted personages of +almost every kingdom, and had corresponded +voluminously with some of them. He carried +an assortment of their letters in his pocketbook, +which lay on the table as a perpetual +source of illustration. He spoke of some of +these great ones of the earth with extreme +familiarity—he had been closeted with them +on confidential business, and he flattered himself +he had counted for something in certain +important decisions of policy. And, as he +warmed to the conversation, far from being +"out of it," he was king of the table, his +honeyed words emerged endlessly. There was +a distinct flash of challenge in his occasional + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +glances at Wyndham—he was not to be overborne +by the presence of any aristocrat on earth. +And not content with all this insistent implication +of his personal importance, he even +related by way of pleasant interlude how, with +ear to one private telephone and mouth to +another, he had smartly seized a sudden opportunity, +and, buying an incoming cargo through +the first telephone and selling it through the +second, had netted twenty thousand pounds for +his firm. Whereas Wyndham amused himself +trying to measure the depths of Mr. Shanner's +contempt should he suspect that the sole resources +of his vis-à-vis were the guineas to be +paid him from Mr. Robinson's treasury.</p> + +<p>It was evident, too, that Mr. Shanner was +more familiarly at home in the house than +Wyndham. He called its master "Robinson"; +most significant of all, Miss Robinson was Alice +to him. Indeed, his manner, as he sat next to +her, was almost proprietorial; at any rate it +had easy, affectionate suggestions about it. +She, however, had fallen back into a shy constraint; +though she emerged at moments, lifting +her deep-glancing eyes to Wyndham and +flashing him the friendliest of messages. +Wyndham understood by now; knew also that +it was clear to Mr. Shanner that they were +rivals—that a mutual detestation lurked +beneath their pleasant amenities. He had +gathered also that Mr. Shanner meant to show + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +that he did not concern himself one jot about +the new star that had appeared in the firmament +during his absence. But Wyndham came +off easily the victor, displaying for Mr. Shanner +a charming deference, and pursuing the unruffled +tenour of his entertaining conversation without +manifesting in the slightest degree any of the +emotions that the evening had raised in his +breast. Such perfect unconsciousness of +matters intensely present, Mr. Shanner could +not hope to emulate. It was clear he was uneasily +alive to the contrast—that he had the +growing consciousness of defeat. His note of +self-emphasis rang louder, though smothered +continuously.</p> + +<p>The war continued after dinner; Mr. Shanner +eagerly turning the pages of Miss Robinson's +music, and so entirely appropriating her that +Wyndham could scarcely contrive to approach +her during the rest of the evening. However, +Wyndham smilingly kept his place in the background, +disdaining to assert himself or to enter +openly into emulation; though there were opportunities +he, the socially experienced, might +have seized adroitly. After all, why annoy this +admirable, upright gentleman? Even as it was, +poor Mr. Shanner was fated to receive one or +two sharp slashes; as when, in the course of describing +the sittings, Mrs. Robinson let it be +clearly seen that she was not always present to +chaperone her daughter in the studio. At that + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +moment Mr. Shanner's face was an extraordinary +face to look upon; although he affected to +laugh and smile, and packed even more honey +into his voice. All of which forced sweetness +notwithstanding, it began to be evident that the +topic of the picture, and of Wyndham's work +in general, bored him considerably. At last, +when Mrs. Robinson innocently suggested that +Wyndham should ask him to come to see the +portrait at the studio, he deprecated the idea +with some degree of vehemence. He really +was very busy in the daytime now. Besides, +he added pleasantly, on principle he never cared +to see an article whilst yet on order; time +enough to examine it when it was tendered for +delivery. He smiled meaningly at Wyndham as +if to accentuate that these commercial metaphors +were merely by way of pleasantry.</p> + +<p>"And then it's so extremely difficult for an +outsider to get any idea of an unfinished +picture, and of course I don't profess to be a +judge of art in any case, though I know what I +like."</p> + +<p>So, if Mr. Wyndham would excuse him, he +added, he would rather wait till the portrait had +come home, and had been hung in the house.</p> + +<p>It was not without difficulty that Wyndham +found his opportunity of arranging the little +tea-party at which the ladies were to meet his +sister. Miss Robinson was to give him the final +sitting on the Tuesday; so it was therefore + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +agreed that the tea should take place on that +day after work was over. The sitter herself +crimsoned deeply at learning that Mary "had +admired her immensely," and her eyes glistened +in a way that showed her pleasure and +rapturous appreciation.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> +<h2>XIII</h2> + +<p>The definite figure of Mr. Shanner with his +magnificent appropriation of Miss Robinson +merely impelled Wyndham to smash up this +rival at once and have done with the business. +The evening had obscured all the repugnance +that lay in the depths of him; had stimulated +roseate conceivings of possible felicity.</p> + +<p>On the Tuesday he found his opportunity. +Miss Robinson came alone, explaining that her +mother would not appear till the time fixed for +the tea-party. The weather was rigorously +wintry now, and a biting wind blew in as the +door was opened. A new layer of snow had +fallen during the last hour, and Miss Robinson +had come across wrapped in a big, heavy cloak. +He ushered her through the ante-room with a +charming air of solicitude, to which she vibrated +like a struck harp, and gave him the softest and +tenderest intonations of her voice. He helped +her off with the cloak, and hung it away carefully, +the whilst she stooped and warmed her +long hands at the lavishly heaped-up fire. Her +throat and arms now showed at their best, and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +her face had some strange, almost mystic +undertone of happiness. As she bent down +there before his eyes, she completely blotted out +the impression of the insignificant plain woman +whom he had suddenly come upon in the streets; +of the everyday Miss Robinson that at one time +had almost become an obsession. At that +moment she was well-nigh the idealised figure +he had painted. Yet there was something even +subtler in her which he had missed, and knew +that he had missed. But, studying his own +work again, he saw that that was just as well; +for the picture existed as a separate creation, a +piece of painting first and foremost, in which +he had exhibited the cleverness of his brush. It +was paint—distinguished, intellectual paint—more +than it was human portraiture; in spite of +all the significance with which he had tried to +invest it. As this new truth dawned upon him, +he kept glancing from sitter to canvas, and from +canvas to sitter, with a strange, surprised interest. +But her hands suddenly arrested his +attention, and he became aware that, for the +first time since he had known her, they were +absolutely bare of rings.</p> + +<p>"You have no rings to-day," he remarked, his +voice showing his surprise. "I might have +wanted to touch up the hands."</p> + +<p>Her colour deepened unaccountably. "I +thought the hands were finished," she breathed, +all of a flutter. "Shall I go back for them?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> + "What a goose it is!" he said lightly, and she +smiled again, as if pleased they were on so +charmingly intimate a footing.</p> + +<p>"Shall we not need them?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I think not," he answered, studying the +hands a little. "You were perfectly right; they +had best remain as they are."</p> + +<p>She took the pose, and for a minute or two he +worked silently; she maintaining the perfect +stillness that had at first been her cherished +ambition. He was still pondering about her +bare hands and her confusion at his having +observed them, and light came to him. Was it +to show him that no man—not even Mr. +Shanner—had any claim on her? After the +close attentions he had witnessed the other +evening, was she afraid he might infer that +some understanding existed between herself +and Mr. Shanner?—that one of these rings, +even if not a formal pledge, might be his and +worn for his sake? Her neglect of such +favourite trinkets to-day was then to indicate +that no one of them had any special sentimental +interest for her!</p> + +<p>"You are sitting perfectly to-day," he +presently remarked. "It doesn't tire you?"</p> + +<p>"What an unkind suggestion! I thought I +had got beyond the amateur stage long +ago."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry. You didn't hear, though, the +beginning of my remark."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> + "I agreed with that," she answered with a sly +humour.</p> + +<p>"So that it hadn't to be reckoned. Do you +know all women are like that?"</p> + +<p>She considered. His brush made strokes. +"Like what?" she asked at last.</p> + +<p>"If you pay them the greatest of tributes, +but are incautious enough to hint the tiniest of +qualifications, the tribute dwindles to nothing, +and they remain tremendously annoyed at the +suggestion of imperfection."</p> + +<p>"Am I like that?"</p> + +<p>"You were just now."</p> + +<p>"I was such a bother and a hindrance to you +when we started," she explained. "I used to +get tired every few minutes. And now at +last, just when I am flattering myself on my +improvement——"</p> + +<p>"You take me too seriously," he broke in.</p> + +<p>"You <i>were</i> serious," she insisted.</p> + +<p>"Serious—yes; in so far as I was afraid +you were tired. I didn't even mean it as a +qualification of my tribute; it was only genuine +concern for you."</p> + +<p>"How stupid of me!" she exclaimed. +"I ought to have felt that at once."</p> + +<p>There was another spell of silence; he +intensely absorbed in his brush, she obviously +considering.</p> + +<p>"I am not really like that," she said at last.</p> + +<p>He stood away from the canvas, glanced + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +critically at certain points, levelled his mahl-stick +at her, took up a rag, and wiped a bit +out. "Like what?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Like women."</p> + +<p>"But you are. You see, it is sticking in your +mind." He smiled wickedly.</p> + +<p>"You fight too hard," she pleaded.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," he said remorsefully. "I shall +not do it again."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm not a bit hurt," she protested. +"I was only thinking the point over."</p> + +<p>"I want to hear what you were thinking." +His smile and tone were meaningly affectionate, +as if they would add "little child."</p> + +<p>"I meant that I should never really be hurt +by qualifications. I have never been used to +having nice things said to me. I certainly do +not deserve tributes, but I know I deserve all +possible qualifications."</p> + +<p>"Oh, if you please! I'll not allow even +Miss Robinson to say such slanderous things +about so valued a friend of mine."</p> + +<p>"So I have been slandering a friend of yours! +I'm so sorry. Forgive me."</p> + +<p>"I suppose I must—though I find it hard—very +hard."</p> + +<p>"I do believe you are paying me a tribute," +she laughed. "Now for the qualifications. +You shall see how stoical I am."</p> + +<p>"Qualifications—none!" He threw down his +brushes and palette, as if to emphasise the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +declaration. "I'm tired first," he sang out gaily. +"Let us rest."</p> + +<p>"There!" she exclaimed. "What a triumph +for me!"</p> + +<p>"But you say it so gently that it is a pleasure +to concede you the victory. You are an ideal foe."</p> + +<p>"Oh, if you please, I don't want to be a foe. +... How cold it is!" She stooped and held her +hands again to the fire.</p> + +<p>"No, child," he said gently, "of course we +aren't foes. We are very good friends indeed, +aren't we?" He held out his hand, as if to +clench the understanding, so clearly and warmly +acknowledged.</p> + +<p>She was all a-flutter again, though, as was her +habit, she covered it up with a smile. "Very +good friends!" she returned, with conviction, +and she put her hand in his, and let it linger +there. "I have always lived reserved and to +myself," she added thoughtfully. "You may +think it strange, but I have never had a friend +before—not even a woman friend."</p> + +<p>"I can well understand your shrinking away +from people. No doubt most people would jar +on you."</p> + +<p>"It would hurt me if I thought that. I should +not like to despise anybody. I should have +loved to have friends: only I have never had the +gift of making them. Sometimes I am thankful +that I am not brilliant—I might so easily have +become unendurable and full of self-conceit."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> + "Ah, you are something better than brilliant," +he exclaimed. "It needs an exceptional spirit +to appreciate you. You are so much out of the +ordinary in every way, in looks——"</p> + +<p>"No, no," she interrupted in protest. "I have +no looks. I have no illusions about that."</p> + +<p>"Look at your own portrait," he insisted. +"I say it is the kind of beauty it needs a gift +to appreciate. In beauty—as in everything +else—the crowd runs after the obvious and the +commonplace."</p> + +<p>"You are the first that ever thought I +possessed good looks. You have given them +to me."</p> + +<p>"I have not even done you justice. I have +omitted more than I have suggested. My sister +thinks you are beautiful; all my artist friends +who have seen the picture share her opinion."</p> + +<p>She was silent, almost distressed; she could +not meet his gaze, but turned her eyes away.</p> + +<p>"It gave me pleasure to hear you appreciated," +he continued. "You are above conventional +compliments. I withdraw what I said before. +You are <i>not</i> like other women."</p> + +<p>Her breath came and went as she listened, +but she smiled bravely.</p> + +<p>"At any rate I am not like <i>some</i> women. +I never could take any of the deeper aspects +of life in a merely frivolous spirit. With me +it is a loyal, deep friendship, or nothing."</p> + +<p>He took her hand again. "Believe me, dear + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +child, the friendship on my part is equally +loyal and deep. It is for life."</p> + +<p>"For life," she murmured, suddenly grown +pale.</p> + +<p>He dashed in, determined to strike home.</p> + +<p>"I prize you at your full worth, since I am +one of those who can measure it. I have the +deepest affection for you. I believe I could +make you happy. Don't you understand? I +offer you my whole life—that is, if you think +me worthy."</p> + +<p>"Worthy!" she echoed, in dazed distress. +"How can you think me worthy of you! +I have lived in narrow retirement. I am +nothing."</p> + +<p>He seized both her hands now. "No more +of this. I ask for your promise."</p> + +<p>"I love you with all my heart and soul. +But I am not good enough for you."</p> + +<p>"I thought we agreed you were not like +other women, and yet there is this stiff-necked +obstinacy." He drew her nearer to him, and +kissed her on the lips. "It is settled—you are +to be my wife."</p> + +<p>His domination seemed to hypnotise her. +"Yes, I will do my best to make you a perfect +wife, dear," she murmured, as if bowing to his +irresistible will.</p> + +<p>He held her hands tighter, and looked into +her face as if proudly. She met his look with +glistening eyes: she was deathly pale now, and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +her lips, too, were colourless. Then abruptly +she drew her hands from him, and, as if impelled +on some tide of womanhood that rose +in high music above all hesitations, above +the fluttering timidity of her whole life, she +threw her arms round his neck, and kissed his +lips with a long abandonment.</p> + +<p>"I am now almost afraid of your sister," she +whispered presently. "I shall feel on my trial."</p> + +<p>"But she has fallen in love with you already," +he reassured her again. "And Mary is the +sweetest and gentlest soul in the world."</p> + +<p>"I know I shall love her," she said. Her +head hung down a moment in meditation. +"But let us continue the work now, dear. +I know you wish to have it finished to-day."</p> + +<p>But he had little now to add to it, and he +had made his last stroke before the dusk of +the afternoon overtook him.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> +<h2>XIV</h2> + +<p>Wyndham's career as an engaged man began +amid a radiance of enthusiasm. When his +prospective mother-in-law arrived for the tea-party, +she was enchanted at the news, declaring, +after the first joyous surprise, that it was the +wish that lay nearest to the hearts of herself +and her husband. And, presently, when Mary +appeared, and was introduced not only to "the +original of the portrait she had so admired," +but also to "a very sweet Alice" who was to +be her sister, "I guessed it," she broke out, +kissing Miss Robinson impulsively. "I am so +delighted."</p> + +<p>Heigh, presto! In a trice the three women +were chatting away like a group of old +neighbours! Wyndham became discreetly busy +with tea-things.</p> + +<p>Of course the Robinsons insisted on Mary's +dining with them, and so there was a happy +little reunion in the evening. Mr. Robinson +thrilled visibly with the honour of having Mary +at his board, and he congratulated Wyndham +with pathetic cordiality, his voice husky with +emotion, his eyes streaming with tears.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> + Such was the auspicious beginning. But the +universe seemed to vibrate to white heat as +a wider population entered into the jubilation. +Mary was the first to spread the news, her +letters reaching the Hertfordshire circle express. +In the twinkling of an eye, as it appeared to +Wyndham, a flood of letters poured through the +slit in his door. He had done that which makes +every man a hero for the moment, and dim +figures with whom he had been out of touch +for endless years started up again on the horizon, +palpitatingly actual, athrob with goodwill. In +the Bohemian world, too, confirmation of the +former rumour was not slow to be noised +abroad, and Sadler hastened to Hampstead +and burst in upon him, the massive head enthusiastically +aglow; declaring that he had never +for a moment taken Wyndham's denial seriously, +and roaring out his congratulations and envy +with an exuberance of virile expletive.</p> + +<p>At Aunt Eleanor's the Christmas festivities +were struck in a gayer key in his honour. Odes +of welcome and triumph were in the air. And +he was glad enough to be among his own world +again; living in the way that meant civilisation +to him, and breathing homage and consideration—lionised +by his equals! It was as though the +fatted calf had been killed for him, after his +prodigal riot of penury. He expanded in this +atmosphere of adulation, amid all these manifestations +in honour of the brilliant artist and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +the Prince Charming who loved and was loved +idyllically. His engagement seemed to him +now most admirable—the world's sanction had +invested it with warm and pleasant lights. +Certainly nobody deprecated or criticised the +projected alliance; though it was known to be +with middle-class people who were not in +Society, but merely quiet folk of wealth and +respectability. Mary's enthusiasm had gone +a long way in anticipating any possible caste +objections, and the word of approval went round +from one to another in the usual parrot-like +way in which public opinion has formed itself +since creation. There seemed in fact to be a +very conspiracy of approbation. Wyndham had +done wisely; and voices dropped impressively +to dwell on the Robinson millions—with the +obvious implication that that is what wealthy +middle-class people are for—to have the most +promising of their kind promoted into the upper +classes.</p> + +<p>But the Robinson fortune, though not inconsiderable, +was not the romantic one of rumour. +Mr. Robinson had already performed his duty +of writing to Wyndham on the financial aspect +of the alliance, and in so charming a way that +Wyndham had at once paid him the tribute +of "jolly decent." Since they had not had +the opportunity of disposing of the subject +<i>viva voce</i>, had said the old man, he conceived it +perhaps to be an obligation on his part to do + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +so without delaying further; after which these +matters would of course pass entirely into the +realm of Wyndham's private affairs, where he +was well content to leave them. Alice's fortune, +such as it was, had been placed under her own +control absolutely when she had attained the +age of twenty-five, and probably now, with +certain accumulations, amounted to some thirty +thousand pounds. She was a wise and prudent +child, well capable of controlling those money +matters that were naturally distasteful to so +gifted an artist, and in that way he would no +doubt find her a most useful companion. However, +he now left it to him and Alice to plan +out their future together, and wished them +all good luck. At the same time, if Wyndham +had no objection, he would like to give them +as a wedding-present any house they might +fancy, and his wife desired to furnish it or +give them a cheque for that purpose.</p> + +<p>Wyndham was in reality deeply moved by so +much considerate kindness and rare delicacy. +He wrote Mr. Robinson a charming note of +acknowledgment; though he touched just briefly +on the main theme, diverging into a chatty +account of his visit, and letting his pen run +on and on till he had covered several sheets.</p> + +<p>Each morning during his visit a letter from +Alice awaited him on the breakfast-table. For +a week or two the chant was timorous, uncertain; +of a pitch to soothe his self-complacency, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +to stir no ruffle in his holiday mood. +But towards the end of his time she found +herself—she tuned up, and adventured. And +then followed Wyndham's awakening; taking +him with the force of cataclysm, and dashing +him out of his drowsy mood of contentment. +Evidently the poor child was not living in this +world. If her feet touched earth, her head at +any rate was in a heaven of its own. She poured +herself out with a lyric fervour that was like +the song of a lark for rapture. All the years +of her life she had saved herself for this, not +frittered her emotions away in flirtations or +frivolous love-affairs—as the soberer Wyndham +now reflected. Her ideals were as unsullied as +in her childhood. Her spirit soared up with a +tremulous eager joy—without doubts, without +cynicism, with a simple sure faith in love's +paradise. Reserved, shrinking away from men, +her heart yet held rich store of treasure, and +she poured all out at his feet. Timorousness +had vanished; the soul that had woven its +own music in solitude had been translated to a +higher universe. There were no barriers now, +nothing but this joyous, confident life into which +her womanhood had passed at that moment +when, swept onward by the flood, she had +thrown her arms around him.</p> + +<p>"Dearest," she wrote, "my whole past life +seems like a half-slumber from which I have +awakened into a world almost too dazzling with + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +light and joy. Yet who am I that this joy should +have come to me? When I think of the years +when I lived alone with my own thoughts, it +seems wonderful that your love should have +been granted to me. The world is full of pale +ghosts that come and go, not knowing what +life is, and it amuses me to wonder if any of +them will ever turn into real people.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear love, you are so far, far off. +I want you here, here again with me, happy +that you love me, happy that I love you, wanting +no other life than this with your arms +round me and your heart beating close to me. +And yet I like to think that you are happy amid +your own family, in the place where your +childhood was spent. I love, dear, to dwell on +the thought of your childhood, and fancy I see +you now, a beautiful child in velvet, with a +feather in your hat and a toy sword. And +I see myself a child again, playing with this +fairy little prince in the meadows. How beautiful +if we were children like that! Impossible +does it seem? Yet is anything impossible in +this enchanted world?</p> + +<p>"Think of me, dearest, with the deepest and +truest love of your heart, as I am thinking of +you every moment of this wonderful life."</p> + +<p>And another time: "It is strange to feel how +everything is transformed since you came into +my life and made me understand what this +great happiness is. I laugh gaily at nothing; + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +yet tears come into my eyes quickly at unhappiness +or suffering. It seems as if I were born +to love you with a yearning and a passion that +sometimes frighten me, yet which I would +rather die than live without. When I first +loved you, I did not know that this would come, +that I should not be able to imagine it to be +otherwise. The thought is frightful; indeed, +if anything were to happen to change the +present, I think my heart would give one great, +great throb, and all would be over. I draw my +breath hard at the thought; there is a deep +pain at my breast; my teeth are set. But how +morbid I am to-day! how ungrateful for this +splendid gift of your love that has been +bestowed upon me! But somehow I feel +frightened; I don't believe that anybody will be +allowed to keep such happiness on this earth. +So come to me quickly, dearest; you seem so +far, far away from me. I kiss your dear letters, +I wear them near my heart, at night they are +under my pillow. I love you, I love you."</p> + +<p>And this heart-cry broke down all the strong +fibre of the man. Poor Alice! He must take +care of such a child; he must cherish her life and +make it perfect! Not in the least detail must +he fail in his duty. Never for a moment must +she think that this was—he flinched now before +the words—an engagement of convenience!</p> + +<p>An engagement of convenience! He slipped +away to his room—away from the rest of the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +world!—and sat staring into the dusk. He knew +now that he was face to face with the actuality +that lay before him in all its horror. An engagement +of convenience! He would have given the +world to recall it. His eyes saw clear again—the +enthusiasm that swirled and whirled around +him had thus far sustained him: vibrations of +romance had arisen within him, had resounded +with a certain music. But these letters of Alice, +this crescendo series, each soaring beyond the +other, had illumined the horrible poverty of his +own emotion. The freshness of her note was a +revelation and yet an agony to him. If only he +could have piped with half the thrill!</p> + +<p>He could see at last that in his specious +reasonings he had somehow assumed a largely +passive attitude on her part. Indeed, egotistically +preoccupied with his own side of the case, +he had scarcely bestowed a thought on hers. +This reality—immense—overpowering—of the +romance in her heart terrified him. He had +given her empty words, and she had given him—love! +And what else, indeed, but empty words +had he to offer her now?—had he to offer her +in the whole long vista of their future? At +the best a studied kindness, an acceptance of +duty. He had entered on a rôle of mockery, and +he knew now he was utterly unfitted to play it. +His whole nature rose and cried aloud in revolt.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> +<h2>XV</h2> + +<p>At the beginning of the New Year Wyndham +hastened back to town, and was soon at his post +striving to adapt himself to the outlook of his +life. He had tried to steel himself to confess the +miserable truth to Alice, to lay it before her +with a fidelity as unswerving as Nature, merciless +both to him and to her. But her letters +continued to shake him, and he had not the +strength to face the inevitable wreckage. To +break was to punish her: to continue was only +to punish himself. His course was obvious: he +must play the game <i>à outrance</i>. Yet he sought +temporarily to escape the actuality by immersing +himself desperately in routine.</p> + +<p>So, for the present, his days were mapped out +simply enough. He was up early, for the +winter hours of light were precious. Braced for +a great effort, he found himself drawing on +unexpected stores of vitality; he flung himself +on his masterpiece like a Viking into the mêlée +of battle, and had the reward of splendid +conquest. This sense of power, this subjugation +of his material, made his old foiled strivings and +strivings incomprehensible, incredible!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> + Meanwhile the domesticity of the house at +the corner invaded his studio, and surrounded +him with comforts and attentions that but threw +up the more vividly the issues he sought to preclude. +But he kept stifling down his rebellion; +struggling to accept the position unreservedly, +though sick with the sense of hypocrisy. He +laughingly surrendered to Alice a duplicate key +of the studio in token of their good-fellowship, +and she and her mother devoted themselves to +the loving task of smoothing his path, letting +no point that might ruffle his inspiration elude +their vigilance. Their whole life and activities +seemed to converge to the studio. Mrs. Robinson +kept discreetly in the background, though +her brain planned and her tongue discussed, and +she often went joyfully a-purchasing. Shortly +before one o'clock Alice would march across, +attended by a servant carrying his lunch, of +temptations compact, imprisoned in shining +caskets; and by the time Wyndham was ready +to sit down, his table would be nicely set out, +and the temptations spread to his view.</p> + +<p>Many precious minutes were thus saved for +him, and his train of ideas was luxuriously unbroken. +This tact and thoughtfulness was +characteristic of all the devotion that was +cherished on him. Wyndham deeply appreciated +its quality, and despite the pressure—with +sending-in day looming barely three months +ahead—gratitude no less than conscience drove + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +him to acknowledgement, to contrive that the +artist should not entirely swallow up Miss +Robinson's future husband; though her expectations +were considerately of the slightest. Thus +his negative policy was answering effectively. +With the passage of the days, he found himself +sliding into a lethargy of acquiescence in the +position. The mere physical fatigues of his +labours dulled the unrest within him, and his +brain fermented incessantly with the problems +of masses and values which his great canvas +still pressed upon him. He was glad he found +it possible at last to be accepting all outer things +so calmly. He told himself repeatedly: "Your +revolt is over. You have decided there can be +no break. So be as decent and affectionate as +you can."</p> + +<p>Thus his attentions seemed to her gallant +and charming, to hold their touch of poetry. +Flowers and bonbons, a book of verses or a +novel were frequent tributes: after his work +was done they went into town occasionally to +a concert or a theatre, and if his conversation +was of the theme with which his mind was most +saturated, she did not regard that as otherwise +than a compliment.</p> + +<p>And so these winter days sped, and January +was running its course. And out of this not unsuccessful +routine there came to him the sense +that his life was very full and singularly +complete. Of perturbation or unforeseen excitement + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +there was never a thrill. The only +moment that held a flutter for him was when +Mr. Shanner descended on the Robinsons, grey, +decorous, and austere; congratulated the pair +with an ashen smile, in the honeyed accents that +had charmed so many diplomatists; and bestowed +solemn formal attentions on the engaged +lady throughout the evening.</p> + +<p>The whole plot of his drama had in verity +been revealed, was Wyndham's frequent reflection; +and with that final comedy-scene the +curtain had seemed to fall, and he knew all +that there was to know.</p> + +<p>But his own wretched money affairs were +soon to give him food for pondering. Alice's +portrait had gone home in a splendid frame +to find a temporary resting-place before being +tossed to the Academy; and Mr. Robinson, +though seeing him face to face almost daily, +delicately sent his cheque by post. Wyndham +grasped it with relief: but it proved merely the +illumination that accentuated the darkness. For +overdue rent and many other calls made it melt +away with terrifying swiftness; and Wyndham +had indebted himself to the family jeweller for +presents to Miss Robinson. Impecuniosity approached +him again with no vague menace; +kicked him brutally out of his ostrich-like attitude. +Nevertheless he shrank in terror from +the definite thought of pressing forward the +marriage; though, in the clear light of these + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +latter self-communings, money was the sole +reason why he had sought it. Not only did he +fear that life of simulation with a sickness +immeasurable: but he foresaw endless money +humiliations at the very outset.</p> + +<p>He would fulfil his promise honourably, whatever +the spiritual cost of it! But he could not +face money humiliations in the eyes of his inferiors! +A thousand times "no"! He must +trust, despite all, to his own strength and performance!—he +would do brilliantly with his +pictures in the spring!—he would follow up the +success and conquer London! He waved aside +all his past disasters: he saw his good star in +the ascendant, shining—he fixed his eyes on it +fanatically. It was an irony of ironies that, +after his great surrender, his pride should still +flame up unconquered. Before the moral tragedy +of love yoked to mockery, he might bow his +head in resignation; but Miss Robinson's fortune +loomed up as a ridiculous and contemptible complication +in a situation already nigh impossible.</p> + +<p>The metaphor of the vulture was often back +in his mind now! The heap of carrion!—he +had stooped for the sake of it, and it was +now even more loathsome than his former +morbid perception of it. His poverty seemed +suddenly unbearable. In the past he had +endured it. Now, for the first time, he was +ashamed of it.</p> + +<p>So he spoke to the Robinsons of a six months' + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +engagement or thereabouts—which, to their +ideas, was reputable and in order; and then +felt he had time before him to fling down the +gauntlet to fortune again.</p> + +<p>But in estimating his resources he had counted +without his new allies. Alice whispered into +her father's ears her conviction that he might +easily influence commissions for her <i>fiancé</i>; and, +after thinking about it, Mr. Robinson felt he +would like to have a try.</p> + +<p>A rich, powerful Insurance Corporation had +voted a portrait of its retiring president for the +adornment of its board-room. Mr. Robinson +set to work astutely, and the commission came +to Wyndham. Item, three hundred guineas. +But, before this new portrait had progressed +very far, Wyndham had fascinated his subject—a +tall, white-bearded merchant prince who +sat to him with mysterious insignia, and resplendent +chains and emblems. "A marvellous young +fellow," he confided to Mr. Robinson. "I must +really congratulate you on him—it's a treat to +be in his society. And gifted! That great picture +of Hyde Park Corner is worthy of Raphael." +And for the pleasure of his company, and out +of admiration for his talent, this bluff, good-natured +president had at once arranged for +paintings of himself and his wife for his own +dining-room.</p> + +<p>He generously and spontaneously made the +fee seven hundred guineas. "There are two of + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +us this time, and why should I get off cheaper +than the Insurance Company?" he asked +genially; in a spirit rare enough in the +twentieth century, but nothing out of the way +in the days of the grand patrons. "Besides, +you're worth it," he roared out bluffly. "And +the privilege of going down to posterity in your +society can hardly be appraised at all."</p> + +<p>Wyndham relished the compliment, though +wincing inwardly at the thought that the wind +that blew him good came always from the same +quarter: yet in view of other important sitters +he began to think of a more accessible studio.</p> + +<p>"Why not a house with the studio?" suggested +the Robinsons. "You could move in +now, and furnish the rooms at your leisure, +so as to have them ready for the marriage."</p> + +<p>Wyndham fell in with the idea. He thought +the locality had better be Chelsea, somewhere +near the Embankment; a long distance from +Hampstead, it was true, but an ideal situation +for an artist. Somehow the sense of the distance, +as he lingered on it, was not unacceptable. +Alice flinched. "We could still look after you," +she murmured bravely.</p> + +<p>"Besides, I could easily cut to and fro in a +hansom," put in Wyndham.</p> + +<p>So off the old pair started at once on the +quest, drawing some renewal of zestful youth +from its absorbing interest. One day they +reported a stroke of fortune; they had come + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +upon the ideal thing. The rent was not impossible, +and the tenant could have the option +of purchasing the freehold. The next evening +they took Wyndham to see it—a charming +artist's house in Tite Street, with a broad +frontage and a luxurious and unconventional +interior. On the entrance floor—an unusual +hall and three fine rooms. Above—a great +studio and another excellent room. Below were +the domestic regions with many household +refinements, and bedrooms for the servants. +Wyndham and Alice were enchanted.</p> + +<p>Mr. Robinson was anxious to purchase this +property outright as his promised wedding-gift; +but Wyndham, again shrinking inwardly, diplomatically +deferred the project. So the lease +was signed, and the removal at once effected. +Wyndham's belongings were swiftly installed +on the upper floor of the house, at the loss of +only a single day to him; and, leaving him to +his labours, the others, in the enjoyment of their +unlimited leisure, saw that the hall and stairway +were made presentable for callers.</p> + +<p>But at this point Wyndham came to a dead +stop with his labour-canvas, to which he had +of late devoted his mornings entirely, keeping +the afternoons for his sitters. He saw that it +was imperative he should now make some fresh +sketches on the spot. But to regain his exact +vision he must have access to the old window in +Grosvenor Place. Yet the very thought of the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +house and the memory of those former visits +had a strange shattering effect on him. And +some warning voice rose sternly, bade him not +renew these old associations.</p> + +<p>He reasoned the matter out, and hesitation +seemed absurd. For the sake of his picture, it +was essential he should occupy a certain point +of view. Though he had let the acquaintanceship +lapse entirely ever since Lady Betty's +marriage, access to that point of view was no +doubt a simple matter. A mere letter of request, +and the old earl would readily give his permission. +This time he would probably come +and go without seeing anybody at all.</p> + +<p>Wyndham sat down to write the letter, the +interest of the composition ousting for the time +his irrational misgivings. He recalled himself +to the earl's recollection, explained that the +picture for which he had made the former +sketches had unavoidably been put aside; but +now that he was at last able to take it up +again he desired to make some fresh sketches, +and begged the use of his old post of vantage for +a few mornings. He concluded with the hope +that the earl was in the best of health, and sent +his respects and remembrances to his daughter, +should the earl be seeing her just then.</p> + +<p>It was the merest courtesy on his part to show +he had not forgotten Lady Betty! After all, +their lives were so entirely alien now!</p> + +<p>He addressed and stamped the letter; then his +strong instinct against the whole proceeding + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +reasserted itself. He rose and paced about. +The warning voice said, "Keep away from +Grosvenor Place. No good will come of it." +"But it's absurd," he said aloud. "The thing's +an absolute necessity—I can't throw over the +picture at this stage. My whole artistic future +depends upon it. What harm can possibly arise +from my going there? Lady Betty? Why, +she's a matron by now! And probably not even +in England. And if she were, what is she to me +now? And at any rate I am certainly nothing to +her. If I stumbled up against her the very first +morning I went there, we should still be far as +the poles asunder. She was certainly a wonderful +girl, and I of course fell headlong in love +with her. Put any impressionable fellow with +poetic ideals in the way of a lovely, clever girl +and I suppose he's bound to feel cut up when +somebody else marries her. But it's all as dead +as King John now. I'll go there and do my +work and wind up with a letter of thanks."</p> + +<p>He put on his hat and coat, and took up the +letter. "Don't go there," repeated the voice. +"No good will come of it."</p> + +<p>"Rubbish!" he said. "I can't chuck up the +picture. It's all right."</p> + +<p>He went downstairs and out into Tite Street, +a little confused by all this current of doubt +and reasoning, and by no means absolutely +sure of himself. But, annoyed at realising this, +he began to go forward sturdily, and flung the +letter into the first pillar-box he encountered.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> +<h2>XVI</h2> + +<p>As Wyndham read the reply to his letter, it +seemed as if the kind, bluff voice of the old +earl were itself speaking. "A few mornings! +Come along and make your nice little sketches +for the next half-century. We have often +thought of you, and wondered what you were +up to. I think we may say with truth that +we've missed you. This is a dull house now, +and I suppose I'm getting old and dull myself. +At any rate I've many a twinge in the joints, +and am inclined to shut myself up in my library, +though I'm never much of a reader." Then +there was a PS. "Somebody or other tells +me that you are contemplating matrimony. +Well, you're a brave young fellow, and I like +you for it. I congratulate you, and wish you +luck."</p> + +<p>As the next morning turned out fairly clear, +Wyndham took his materials with him into +a hansom, and rang the bell at Grosvenor Place +at about ten o'clock. Not only had he decided +that his misgivings were entirely morbid, but +as a matter of course he had been quite open + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +with the Robinsons about the arrangement. +He had indeed explained to Alice some considerable +time ago that he should in all likelihood +find it necessary to make these fresh +sketches on the very scene of the picture. It did +not seem anything out of the way to her; she +regarded it as a pure matter of work. It was +sufficient that she understood his disappearance +from the studio in the midst of these busy times. +And as he had made it a point that she should +possess a key of the new house just as she +had had one of the old studio, she and her +mother could come and go as they pleased in +his absence, and proceed with their engrossing +business of embellishing his hall and stairway.</p> + +<p>But as he set foot in the house at Grosvenor +Place after this long interval of years, +Wyndham could not maintain his reasoned +conviction of the simplicity and insignificance +of the occasion.</p> + +<p>He had the very real thrill of embarking on +some extraordinary adventure; even of stepping +outside his own existence—that theatre where +he had been the spectator of his own fate, +whose curtain—fire-proof—had already fallen +on a played-out drama. But here was a strange +theatre, with a curtain to rise, fascinating with +promise of other drama to be revealed; yet +the stillness and the dim light cast some spell +of awe upon him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> + A hand seemed to clutch at him and pull +him back out of the house at the last moment. +He was penetrating here against the warning +of his deeper self; his heart beat fast not merely +with the consciousness of imprudence, but of +downright disloyalty to the settled destiny +before which he had bowed his head so profoundly. +The warning voice, too, was stern; +but the sense of daring, of courting and facing +some unknown delicious danger, lured him +forward.</p> + +<p>His lordship had already gone across to his +club, the butler informed him; but he had +half-expected Wyndham and had left orders +in case he should present himself. As he followed +the man up to the room he had used +of old, he felt, despite the lofty well of the +staircase, that the air hung heavy in the great +house, muffled and silent with gigantic hangings, +and thick carpets underfoot. Wyndham +stood at the well-known window a leisurely +moment, then arranged a chair or two, and +unpacked his materials. The butler helped him +to open the casement at the side of the bay +and to rearrange the curtain, then asked if +there was anything more he could do for +him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, would you get my hat again?" returned +Wyndham, as a current of wintry air flowed +in. He laughed; having forgotten he could not +work uncovered.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> + When finally the man had complied with his +request, and left him again, Wyndham looked +out on the scene before him, his eye lingering +for a moment on the royal gardens, then trying +to catch the exact view he had painted. But +as yet his mind was in too great a turmoil +to concentrate itself sternly on the business +in hand. "I shall be acclimatised in a minute +or two," he reassured himself. "The atmosphere +of this house is so oppressive—it upset me the +first moment." He stood gratefully inhaling +the fresher draught that streamed against his +face; and when he had calmed down he took +a turn or two about the room, observing it with +interest. He had scarcely received any impression +of it yet, but now he perceived that +it was greatly changed in some respects. A +new fireplace, and a mantel of a dainty cabinet-like +design, replaced the former streaked framework +of marble that had enshrined a great +rococo grate. The double leaf door that led +to some adjoining room had had its hanging +stripped away, and the beauty of panelling +showed naked and unashamed. The former +carpet had gone; there were now soft Eastern +rugs on the floor lying closely side by side, and +covering it entirely. But though the Chippendale +bookcases and the rest of the furniture had been +left untouched, there was somehow a more +intimate personal note about the room; accentuated +perhaps by the trifles and photographs + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +clustered about the mantelshelf. And then +Wyndham came to an abrupt stop as if some +sheet of flame had flashed by and seared him. +There in the centre of the mantel, next to a tiny +clock shaped like a Gothic arch, stood the silver +easel bearing the framed photograph of his old +Academy picture—his wedding present to Lady +Betty!</p> + +<p>Why was it here in this house? he asked +himself, trembling. Had she left it behind +because she esteemed it so lightly? Or was +there perhaps some special significance in the +fact; something his thought groped for wildly +and blindly as if in panic?</p> + +<p>He staggered back to the window, astonished +to find how overcome he had been. The air +revived him, and then a new and sterner spirit +came upon him. Was he going to waste his +whole morning by yielding himself to these idle +and futile emotions? Resolutely he prepared +his palette, and bent his mind by force to his +task. He was pleased presently to find how +exactly his eye recovered his scene; he felt he +could almost lay the one he had painted over +this one, and that it would fit like a transfer. +Slowly and carefully he let the view sink into +him, estimating the tones, the masses, the +spaces; peopling it in his mind with all the +figures and accessories that went to build up +his great symbolic representation. Then he set +one of the smaller canvasses on his knee, and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +started his note-making. Soon he was absorbed +in the work, glad that he had forced himself to +begin, and that the little wheels of his mind were +turning so smoothly.</p> + +<p>At eleven the butler appeared with wine and +sandwiches, moved a little table over near +Wyndham, and set down the tray within reach +of his hand. Wyndham was glad of this +refreshment; he had been in too uncertain a +mood to do more than gulp down his coffee +at breakfast, and the raw air had roused a +craving for some sort of sustenance—a desire +for stimulation rather than a keen hunger. He +swallowed a glass of the wine, then began to +nibble a sandwich slowly; but his mind was +still in his work. He half-knew that the great +folding door at the bottom of the room had +opened, that somebody had entered. But it was +as in a dream, and he did not look up. He +considered his results, then poured more wine, +and was in the act of raising it to his lips. God! +what was this gracious, willowy figure, with the +wonderful sheen on the fresh hair, and the +girlish rounded cheeks! She was smiling at +him, her eyes strangely alight under their long, +soft lashes, her lips half parted; she was +advancing towards him with outstretched +hand. He put back the glass on the table and +rose hastily, holding his sketch suspended from +one hand; but his wits left him and he stared as +at a ghost.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> + "Lady Betty!" he stammered.</p> + +<p>"I am not an apparition," she reassured him; +"but only a simple flesh-and-blood creature. +Won't you put down your picture?" She smiled +again at his embarrassment.</p> + +<p>He laughed, and stood the sketch on a chair.</p> + +<p>"Your presence certainly startled me," he confessed. +"I had an idea you were thousands +of miles away." They took hands—a good, +comrade-like clasp. "Fortunately the idea was +erroneous."</p> + +<p>"Fortunately," she echoed, laughingly capping +his gallantry.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but how stupid I am! Forgive me!" He +almost swept the hat from his head. "You see +how I was scared; how ill prepared to cope with +apparitions."</p> + +<p>She laughed again. "You are to keep your +hat on," she commanded. "My presence is +easily accounted for; out of sheer restlessness of +spirit I thought I should like to try London +again—I had shunned it like the plague for ever +so long. As all the nice little hotels were full, +I descended on my father here, and practically +appropriated this room."</p> + +<p>"I fear I'm an intruder," he stammered.</p> + +<p>"You had my permission; it was obtained in +due form. Only I insisted my name was to be +held back. I wanted to play the apparition, and +my father entered into the whim of the thing. +It seems like old times again."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> + Wyndham tried to transport himself back along +the years. "I wonder whether there's anything +better in life than to repeat the best moments of +the past," he said pensively; "that is, if we can +catch them with all the original magic in them." +He saw her head drop a little; her expression +was full of musing, half-sad and tender. Then +he remembered that things had indeed changed +since those old days, that Lady Betty had a +husband! It was strange, but the apparition, +besides the rest of the mischief, had momentarily +driven the fact from the store of his knowledge. +He had had absolutely the delusion that this was +the brilliant Lady Betty, still unwed, to whom no +suitor might aspire save with yachts and palaces.</p> + +<p>"I have been calling you Lady Betty!" he +exclaimed. "The delusion of old times was very +strong."</p> + +<p>"Please to keep on with the Lady Betty—I +come back to it so easily. It quite pleased me +when it slipped from your lips. You have +stepped out of the long ago; I step back to +meet you. You must still think of me as +Lady Betty."</p> + +<p>"And Lord Lakeden?" he murmured, though +he felt the inquiry was rather a belated courtesy.</p> + +<p>She stared at him, her cheeks white, her eyes +growing unnaturally large.</p> + +<p>"Your husband—I hope he is well," he explained, +bewildered by this new expression that +seemed to hold mingled amazement and horror.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> + "My husband!" She laughed—a weird peal +that filled him with a fear as of blinding flashes +to come. "Did you not know? I thought the +whole world knew. I have no husband!"</p> + +<p>He looked at her. "I don't understand," he +stammered.</p> + +<p>"I really believe you don't," she said, her face +still blanched. "My married life was a short +one. Lord Lakeden met with an accident on the +Alps—the summer before last. He went out +without a guide. The details were in all the +papers. It was one of the sensations of the silly +season." Again a nervous laugh, but more than +ever it was full of unnatural echoes.</p> + +<p>Instinctively Wyndham took off his hat again, +and stood with his head bowed. "I am sorry. +My condolences are late, but they are sincere."</p> + +<p>"I somehow expected you would write to me +at the time. Hosts and hosts wrote to me—till +my head went dizzy; but never a word from +you." She was speaking with greater command +of herself now, but he felt in her words a world +of reproach.</p> + +<p>"I was living as a hermit at the time. I saw +nobody for—shall I say it seemed to me a lifetime—save +the poor old woman who came to +turn out my studio once in every three months +perhaps."</p> + +<p>"Ah, you were unhappy!" Her face softened, +telling of a swift, spontaneous sympathy.</p> + +<p>"I was nigh starving. I never saw a newspaper + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +unless by chance; my pennies were too +precious."</p> + +<p>"My poor friend!" Her eyes gleamed as if +tears were about to come.</p> + +<p>"I played the game up to a certain point with +all my strength, but everything went against me +from every quarter. I know there are men that +would have risen triumphant above all these +evils and difficulties. But I was not one of those +men. I was beaten—smashed—utterly and hopelessly. +I had not the smallest reserve of power +to carry on the fight. I lived cut off from the +world like a man in a tomb. I am ashamed to +think that I kept myself alive——"</p> + +<p>"No, no," she interrupted, shivering. "I can't +bear it."</p> + +<p>"I am ashamed that I did not die," he persisted. +"It is the truth. It is the first time I +say it either to myself or to another. In order +to live I stepped below myself."</p> + +<p>She covered her face with her hands. "I +know you are misjudging. You are harsh with +yourself. I hold to my faith in you."</p> + +<p>"I lived on the earnings of my sister, who +stinted herself in food and went shabbily clad +that she might foster my work. Yet, for terrible +months and months, I deceived her. I did no +work. My will was dead. As a man I seemed +to collapse physically and morally."</p> + +<p>"You were not responsible. There is a limit to +human endurance. You needed a delicious rest + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +in some blue sunny place, in one of those earthly +paradises where the orange-trees are golden in +the sun. Your sister's love consecrated her +sacrifice. She saved you for a great future. Her +reward is yet to come."</p> + +<p>"You see everything in so sweet a light; I +can only hope that the issue will be as you say. +It is on my future work that I have staked +the redemption of my manhood in my own eyes. +My work! That is where my real heart lies. +Outside of that my life will be a mere appearance."</p> + +<p>"But you have somebody else in your life +now," she broke in, pale as death. "We heard +a rumour that you were about to marry. Is it +not true?"</p> + +<p>He gasped at the bitter reminder. He hung +his head. "It is true," he breathed.</p> + +<p>"Then you have given your affections: you +are happy?"</p> + +<p>He wavered for a deep instant, the whilst +her eyes rested on him gravely. "I have given +my affections—I am happy." To himself he +added: "I must be loyal to Alice, if indeed I +have not gone too far already. But Lady Betty +has made me see the truth. I understand now +what I felt only obscurely—I bartered my life +to the Robinsons, kind as they are, that I might +repair the hurt and wrong to Mary."</p> + +<p>"I congratulate you from my heart." She +held out her hand again with a wan smile. He + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +took it limply; feeling he held it on false +pretences, that the sudden check he had put on +his impulsive outpouring had raised a barrier +between them.</p> + +<p>"But forgive me for my stupid egotism. +Here am I, a great strapping fellow, pitying +myself because of a very ordinary sort of dismal +failure; more than commonplace by the side +of the great sorrow that came to you."</p> + +<p>"Great sorrow!" Again that wild peal of +laughter. "It was a great joy, the greatest joy +I have ever known. When they brought me +the news, I went out into the garden of our +chalet, and, sure that no eyes were upon me, I +danced on the green in the sunlight—with the +blood pulsing so deliciously through my veins. +I was free—I was free! The world seemed so +beautiful! the sky and the mountains so exquisite! +Life was such a gift! I was free—free!"</p> + +<p>She stood up straight, all her muscles tense, +her limbs quivering. The pallor had gone; her +face glowed with an exultation that was almost +of triumph. He stood spellbound at her revelation, +unable to find a word.</p> + +<p>"Ah, you don't understand what it is to be +free again! Degradation! I tasted it to its +depths. Yours was no degradation! You +know nothing of it. I was tied to a brute—no, +the brutes are decent and lovable. He was +lower—he was lower."</p> + +<p>Her voice broke in a sob, though no tears + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +came. Wyndham was still silent; he would +not seek to penetrate her last reserve. "Don't +think me too horrible," she pleaded. "You are +the only living being to whom I have bared my +soul. You were the one to whom my mind flew +as my friend—I have waited for this moment. +You must not set me down as a monster."</p> + +<p>"A monster!" he exclaimed. He was thrown +off his irksome guard, and the instant was fatal! +"Oh, no, no! I shall always hold you for what +you are, for what you have always been to me—a +rare princess!"</p> + +<p>"I have always been to you—" she echoed, +then broke off, her bosom heaving, her eyes +flashing out with the full comprehension of his +almost unwitting avowal. Then she went pale +to the lips again. "You never spoke," she +breathed, "and I did not guess."</p> + +<p>He realised, half in a daze, that his secret +had escaped him; yet—with swift change of +mood—he was recklessly glad that she understood +at last: even as, standing before her, he, +too, understood at last—reading her distress, +treasuring her implied reproach for its clear +significance, though it put him on his defence.</p> + +<p>"I was not even on the footing of a guest in +this house. The very bread that kept me alive +was not my own. It is the law of the world."</p> + +<p>"You were wrong. There is no law."</p> + +<p>"There is the law of pride," he argued. "We +men do not stoop to happiness, we stoop only + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +to degradation.... And then I feared to break +the spell," he went on, seeking a lighter strain. +"The wonderful princess would disappear, and +I should be left rubbing my eyes."</p> + +<p>"But it was you who disappeared. The +princess thought you shunned her, and she +was left—to weep—"</p> + +<p>He hung his head like a broken reed. He had +no longer anything to hide; he had already +sufficiently disclosed to her that his marriage +was to be a loveless one. She would understand +and respect his first desire to keep his true relation +to Alice sacred from her gaze. But Lady +Betty's revelation of tragic experience had swept +him off his feet. He had responded to her +great emotion; had confessed his allegiance to +her through all and despite all. His life seemed +linked to hers with a mystic, enduring passion. +And yet were they not hopelessly sundered?</p> + +<p>"'Men must work and women must weep,'" +she quoted. "Ah, well! we never can win our +ideals; life is always a compromise. Perhaps +it's a blessing to see our clear obligations."</p> + +<p>"Yes—if one has the strength to turn one's +eyes aside from the dreams; but saddening +otherwise."</p> + +<p>"Saddening otherwise," she echoed pensively. +"But I thank you that I am still the wonderful +princess, even after my terrible confession."</p> + +<p>He took a step forward, and seized her hand +impulsively.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> + "Never believe otherwise, no matter what +you may hear of me. Whether this be the last +time I see you or not, whether I fail and be +broken again, my last breath shall proclaim my +allegiance to—the wonderful princess! Listen, +the woman I am marrying is more than goodness +itself. I cannot pretend to match her; +my manhood falls below her womanhood. But +into the inner chamber of my life she can +never enter. Out of loyalty to her I gave you +to understand that I had given my affections. +That is true, but not in the sense I led you to +believe. There is no reason why I should not +be open now; it would be a poor compliment +to you after all this mutual confidence if I could +not bare to you the absolute truth. And the +absolute truth is—I have sold myself for safety, +for the sake of my art, and for the sake of my +sister. It would be unendurable were there not +the mitigation of the esteem I have for the +woman I am marrying, and for the many +qualities of kindness and goodness in that +whole household. But she is not my true mate. +Unlimited as is her virtue in a hundred ways, +she herself is yet limited. My work must find +inspiration entirely apart from her. May I +think of you, princess, as my inspiration?"</p> + +<p>"She is a good woman. You must be loyal +to her."</p> + +<p>"It would be no disloyalty; I should be +cherishing the ideal."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> + She was smiling and radiant again. "I can +scarcely stop you—I see it would certainly be +rash to try. Well, goodbye now; I have a +thousand little neglected things crying to me. +And your moments, too, are precious. You will +be here again one of these mornings?"</p> + +<p>"To-morrow," he said. "For the present, we +may be friends?"</p> + +<p>"Till the tide sweeps us apart."</p> + +<p>"The cruel tide!" he murmured. "But you +will always be the wonderful princess," he insisted +again.</p> + +<p>"I shall try to be worthy of the title."</p> + +<p>She gave him a charming curtsey, flitted +away down the room, threw him yet a smile, +and disappeared behind the panelled door +through which she had come.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> +<h2>XVII</h2> + +<p>For some time Wyndham stood with his head +still bowed as Lady Betty's voice lingered in his +ear. Her figure was still there before him, her +lovely girl's face radiant with the smile with +which she had vanished, her slender form in +all its upright grace; a nymph of whom Botticelli +had caught a glimpse on a spring morn +when the world was rediscovering beauty.</p> + +<p>He tried to recall the scene that had just been +enacted, and dizzily held it all in a flash. He +and Lady Betty were in love with each other! +The fact that he had always cherished the +thought of her held a deeper significance than +he had known! Throughout all his sufferings—throughout +all her sufferings—an ideal friendship +for each other had subsisted in their +minds. He had supposed her as indifferent as +she was unattainable; that his love was one +of those secret, mocking dramas that sometimes +play themselves out in the souls of men and +women. Yet it was to him that her deepest +thought had turned! She had enshrined him + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +in her heart! And he lying the whilst in +darkness and misery!</p> + +<p>It was precious now—this new sweetness that +had come to him. Sweetness! His thought +broke off at the word. Rather was it a bitter +irony! Lady Betty and he had been cheated +by life. Could he be even sure his eyes would +behold her again? Was she not the soul of +honour and rectitude! For a deep instant they +had been swept towards each other; but at once +her attitude towards his marriage had been +clear and pronounced, and she might even now +be bitterly regretting their meeting.</p> + +<p>He sat down at last, and took up his work +again; but his mind was utterly unfitted for +concentration on any task. Better to get back +again to his own studio, he told himself. So he +stowed away his materials in a corner, and +presently slipped downstairs; telling the butler, +whom he met in the hall, that he would be there +again at ten the following day.</p> + +<p>At Tite Street men were tacking down a thick +green length of Turkey carpet on his staircase, +and Alice was superintending the operation. +Here was his comfortable future in active +preparation! And already he felt the atmosphere +swallowing him up, claiming him body +and soul.</p> + +<p>He stayed a moment on the landing, affecting +an interest in the proceedings. When he turned +into the studio Alice came after him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> + "You hardly seem well, dear," she said, observing +him anxiously.</p> + +<p>"You surprise me," he returned. "I am not +conscious of any aches or pains," he added, with +an implication of gaiety.</p> + +<p>She did not seem convinced. "This malarial +air must have affected you," she insisted.</p> + +<p>"I don't say I find it pleasant." He seized +the poker, as if glad to make a diversion, and +stirred the fire energetically. "I'm a little bit +disgusted, too; the day wasn't as clear as I +hoped—there was a good deal of mist about."</p> + +<p>"Better luck to-morrow!" she said.</p> + +<p>He struck hard at a knob of coal, making a +dreadful clatter. "I hope so, indeed," he answered, +thinking it curious that Alice should +now be expecting him to go to Grosvenor Place +as a matter of course. "At any rate," he added, +as it struck him Alice might reasonably be +hoping for some account of his morning's visit, +"they were kind to me—just as of old. Lady +Lakeden sent me refreshments, and afterwards +came herself to see how things were progressing."</p> + +<p>"I suppose Lady Lakeden is a sister of the +earl," she conjectured.</p> + +<p>"No, his daughter—a mere girl," he explained, +with the flicker of a laugh. "It was a great +surprise. It is only a few years back that I was +asked to her wedding. After that, I got out of +touch with them, and I did not know she had + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +lost her husband very soon after the marriage. +He met with an accident on the Alps."</p> + +<p>Alice was blanched. "How terrible!" she +whispered.</p> + +<p>There was a silence. Wyndham held his +hands to the flame he had been at such pains +to create. He hoped he had satisfied her +interest sufficiently; for, of course, the whole +scene between himself and Lady Betty must be +kept from her inviolate. Was it not for Alice's +own sake and happiness?</p> + +<p>"It makes me afraid!" said Alice, breaking +the silence. "Perhaps nobody is allowed to +keep too great a happiness."</p> + +<p>He winced. "She was always kind to me," +he said, evading the train of her reflection. "I +spent many hours at my post in those ancient +times, and there were always unobtrusive +attentions that made my work the easier."</p> + +<p>"I should like to know and love her," said +Alice pensively.</p> + +<p>Wyndham was silent. Her words startled +and embarrassed him, since he had been taking +it for granted that she and Lady Betty would +never come into contact. Besides, in a way, +Alice had given utterance to more of a thought +than a wish, so that a response hardly seemed +necessary. They lunched together, and Alice +went off soon after, leaving him to receive his +sitters—the president and his wife, who were +both to arrive that afternoon.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> + "Of course, you won't expect me at Hampstead," +he reminded her. "You remember I put +my name down for a club dinner to-night."</p> + +<p>"Of course I remember," she said. "But I +shall write you a letter instead. Please look for +it when you come home to-night."</p> + +<p>But Wyndham did not dine at the club after +all; at the last moment he decided to spend the +evening alone at his studio. It seemed a long +time since he had had a few quiet hours all to +himself. Moreover, it was strangely a boon to +hear no other voices for once, and he lay back +pleasantly in his chair, though conscious of an +uncommon degree of weariness. And, in the +calm and solitude of the studio, intensified by +the echoing of his occasional movements +through the empty rooms beneath him, the +Robinsons seemed indeed a long way off up at +Hampstead there, and for the first time it +seemed a positive bondage to him, this constant +duty of journeying across town to dine with +them.</p> + +<p>The nine o'clock post brought the promised +letter from Alice, but from amid the little heap +in the box he picked out another eagerly. The +writing was Lady Betty's. He had never seen +very much of it in the old days, yet he recognised +it at once.</p> + +<p>He remembered just then a shrewd dictum of +Schopenhauer—that, if we wished to learn our +real attitude towards any person, we should + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +watch and estimate our exact emotion at +catching sight of the well-known handwriting +on a letter we are just receiving. He certainly +could not help observing the contrasting emotions +with which he welcomed these two letters. +Alice's, at his first glimpse of it, had given him +a deepened sense of the irrevocable. Yet there +went with this a kind, affectionate thought in +which was a world of appreciation. But he +knew pretty nearly what the letter would +contain; it could well be read at leisure.</p> + +<p>He tore open Lady Betty's at once, and read +it feverishly as he stood there in the hall. "MY +DEAR FRIEND," it ran—"My father was so disappointed +when he got home at hearing that +you had been, and had already flown. He +suggests that you should stay to-morrow and +join us at luncheon, and he asks me to bend +your mind well in advance to the contemplation +of such an ordeal—as he seriously considers it. +The present cook doesn't meet with his approval, +but be reassured! It was only a new sauce sent +up one day with pride; but that unfortunate +sauce has since flavoured everything. My father +has naturally imagination; at his age he has +prejudices. Could even a Vatel face the combination?</p> + +<p>"And now that I have performed my filial +duty, I will add a few lines for my own pleasure. +I humbly proffer a request. An idea has come +to me that seems most charming—before we + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +part again! Since you are working here, won't +you make a small sketch of me?—a tiny, typical +thing, hit off all in a dash—and give it to me +as a souvenir of your work? Nothing that +would steal much of your time. I understand +that every moment is precious just now, with +the exhibitions so near, and I wish you not to +do it if you are very pressed. In return I shall +have a souvenir to give you—a strange, strange +thought of mine. Please feel very curious about +what it is to be, for you are certainly not going +to be told till the time comes. <i>Au revoir.</i> Your +friend, BETTY."</p> + +<p>Wyndham mounted the stairs again slowly, +and in the studio he re-read these precious lines, +lingering on each individual word, and setting +a marvellous price on it. He was happy yet +terrified at this flash from fairyland into his +strenuous existence.</p> + +<p>But her words, "before we part again," rang +in his mind, lurid, persistent. Yes, Lady Betty +would vanish out of his life soon enough; even +though her letter confirmed the respite which +she had indeed seemed to grant that morning, +but which nevertheless—anticipating regret—he +had scarcely ventured to dream of! There could +clearly be no question as to her attitude towards +his marriage; he told himself that even +the crime (flashing splendidly through his brain) +of cutting himself free from the Robinsons +with one heroic stroke in order to throw his + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +whole life into this wonderful romance would +be futile. Would Lady Betty ever consent to +happiness purchased at such a price?—woo her +as he might!</p> + +<p>But this sweet, dainty dream of her brief +companionship—was he called upon to turn +away from it? Surely, no; else she had been +the last to dazzle him with it. Her lead could +be trusted to be beyond reproach. And, however +she regarded it in her heart, would there +not be for him a little of strangely deep happiness; +something to remember always, to leave +a smile on his face at the moment of death?</p> + +<p>The charm of the thought won him almost +irresistibly. Lady Betty was his inspiration for +ever; nay, that ideal elusive face would have +been his inspiration even if he had never encountered +her again. The harm—if harm there +was in their meeting again—had been done +irreparably in the past!</p> + +<p>All would be over soon enough! What could +emphasise it more than this very letter of hers +he held in his hand? Was it not Lady Betty's +underlying thought in this desire for an exchange +of souvenirs?</p> + +<p>All would be over soon enough! Life would +bear them apart, but the touch of sweetness +would remain as an illumination. He could +never be cheated out of that.</p> + +<p>What was this souvenir she intended for him—this +"strange, strange thought" of hers? + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +She had in truth piqued his curiosity, and he +foresaw her delight at his admitting it. What, +indeed, could it be? And, occupied now with +this fascinating speculation, he languidly took +up his other letters, his fingers turning them +over with an extreme indifference. Presently, +with a sudden decision, he broke Alice's envelope, +and began to read her note. Three of the sides +out of four were exactly as he had anticipated, +but towards the end he lighted on a passage +that unnerved him abruptly. "I have been +thinking of your friends in Grosvenor Place. +My heart goes out to Lady Lakeden. How hers +must lie broken and bleeding! To lose a +husband after only a few months of wedded +life! I shut my eyes and try to think that such +a thing cannot happen! And she and her father +have always been so kind to you. My love +for you is so great that I love everybody that +spares one little thought specially for you."</p> + +<p>Wyndham threw the letter down. That was +enough; he must sacrifice all to the duties he +had undertaken. He and Lady Betty must not +see each other again. Could he not hear her +dear voice saying, "Life is always a compromise. +Perhaps it's a blessing to see our clear obligations." +Well, he at any rate saw his clear +obligations. He would reply to Lady Betty; +he would enter into the situation in all sincerity. +He would paint her some little thing for the +souvenir, and send it to her, and perhaps she + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +might care to send him hers in return. His +meeting her to-day and this loving exchange +of gifts would remain in his thought as the +most poetic episode of his life; but an episode +that must speedily be closed.</p> + +<p>She would understand and approve. Was +she not the very spirit of chivalry, of honour +and goodness? Since fate had given its decree, +let them both bow to it!</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p> +<h2>XVIII</h2> + +<p>But the next morning he dressed with care, +choosing with fastidiousness among his flowing +silk ties, and went off to Grosvenor Place, +stopping only on the way to get a new canvas +for Lady Betty's portrait. It was as if some +great arm had encircled him irresistibly, and +hurried him out of his studio, and jerked him +into a hansom.</p> + +<p>The first thing that caught his eye as he +entered the usual room was a travelling easel +opened out at its full length, brass-jointed, +proudly agleam; and he marked his appreciation +of the significance of its presence in equally +significant fashion—by standing the newly-acquired +canvas upon it. Then he installed +himself at his window, and after a little preliminary +fumbling he found himself well under +weigh. At last he had struck the clear, even +light he wanted, and he worked rapidly with +his note-taking till the time the butler appeared +with refreshments.</p> + +<p>He sipped his wine, with one eye on the +folding-door and the other maintaining some + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +interest in the sketches before him. But the +more vigilant eye of the two soon found its +reward. Lady Betty appeared on the very +stroke of noon, and came to him all fresh and +smiling, in sunny contrast to his sense of the +dull wintry universe.</p> + +<p>"You seem a trifle thoughtful," she observed.</p> + +<p>"I was speculating about the mysterious gift +you promise."</p> + +<p>She laughed merrily. "I observe, then, it is +a bargain." She nodded towards the easel.</p> + +<p>"I have had a charming idea as well," he said. +"Could you give me two hours a day till the +end of the month?"</p> + +<p>"By all means."</p> + +<p>"I should like to send you to the Salon."</p> + +<p>"That is indeed a charming idea. But you +must not risk your big work," she reminded +him. "That, too, has to be ready in a few +weeks."</p> + +<p>"I shall have the whole of March for it +exclusively. I am finishing my portraits this +month."</p> + +<p>"Your sketches are satisfactory?"</p> + +<p>"One or two mornings more, and I shall have +as much as I need. My difficulty with the +picture all these years has been that I have +had to build it up largely out of my own mind. +My actual scene has of course never really +existed in nature—though once or twice I +managed to catch something of the kind here + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +on the spot. But that was quite tumultuous +and indiscriminate, whereas I wanted to catch +the essence of the thing."</p> + +<p>"You frighten the poor little amateur out of +her wits."</p> + +<p>They both laughed. "I had to snatch bits +as best I could. Whilst striving to suggest the +tumult and movement, I yet picked my material +so as to give contrast and symbolism. Then +I had to get my workmen and all the other kinds +of folk to pose separately in the studio. Fortunately +my old studio opened at the back into +a little glass-house, and so I was able to pose the +model as in the open. Naturally with the work +on so huge a scale, I was wrestling with almost +every drawback that could be conceived. It +was no doubt a great mistake to have planned +it at all, but I have learnt lessons I shall never +forget."</p> + +<p>"But you have conquered at last."</p> + +<p>"Honestly, no. But it will succeed. My first +idea was that the whole scene should be bathed +in sunlight. But this, by throwing a vibration +and glow over everything, would have submerged +the social contrast of Fashion and +Labour—would have made the whole thing +primarily a piece of pure technique, and +weakened its human significance. I did not +want the sunshine to be the motive of the +picture; I wanted the human side to stand out +first, and speak with its full force. I therefore + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +chose a dull light, so that the smartness of +Fashion glows in relief against the drab tones of +Labour. I am afraid though I am exaggerating +the contrast more than I really like. That, +however, will help it with the great public."</p> + +<p>"I don't think I approve of such sentiments. +I want you to strive for the highest."</p> + +<p>"That is the future. But here it was a +question of extricating myself from wreckage. +As art it is far from perfect. But its success +will help me to higher things."</p> + +<p>"On that ground only we must pass it this +time. But I have been wondering how you will +use these last sketches you have been making." +She examined them attentively awhile. "To me +they are not very intelligible, though I have a +vague idea of their purpose."</p> + +<p>"They are mere notes," he explained. "If you +will come here by the window and get the point +of view, I think I can make them perfectly +intelligible."</p> + +<p>She came and stood by his side, and one by +one he took up the little canvasses, explaining +his tones and masses and relative values. As he +spoke his words seemed to evoke a strange life +from the blurs and brush marks. A splash of +colour changed before her eyes into an omnibus; +a darker blob into a brougham; vistas and +spaces, buildings and foliage stood revealed +out of chaos. She listened with a pretty +interest, her lips daintily parted, her breath + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +coming lightly, yet her features composed into +a characteristic stateliness—of which catching a +sudden glimpse as she brushed close to him, he +mentally registered the judgment "surpassingly +fine!" He was glad he had caught that +aspect; it summed her up in a way so perfectly. +There was his Salon picture!</p> + +<p>"And while you have been listening I have +been studying you," he confessed, as he placed +the sketches aside.</p> + +<p>"I should have thought you knew me by +heart."</p> + +<p>"You are not so definite and limited. Beauty +is always flashing surprises on the eye that +can see."</p> + +<p>"I think I like that," she said gaily. "I must +bear it in mind.... It's only a toy easel," she +flew off as he drew it forward. "In spite of +its excellent preservation, it is a relic of my +childhood: in the family I was supposed to have +talent, so an aunt gave it to me for a birthday +present, pegs and all, to take into the country +and sketch all sorts of pretty bits. There was +a little stool that went with it."</p> + +<p>"It will serve admirably—without the stool," +he added, with a smile. "I should like you to +stand with the folding-door as a background. +I think we're lucky to have such an interesting +stretch of panelling in the room. We must get +all the light on it we can."</p> + +<p>She tripped down the room gaily, and stood as + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +he indicated. Then he manipulated the blinds +and the curtain till a clear, soft light, melting +gradually into the surrounding greyer tones, +fell on the wood-work, and Lady Betty stood +illuminated with a suggestion of airy phantasm.</p> + +<p>"The face a shade more to the left," he +commanded. "There! Now I have caught you +again."</p> + +<p>He worked with an appearance of rapidity. +"A very dream of elusiveness!" he exclaimed +presently. "I must seize it whilst I'm in +form."</p> + +<p>"Ah, I was just thinking it over," she said +gravely. "I am not sure that I am really +so pleased at being 'elusive.' If my features +are not to be seized, how are they to be +remembered? Definite women have the best +of it—they are less easily forgotten, I +should say."</p> + +<p>"That would be true if one had any desire +to remember them," he returned. "But no," +he corrected himself; "it is not true in any +case. Where there is only one definite set of +features to forget, it is forgotten wholly and +absolutely, once that point is reached. But the +woman with the elusive features has so many +sides that it would take a long time to forget +them all. And then a man is always so +entrancingly occupied calling up her picture. +You let all the fleeting phases float around +you. What more engrossing than to choose + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +among these rival gleams of loveliness, yet +find them all enchanting and precious?"</p> + +<p>"You convince me of the absolute unforgetableness +of the elusive woman," she laughed. +Then, abruptly, she grew grave again.</p> + +<p>When he stopped work for that morning, +they both inspected the canvas critically. +"I think I have made the right +beginning—you +see the spirit of the idea is all there."</p> + +<p>"With the help of the lesson you gave me +before," she ventured.</p> + +<p>"If I continue equally well, we shall find oceans +of time before the end of the month. Wouldn't +it be splendid if the Salon received it!"</p> + +<p>She was full of joyous delight at the prospect, +but, glancing at the clock, gave an exclamation +of horror. "We are forgetting lunch!"</p> + +<p>A minute or two later Wyndham was shaking +hands with the old earl, who was gazing into his +face with apparently affectionate interest.</p> + +<p>"This is very pleasant," said the earl. "Why, +bless my soul, I haven't caught a glimpse of you +for—let me see—three or four years is it? +What has been amiss? Genius starving in a +garret?—eh?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty good guess," said Wyndham.</p> + +<p>"You look fat enough, and sleek enough," +laughed the earl. "On the face of things, I +should have taken it that you've done very +much better than I have. Now, if you had had +to put up with my scoundrel of a cook— —"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> + "There was only one sauce on one occasion, +father."</p> + +<p>"So you insist, so you insist. Well, you seem +pretty straight on your feet again, my boy; so +all's well that ends well."</p> + +<p>They sat down to table.</p> + +<p>"Making lots of nice little pictures?—eh?" +recommenced the earl genially.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the one I am making sketches for here is +rather tremendous—the size of a wall!"</p> + +<p>"The size of a wall!" echoed the earl. "My +gracious!"</p> + +<p>"And now Mr. Wyndham has started a tiny +one of me," put in Lady Betty. "I'm going to +stand to him an hour or two every morning, +and we'll send it to the Salon next month."</p> + +<p>"Bless my soul! That'll be a very pretty +little thing."</p> + +<p>"It's only one side of me. Mr. Wyndham +thinks I've so many sides, and he selected just +one of them."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wyndham's a genius, but, with all +deference to him, I don't see that you've any +more sides to you than I have or Mr. Wyndham +has. We have each two sides and no more." +He raised his tumbler of egg-and-milk and +whiskey, and drank deeply. The others laughed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Wyndham thinks I'm so many +persons rolled into one," explained Lady Betty, +"and that you can take your choice."</p> + +<p>"Many persons rolled into one! You are!" + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +said the earl emphatically, setting down his +glass. "Only I never <i>can</i> take my choice. +If Mr. Wyndham has succeeded in doing so, +I offer him my congratulations. Oh, by the +way, talking of congratulations, it is true, I +suppose, that you are going to be married!"</p> + +<p>Lady Betty looked down and manipulated +her fish.</p> + +<p>"One of these days," said Wyndham lightly. +"There is no date fixed yet."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said the earl. "How is your <i>fiancée</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly well," said Wyndham. "First-rate."</p> + +<p>"A Miss—er—Llewellyn—wasn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Robinson," corrected Wyndham.</p> + +<p>"Oh, ah—Miss Robinson! Yes, yes, that was +the name—perfectly!" said the earl. "Mind +you give her my compliments and respects.... +By the way, Betty, did I tell you I'm sick of +the climate? We shall have thrown out the +Embankment Bill by the end of the week, and +then I can turn my back on the House. It'll +be Egypt or a voyage to Japan—why, I might +meet Mr. Wyndham on his +honeymoon!—eh?—what? +I'll go across to Cockspur Street this +afternoon, and see what's sailing."</p> + +<p>"Shall I come with you, father, and help +you to make up your mind?"</p> + +<p>"If you'll be so kind," said the earl. "It was +my intention to suggest that you should +accompany me a great deal further than that, +but I changed my mind just now."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> + "That is very considerate of you, father."</p> + +<p>"Not at all, not at all." The earl made a +movement of deprecation. "You couldn't come +till the end of the month, so I simply make a +virtue of necessity."</p> + +<p>"You horrify me, father. You are making +Mr. Wyndham think you are sorry I am +standing to him."</p> + +<p>"It's only my fun, little girl. You don't +really suppose I want my own daughter +trotting behind my tail, and keeping her +watchful, charming eye on all my doings. +No, no, no! I had it in mind to suggest your +joining me as a matter of form. You might +have liked it, and I wanted to do the proper +thing. But I'm only too glad of the opportunity +of having you off my hands. Mr. +Wyndham was really providential. Meanwhile +I shall be proud to think of the nice little +picture of you—I beg your pardon, of one side +of you—hanging in the Salon."</p> + +<p>"If you take one of the long voyages, I +presume you'll be away some months," ventured +Wyndham.</p> + +<p>"Probably till the autumn. I assure you my +daughter long since washed her hands of me. +She carries off her maid and disappears for +years at the time. When I think she's in Paris, +somebody says, 'I saw your daughter last week +at Baden-Baden. How well she's looking!' +When I imagine she's in Baden-Baden, somebody + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +says, 'I met your daughter at Florence +last week. How well she's looking!' Nowadays +I never speculate as to her whereabouts. I give +her absolutely <i>carte blanche</i>. I'm prepared to +hear and believe anything of her, and what's +more! to approve of it and give her my blessing. +On one point, you will observe, the testimony is +unanimous: 'How well she's looking!' That's +the one settled thing about her—and the sides +of her. For I suppose no two people ever do +see the same side of her." He scrutinised her +beamingly.</p> + +<p>"Very well, father. It shall be goodbye till +the autumn. We shall part friends."</p> + +<p>"So far as I see at present. We've to get +through the week yet. You'll lunch with us +these days, Mr. Wyndham?"</p> + +<p>Wyndham murmured his acceptance, enchanted +at being so cordially recognised as a +friend of the house.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> +<h2>XIX</h2> + +<p>Wyndham told Alice of the happy chance that +had presented itself of a dash at Lady Lakeden's +portrait, and held out the possibility of the +Salon's finding a corner for it.</p> + +<p>"How delightful!" she exclaimed. "Wouldn't +it be brilliant to be in the Salon as well as +in the Academy?"</p> + +<p>"It's just a dainty little study, and of course +I'm doing it for the pure pleasure of the thing. +But the committee may not consider it important +enough for serious consideration, though +that depends on what I make of it. In any +case I'll present it to her afterwards in acknowledgment +of all their past kindness."</p> + +<p>"It's the nicest acknowledgment you could +possibly make them. I am so glad you thought +of it." Her approval of the idea was generous +and eager. And she was excitedly interested in +the Grosvenor Place household. She plied him +with questions. Was it an old peerage? Was +there a great country house? Had Lady +Lakeden a brother? Then who was the heir +to the title?—would it pass to a collateral line? + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +He enlightened her on all these matters, sketching +out for her the grooves which the lives of +such people generally occupied. And he threw +out the reflection that it was lucky indeed the +renewal of his relations with Grosvenor Place +had not been delayed any further. He had gone +back there in the very nick of time, for the +house was going to be shut up; the earl leaving +in a week or so to take a long sea voyage, +whilst Lady Lakeden meditated departure as +soon as the portrait was done. Alice remarked +that they seemed to be fond of roaming about a +great deal, and Wyndham pointed out that +Lady Lakeden and her father were exceptionally +placed, were to a great extent emancipated +from the "swim." The earl had practically +retired from society, and his daughter, as a +young widow, naturally sought distraction in +her own way, though of course she could float +brilliantly back into the world whenever the +mood took her.</p> + +<p>Since the portrait was going to the Salon, he +was naturally compelled to tell Alice about it. +But the intense way in which she seemed to be +fixing her eyes on the Grosvenor Place household +disconcerted him beyond measure. This fresh +interest of his had become her interest too; she +had fastened on it out of all proportion to its +visible importance. At uneasy moments he +asked himself if she suspected that something +lay behind this apparently simple and innocent + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +acquaintanceship; for her insistent and almost +morbid return to the subject on the following +days indicated its amazing hold of her.</p> + +<p>Yet, obviously, it was impossible that she +should be cherishing any ideas of that kind. +He flattered himself that his demeanour towards +her, in this trying and difficult period, was +perfect; that he was as tender in all their +relations as if his heart were truly hers. Nay, +he was devoting even more of his leisure to her +than ever before. And for the very reason that +the evening journeys to Hampstead had become +distasteful, he was the more careful that there +should be no falling off in his attendance there. +In no wise could he have betrayed himself to his +affianced wife. No, she could not possibly have +any suspicion of the truth: he was satisfied that +her preoccupation with the Grosvenor Place +household all arose out of womanly sympathy +on her part; that Lady Lakeden's tragic widowhood +had touched the depths of her imagination.</p> + +<p>Poor Alice! How simple and trusting her +surface reading of the facts! How ignorant +of the brutal complications, as grotesque as +incredible, in which Nature often wrapped up +human unhappiness!</p> + +<p>What a terrible tangle it was for them all! +Were he free now, how gladly would his +princess have placed her hand in his! In the +old days the possible marriage of the brilliant + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +girl had been hedged around with extraordinary +limitations—to which he too had bowed as to +something in the order of nature. But, as a +widow, she would naturally be expected to +please herself when matrimonially inclined. By +common social understanding, even the noblest +and richest of widows may permit herself a +considerable latitude of choice, and no word +of criticism can lie against her unless she +has travelled rather far out of the conventional +grooves. A marriage between him and +Lady Betty now might raise a flicker of +interest beyond what was usual—considering +his notorious poverty—but it could call down +nobody's censure.</p> + +<p>But all this, alas! was but an idle speculation +now. The time sped; the earl bade him goodbye; +and he realised that the end was fast +approaching. The few days that remained to +him of Lady Betty's companionship became +trebly precious, to be counted with despair! +Though only an hour or two out of the twenty-four +was spent in her society, his whole heart +and mind, his whole life, were concentrated there. +Each day he brought her a bunch of lilies of the +valley, which she fixed in her bosom and insisted +he must include in the picture. And during the +enchanted time they were together, they talked +freely and in perfect trust. It was more than a +friendship—more than an exchange of confidences; +it was more than the intimacy of a + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +soul with itself—for that is not always honest +even at its most courageous moments. In this +free, splendid realm of communion with her, he +stood up in all his manhood: rising to that +simple truth which is yet of the heavens and +the spaces; measuring himself against great +standards; seeing and regretting his egotisms, +vanities, self-deceptions; valuing himself humbly. +The depths of Lady Betty's sympathy were +indeed profound. She could enter into his life, +appreciate motives barely realised by himself, +and, with charming broad humanity, understand +and forgive his actions even when he felt +ashamed of them as unworthy and discreditable. +No comedy of sentiment here—no playing of the +saint on either side; but a noble simplicity, a +serene good faith, a spontaneous self-revelation!</p> + +<p>He recounted to her, as naturally as everything +else, the whole history of his acquaintanceship +with the Robinsons. He spared himself +not a detail: how he had first dallied with +temptation, his moment of panic, his specious +reasoning, his ignoble surrender! He laid +himself bare as with a scalpel. Yet of Alice +he spoke always with reverence and loyalty, +dwelling on her devotion, on the little she +needed from him to give her happiness. And +Lady Betty caught his appreciation of her. "I +seem to know and understand her well," she +said. "She is a delicate, untarnished soul. She +seems more real to me than people who have + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +lived near me all my life. And so her heart +has gone out to me! I feel I could never bear +to meet her—the moment would be too terrible! +Ah, why did you not speak in the old days?"</p> + +<p>"I repeat I had not the right. And then I did +not dream I was worth one single thought of +yours."</p> + +<p>"I gave you all my thoughts. You were so +serious. You sat with knitted brow, sternly in +your work, and I hardly dared to come near +you. You seemed remote from women; grimly +devoted to your purpose—to triumph or to die! +At poor me you scarcely deigned to look. And +then you disappeared, and I knew you would +not return."</p> + +<p>"I disappeared. I left happiness behind me, +and retired into my living tomb."</p> + +<p>"My heart bleeds for you." There was a +pause. Her eyes were full of pain. But presently +she broke the silence, as if discovering +some crumb of comfort. "This time at least +you will not be going to privation."</p> + +<p>"In my heart of hearts privation is preferable."</p> + +<p>"Ah, no. Remember it is the call of duty. It +is the sacrifice we must make for Alice's sake. +She is a good woman. Her life must not be +broken."</p> + +<p>"I promise I shall try to make her happy—whatever +the cost. But think how happy we +should have been together, you and I, darling."</p> + +<p>"We should have been happy together," she + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +said in a low voice. "It would have been a +perfect union. But I say again that life is a +compromise. Our demands are great; we have +to accept the little that is granted."</p> + +<p>"Yet the door still stands open," he mused. +"We may yet take our fate into our own hands."</p> + +<p>"The door stands open, but we turn our backs +upon it."</p> + +<p>"We are too strong," he groaned. "I am +tempted to pray for weakness."</p> + +<p>She drew herself up, her face alight with a +noble radiance. "Let us both be proud of our +strength. We have set right above everything."</p> + +<p>"But suppose we are mistaken—" he urged +tensely.</p> + +<p>"We cannot strike her down! No, no, we +must not take away her great happiness—you +have given it to her! I depute you, if you love +me, to guard her welfare—on my behalf and +on your own. Remember, too, she is happy +with so little!"</p> + +<p>"I shall be a loyal husband. But, in the +realms that lie outside her penetration, you +have promised that I may cherish the thought +of you as an inspiration."</p> + +<p>"To speak to you with my own voice—to help +you to the strength that cannot falter!"</p> + +<p>But the end was close upon them. He could +not linger over the picture, even had he wished. +As the last days slipped by his face saddened +visibly. Lady Betty begged him to bear up. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +He was so changed in aspect that Alice could +not fail to notice it.</p> + +<p>"There is no danger," he returned. "She has +already spoken of it, and I have put it down to +fatigue. She has seen how desperately I have +been working for months on end, and she is +satisfied I need rest."</p> + +<p>One day, he ventured to question Lady Betty +about her plans, but she replied that they were +vague. She only knew that she would travel +for the present; she would not make up her +mind as to details till the last moment.</p> + +<p>"But even then I should not tell you," she +added, with a wan smile. "Our parting must +be decisive. I shall read of your career, and my +mind shall be always with you in your work; +but I shall not cross your path again. There is +one last thing I suggest. When you have +finished the picture, let us spend the whole of +our last day together."</p> + +<p>"I shall set it apart. We shall consecrate it +with our farewell."</p> + +<p>"I shall give you the souvenir I promised. I +shall keep it till the end; and then it will be +goodbye."</p> + +<p>"Goodbye?" he breathed. "Oh, it is cruel!"</p> + +<p>He was shaken again. Some wild rebellion +was rising in him, and vainly Lady Betty tried +to calm him with pleading—even with tears. +But she revealed only the more her own +anguish.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> + At last she had command of herself again, and +put a stern inflection into her voice.</p> + +<p>"For Alice's sake you must conquer yourself. +No, let it be for my sake. I put it as the test of +your love for me. Otherwise I shall believe +that your love is selfish."</p> + +<p>"I promise I shall conquer myself, but I must +have time."</p> + +<p>"You make me terribly afraid—you may +wound her by a chance word."</p> + +<p>"That is impossible. Her mind is serene—no +word of mine shall disturb it."</p> + +<p>But Lady Betty's fears were by no means +allayed. She wrote him long letters, imploring +him to keep command of himself, else she would +regret bitterly that they had ever met again. +They had both fought this terrible battle: they +were neither of them emerging unscathed, but +their wounds and hurt were the price of +honourable victory. She was sure of herself; +but was he—the man!—to shrink back when +the supreme moment came? The thought of +loyal duty accomplished would bring equanimity +hereafter.</p> + +<p>"Ah, if all were only a dream!" he exclaimed +sadly, as he lay thinking of nights. +And then he would try to believe that he had +not met Lady Betty again, had never even +heard of her since her wedding-day. He had +never made the acquaintance of the Robinsons, +had never set foot in their great ugly house at + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +the corner. Were not all these things the +fancies of a disordered imagination, and was +he not still here in Hampstead, in his narrow +iron bed up on the gallery? To-morrow he +would jump up and make his miserable breakfast +as usual, would think of working without +being able to raise a hand, and would potter +away the hours. And at six in the evening he +would see his prosperous neighbour from the +City go past with noiseless, gentle step, bearing +a plaited rush-bag with a skewer thrust through +it. Yet what a relief to throw off the illusions +of these latter days, and find himself again as +of old, free of all the tangle; even though the +problem of bread still faced him, and the vista +of hopeless days stretched away endlessly!</p> + +<p>Alas! the morning light, filling his panelled +bedroom and revealing to his eyes the many +luxuries of these prosperous days, testified only +too convincingly to the reality of recent developments.</p> + +<p>And yet, as he turned up the well-known +Hampstead street of an evening on his way to +the Robinsons, he would still struggle again +to recover the illusion that the old days were +yet. Approaching the house as it loomed in +the near distance through the wintry mist, +he would imagine himself supremely unconcerned +with it. And then he would stop outside +his own former door, and fumble in his +pocket a moment as if to find the key. Like + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +lessons learnt after the mind is set, all these +later accretions to his existence were ready to +drop away, to have a shadowy relation to him. +It made him realise with astonishment how +easily he might cut the Robinsons out of +his life, and proceed as if he had never known +them. His bond of obligation was more real +to him than the people to whom he was +bound!</p> + +<p>He was shrewd enough to see that in his +heart of hearts he was sullenly and perpetually +angry that so much had come to him from so +extraneous a source. Where his own strength +and gifts had failed, these people from a world +that was not his world, either in thought or +mode, had come in and brought him prosperity. +This galling sense of absolute dependence on +the Robinsons seemed the deepest humiliation +he had known. They had given him food when +he was nigh starvation; they had given work +when the prospect of work had vanished—had +showered on him benefits and kindnesses innumerable. +They had restored him to society +and to the world of art and letters. He owed +them the confidence of his bearing before the +world, the manly swing of his step, the pride +of his glance.</p> + +<p>That this should be his destiny was horrible! +He rebelled and cried out with all his might. +Oh! to wield the sceptre of destiny himself!—to +shape the evolution of a brilliant career and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +merit the crown of a great love by his own +power and performance!</p> + +<p>And yet at the back of his troubled mind +there lay in terrible calm the stern determination +to stand by his obligations. His promise +to Lady Betty was in no danger. All this +feverish agitation was but as the surf beating +on a granite shore. He knew that he would +bow his head in resignation; that, after the +parting with Lady Betty, he would settle down +as the most attentive of husbands; acquiescent +of an atmosphere of physical well-being, yet +paradoxically living from hand to mouth, so far +as his deeper life was concerned; thankful for +any morsel of good each day might bring him, +and looking not beyond its horizon.</p> + +<p>Alice should have her happiness, never guessing +what turmoil and torture two souls had +voluntarily undergone for her.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> +<h2>XX</h2> + +<p>In the silence and privacy of her room Alice +was sobbing her life away. Like an opium +eater, she had sought magnificent dreams, had +surrendered herself to beautiful illusions, had +duped herself supremely. But the awakening +was fraught with fever and suffering.</p> + +<p>On that memorable afternoon when her father +had brought home the wonderful announcement +that Wyndham was to follow him, Alice had +looked at herself in the glass, and though her +favourite dress lay ready for her, she knew +he would not of his own impulse bestow a +second glance upon her.</p> + +<p>The evening had come and passed. As by +some enchantment Wyndham had appeared, +was seated at the same table with herself, +engaged in intimate conversation with the +family, left alone to wine and cigars with her +father; rejoining them in the drawing-room, +listening to her playing, singing to her accompaniment! +Then, lo, he was gone; and she was +left to ponder on the swift,surprising turn of +events. After all these years of emotion, the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +acquaintanceship was an accomplished fact. +She was to penetrate within his door at last, +to become, for the time being, part of the very +business of his life!</p> + +<p>She retired that night still with the sense of +miracle; yet infinitely grateful to her father +for his charming concession to her whim. +And her first subtle move had been crowned +with success! At least there was work where +work was needed so sorely; work, too, that +brought her so near to him, annihilating a +distance she had reconciled herself to think of +as impassable, and opening up potentialities of +service which her fertile wits would not be slow +to seize upon. Would it not be a joy to help +him to a firm footing again, to raise this gifted +life of which she had watched the long slow +sinking! It was miraculous that this privilege +should fall to her! But everything must appear +to flow naturally to him of itself; he should +never suspect that the unseen hand at work +was hers, any more than he should ever know +that this was what she, who loved him, had for +years worked out in fancy.</p> + +<p>And she!—she should have no thought but +the unselfish desire of serving him! What +matter if she carried in her heart the cold +conviction that he could never love her—since +all she had dared aspire to had fallen to her lot! +For who was she to cherish vain hopes? She +had not the commonest touch of beauty; she + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +was hopelessly out of his sphere. She felt +herself appallingly ignorant and inexperienced. +In her easy shelter the years had slipped by in +monotonous quiet. In the world outside there +beat a life that was strenuous, entrancing, +dramatic—the struggle of the realm of affairs, +the pomp and colour of courts and society, the +important events of politics, the field of view +that opened in the novels, or lay spread behind +the footlights of the theatres. Wyndham belonged +to all this brilliant universe, had walked +with firm tread amid it all, breathing its airs +with an assurance born of right and nature. No +poverty could destroy his inalienable privileges, +could render him less by a hair's breadth; +indeed, save for the manifest inconveniences of +the former, poverty or riches seemed irrelevant +on that plane of high humanity; where differences +of fortune were obscured by the highness +of the humanity, however fertile in distinctions +these differences might be in a lower world.</p> + +<p>But as the acquaintance ripened, as she tasted +of the gracious intimacy of the long sittings, his +perfect kindness, his chivalry, his constant +solicitude began to undermine the attitude +with which she had embarked on the adventure. +They had become such good friends, and she +could not blind herself to the fact that he was +pressing his personality on her beyond what +mere courtesy and friendliness demanded. But +she still fought to stand firm, and her humility + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +was her strength. It was even more than her +strength—it read for her his doubts and hesitations.</p> + +<p>Not that she crudely supposed that, in his +conduct to her, he was swayed by ulterior +considerations. She saw that he had genuinely +an affection for her, more kind and brotherly +than a lover's affection; she knew that he was +trying to like her better, to raise her in his +estimation far higher than the truth. And +she conceded that his hesitation was natural, +that she was no mate for him, that his world +would openly despise her. No, he must not +marry her for the safety her fortune would +bring him. She would marry only for love, +and, as that she could never win, she would +consequently never marry.</p> + +<p>She dreaded now lest the situation should +take a more definite turn, lest he should begin +to woo her in earnest. She wished to be left in +contentment with her deep secret happiness +which could never be effaced from her life. She +had had her way. It was she who had brought +him the succour he needed; she—of whose +existence he had never dreamed, whom he had +often met face to face yet never glanced at. It +was she who had rescued for the world's benefit +this splendid genius that the world had rejected. +This was joy enough. To anything else the end +must be disillusion.</p> + +<p>For awhile she lived in terror lest he might +speak. But as the work progressed, and he + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +became more and more enthusiastic over her +portrait, she could not but fall a victim to +the subtle implication, and begin to believe that +he must really think more of her than she had +ever dared to imagine. It was then that her +stern control of herself began to slip away. +Wilfully she shut her eyes to all that she understood +only too well, and surrendered herself to +the spell and wonder of the vista that opened +before her. It was the best thing that life had +brought her, she told herself, and in an impulse +of pagan desire she was impelled to wring from +it the last drop of passionate happiness it could +afford her. Her love for him reached out into +new depths; the dull, despairing, impossible love +of before became a fever, a frenzy, a great yearning +passion that must pour itself out or kill her.</p> + +<p>Then came the supreme moment in which she +let the belief that he loved her seize entire +possession of her. Must he not have for his +mate a woman who would love him and make +him a perfect wife? He was a being apart from +his own world, devoted to serener and higher +ambitions. Had she not seen the glow with +which he expounded his ideas and purposes, +forgetting she was a humble, uninstructed +listener, and surrounding her soul with the +sweet unction of the implied perfect equality? +Perhaps it had dawned upon him at last that +devotion greater than hers the world could not +hold. In his consecration to his high calling he + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +did not need a wife to figure brilliantly amid +social pleasures and functions, but a helpmeet +whom perhaps he could not so easily find in +those exalted spheres; one who needed no +pleasures for herself, no triumphs; who had no +purposes of her own, no desires, save the +supreme end of self-sacrifice on the altar of +his happiness and achievement. Only a woman +absolutely capable of such self-effacement could +understand the perfect bliss of it. If every man +could find such faithfulness at his own hearth, +how the world would thrive and grow blessed! +And she thanked Heaven for the little fortune +she could bring him, for this precious money to +establish his life on a safe and sure footing.</p> + +<p>And when he had spoken at last, she, casting +away the last doubt, had thrown herself headlong +into the dream. With her arms round +him, and her lips to his, she felt that she had +always been destined for this high bliss, that +rendered by contrast the quiet stream of her life +a mockery of life.</p> + +<p>The joyous period of intoxication was all too +short. With the sobering of the world to its +work again in the new year, she, too, sobered a +little, and the old questioning revived in her. +Was it really the truth that he loved her? +Where was the note of passion she herself had +poured out so recklessly? His personal magnetism, +his urbane, affectionate friendliness, the +caressing vibrations of his voice, his delicate and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +considerate dealing with the gaps of ignorance +she daily revealed—all this held her in an +invincible spell. But the deep, irresistible conviction +for which her heart yearned was unmistakably +absent in his whole relation to her.</p> + +<p>Perhaps some terrible struggle was going on +within him. Was he recoiling in terror sometimes +from the thought of the mate he had +chosen? Surely at times he was arguing +himself into acceptance and contentment. What +meant the strange, furtive glances he sometimes +directed at her?—not the soft glances of love, but +glances bewildering, baffling! She watched him +with a supernaturally sensitive insight, appraising +his every expression, following the imagined +see-saw of his doubts and reassurances.</p> + +<p>Yet when he had told her of his meeting with +Lady Lakeden again, and of the new portrait +he had engaged upon, no shade of jealousy had +arisen in her. Her sense of the calamity that +had befallen Lady Lakeden was so infinitely +distressing that she could have fallen upon her +knees and prayed. To lose a dear husband after +only a few months of wedded happiness!—what +more crushing grief could a woman's destiny +hold? She shut her eyes and shuddered, as +she tried to realise the depths of its meaning. +It seemed to her that no wife with the least +spark of womanhood could recover from such a +blow; that sorrow and weeping must be her +portion for the rest of her days.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> + She redoubled her devotion to Wyndham, +suddenly full of fear lest she should have been +betrayed into injustice to him out of mere +morbidity. And her mind lingered gently on +the figure of this other woman whom she had +never seen, but to whom her heart went out in +an impulsive flood of love and pity. If only +she could know her, and let her understand how +deeply she realised her grief! But Wyndham +had made no response to her first involuntary +expression of this desire, and she was too diffident +to recur to the point again. Perhaps if +she waited patiently he might suggest such +a meeting of his own accord. But the days +went, and Wyndham was silent.</p> + +<p>And not only silent, but changed. "Yes, yes. +He is changed in a hundred ways," she cried, +"though he does not know he has shown it."</p> + +<p>If, for a moment, she had been willing to take +refuge in the belief that over-sensitiveness and +diffidence had been leading her into distrust of +the situation, her eyes were suddenly too wide +open to allow of any further indulgence in +comfort of that kind. There was no mistaking +this unprecedented self-abstraction, the curious, +far-away expression that was almost stereotyped +on his features, the continued inattentiveness +to her words that often required her +to repeat her remarks and not unfrequently +ignored them, so that she was continually +shrinking into herself, too wounded to insist + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +again. By the side of this, his former attitude, +little as it had satisfied her, seemed impulsive +and passionate!</p> + +<p>His face was grave and sad for the most part, +but sometimes it shone with a rapture which +she knew had not been inspired by her! He +was not himself in any way; his smile and +laugh had not the old spontaneous charm. +Every note of his affection rang false. And +yet, in form, his solicitude and loving care for +her remained the same as always. But this +could not blind her; she knew he was trying +his best, but his heart and mind were not with +her. Ah, well, if he cared for anybody, it was +certainly not for her!</p> + +<p>"Who has drawn him away from me? Who +has robbed me?—who has robbed me?"</p> + +<p>For days she had pondered and pondered, her +mind faltering, her lips dreading to whisper the +name. Wyndham was painting Lady Lakeden. +She was young; she must be interesting and +beautiful.</p> + +<p>"He is in love with Lady Lakeden!" It +escaped from her lips at last, and then she +remained ashen—trembling.</p> + +<p>Nay, surely he had loved Lady Lakeden in +the old days—loved her secretly and despairingly, +seeing her often, but too poor to woo +her! Moreover, Lady Lakeden had then loved +another. "Yes, yes, that is the truth—the +truth!" she cried; "And now he has been + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +seeing her again daily, and the old love has +been reborn!"</p> + +<p>A pall descended over Alice's spirit. What a +cruel situation! Here was Wyndham pledged +to a woman he could not care for, yet in love +with another whose whole heart was with the +dear husband that had been taken from her. +"He is struggling bravely to be true to me—I +see it all now—he is breaking his heart. It is +my duty to release him from his word—ah! no, +no!" She shuddered and covered her face, +shaken and shaken. "Even if I gave him his +freedom," she argued presently, clinging on to +the wreck with might and main, "it would only +be freedom to find despair. Lady Lakeden +loved her husband. I know she is great and +true. She knows he is mine. I trust her—I +must trust her—I will pray for strength to trust +her. Heaven help me!—Heaven help me!"</p> + +<p>A terrible pang of jealousy smote her. Detesting +herself for it, she tried hard to repress +the flood of bitter hatred she felt rising in her +against Lady Lakeden. Poor Lady Lakeden! +She had suffered enough and was blameless. +She could not help it if Wyndham loved her.</p> + +<p>An overwhelming curiosity to know what +manner of woman Lady Lakeden was, took +possession of her. Of course, she was young +and beautiful. But what colour were her eyes? +Were they large and deep and brilliant? What +expression had she habitually? What colour + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +was her hair? And was it abundant? And +how arranged? Was she slim and tall? How +did she dress? And in what costume was +Wyndham painting her? Were not these the +questions that had been a thousand times on +her lips, and yet remained unuttered?</p> + +<p>And why had she not asked of him these +questions as clearly and boldly as she had +thought them? Had there been some obscure +suspicion in her mind all along, and she had +feared to embarrass her affianced husband?</p> + +<p>Poor Wyndham! She told herself she had +the most perfect understanding of his mind. +She held him in honour as a noble gentleman, +and knew surely that he would fret his heart +away rather than wound her by word or deed. +She would have put her hand in the fire for the +certainty that he would never withdraw from +the compact; that he would go through with +the marriage, and die rather than relax the +effort to simulate perfect happiness in their +after life.</p> + +<p>Could she accept such a sacrifice? Could she +spoil his life for him, when she had only meant +to set it straight, and had asked for no greater +privilege? Would that she had been able, by +some miracle, to help him from across the old +impassable distance without coming into his +life at all! It was for her to choose—to keep +him and all that the future with him might +hold, or to tell him frankly that she thought it + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +best to set him free and return to the simple +paths of her old existence.</p> + +<p>But, ah, no, she could not give him up—she +could not give him up! She had possessed his +lips, she had possessed his thought and solicitude. +The echoes of his voice caressed her. +Break with him! She shut her eyes and +shuddered again; her whole soul grew sick, +and she writhed in agony.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p> +<h2>XXI</h2> + +<p>Calling one day and finding her alone in the +drawing-room, Mr. Shanner, after some moments +of unruffled demeanour and honeyed conversation, +abruptly launched into a piteous outbreak.</p> + +<p>"I tell you, Alice, you've made a fine mistake +with that swell of yours," he exclaimed, his eyes +flashing with resentment.</p> + +<p>Alice stared at him in deep distress. Ever +since the engagement Mr. Shanner had been all +decorousness and deference. As he broke now +through his ashen shell of propriety, his sedate +person seemed to relapse, to stand limp, a trifle +greyer, a trifle less well trimmed.</p> + +<p>"Oh," she gasped at last, "you are under some +misapprehension."</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Alice," he said; "don't you +suppose I've two eyes—and wide-open ones, +too?"</p> + +<p>"I don't really understand what you're alluding +to, Mr. Shanner," she returned as coldly as +she could find it in her.</p> + +<p>"I am alluding to your engagement, of +course," he insisted. His tone showed he was + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +determined to force the subject on her. "What +do you suppose the fellow is going to marry you +for? Men of his class do not come out of their +way to look for a wife amongst people of our +class. You mustn't mind my not mincing words, +but it's clear to me he doesn't care a fig about +you, and that your money is the attraction. +There, that's plain!"</p> + +<p>Alice felt herself turn scarlet. Mr. Shanner +suddenly stood revealed to her—of roughness +and coarseness unendurable.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand you," she exclaimed, +feeling she was floundering, and with an acute +sense of her lack of social skill to meet the +contingency and cut short the interview.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes you do, Alice. Only you are too +proud to say so."</p> + +<p>"You are mistaken. My intended husband +and I are on the best of terms. I am very much +surprised to hear this from you."</p> + +<p>"You mean that for a snubbing, no doubt. +Well, I suppose I brought it on myself." He +smiled uneasily and bit his lip. "Only I did +think that, being so old a friend of the family, +I had the right to give you a word of advice +when the happiness of your life is at stake."</p> + +<p>"Oh! please, Mr. Shanner—I'm very sorry," +she breathed, all gasps and palpitations. "But +really, truly, you're mistaken."</p> + +<p>"I have used my eyes and head. I am not +mistaken. Everything's all wrong, and you + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +know it, Alice. I have been reading it in your +face of late—I tell you you show it. Give up +the swell before things go to the devil."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, Mr. Shanner," she said, with all +the kindness in her tone that she could muster, +"but if you will get these extraordinary ideas +into your head, I certainly am not going to +fight them."</p> + +<p>He smiled wanly, droopingly. "Another snubbing, +I suppose. But you needn't take it in such +ill part. I don't profess to belong to the aristocracy: +I do profess to be a friend, one of the +sort that's to be trusted. And I think you'll +come to recognise that in the long run. Whatever +happens, John Shanner's your friend, and +when the time comes, you'll find him ready to +hand. But I earnestly advise you not to delay. +Throw up all this business before there's +mischief."</p> + +<p>Alice smiled bravely. "I repeat that Mr. +Wyndham and myself are on the happiest of +terms, though I am sure you mean your advice +for the kindest."</p> + +<p>She took up her stand behind this simple +assertion, so that he could not beat down her +refusal to be drawn into a deeper discussion. +By degrees he pulled together his decorum, +recovered his frigidity, and ultimately retired +with the dignified utterance, "Well, I hope +you are not going to be disillusionised, my +child, but I have my doubts. At any rate, as + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +I say, I stand by you in any case. Only promise +me one thing, that if ever you find my warning +was not mistaken, you will do me the justice +to admit it."</p> + +<p>She thanked him gravely, and assured him +that she fully appreciated his kindness, and +willingly made the promise. She was glad +indeed of the chance of winding up the +interview thus amicably. Yet, when he had +gone, she felt panic-stricken at this revelation +of how openly she had been wearing her heart—as +if veritably on her sleeve. How fortunate +her parents had observed nothing yet! But +they, of course, were taking the perfection of +everything so entirely for granted, and were +so happy themselves over the beautiful romance +which had transformed their household and their +lives, that it was difficult for any suspicion to +enter their heads. Certainly they had never +read any expression in her face save that of +rapture and contentment.</p> + +<p>She must try to control herself. If only, like +other women, she were more practised in +assuming a surface self that won acceptance, +that none could penetrate!</p> + +<p>But Mr. Shanner was so absolutely in the +right. Was it really worth while going on as at +present? Could anything be more unhappy +than all this uncertainty and perplexity? +Something must be done. Things must come +soon to a crisis.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> + And then, one morning, some two or three +days before the end of the month she received +a letter from Wyndham, who had dined with +them the evening before, announcing that he +would be absent from the studio the whole day +practically, as he had made club engagements +for the entire afternoon and evening. As, too, +he would be lunching out, it would not be worth +her while to come to the studio at all on that +day. He was sorry he had forgotten to mention +all this when saying goodbye, but he was +scribbling the note immediately on entry, and +in a hurry to catch the post.</p> + +<p>This letter gave Alice food for reflection. She +did not attach any significance to the alleged +club engagements; she had never grudged him +the occasional evenings he spent in that way, +since it kept him in touch with the art-world. +But in this present instance there was certainly +a suggestion of anxiety on his part that she +should keep away from the studio over the day. +"Ah—I understand!" she flashed, clenching her +fingers; "Lady Lakeden's portrait is to be +brought there to-day, and he does not wish me +to see it! She is beautiful—beautiful!—he fears +her beauty will sting me to jealousy."</p> + +<p>He had never wished her to see the portrait! +Had he not always turned the conversation +whenever she had mentioned it? And only +last night, as if in anticipation of so natural +a desire on her part, he had had to confess + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +that it was finished, but had added that it was +going straight to Paris, as he preferred to feel +it was safe there in the hands of his agent. +He had thus led her to conclude that the +picture would not be passing through the +studio at all; but, with his letter now before +her, she felt certain that his aim was to get +the portrait framed, to touch it up, and then +send it off without showing it to her.</p> + +<p>But she had the right to see it, if she so +desired, she told herself bitterly. If the Salon +accepted it, nothing could prevent her going +to Paris with her mother; though so enterprising +an adventure was quite outside the +habits of their life—a consideration on which +he was counting, perhaps. But the Salon +might not accept it, and in any case two or +three months might elapse before such a +possible visit, and in that time who could say +how things might turn?</p> + +<p>Entrance to the studio was a privilege that +had been freely bestowed upon her. He had +not forbidden her to come; he had merely +tried to stop her by suggestion and diplomacy. +But she would not be denied.</p> + +<p>She would meet strategy with strategy: she +would take care to arrive late in the evening, +so as to be alone there. In the afternoon, or +earlier in the evening, there was the danger +of just catching him between his engagements, +since he would no doubt come home to change.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> + She would see the portrait at her leisure; +she would at last study the features of the +woman—the beautiful, brilliant woman—who +had unwittingly robbed her.</p> + +<p>"And I have no beauty," she sobbed; "I am +plain and insignificant. I have no cleverness, +no experience; not one little weapon to fight +with, to win him back to me!"</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p> +<h2>XXII</h2> + +<p>Wyndham had finished Lady Betty's portrait +on the previous morning, and had taken it +back with him to his studio. To-day the +frame, a copy of a fine old Venetian model, +came early in the morning, and Wyndham +had soon fixed the canvas within it. He was +enchanted with the effect. If the Salon had +only a corner to spare for it, he was certain +they would not turn it away. And—entrancing +idea!—why should not Lady Betty deign to +come here on this last day, and snatch a glimpse +of herself in this charming setting which he +had selected with such loving interest. There +was a long day before them, and he might +well seize the mood and the auspicious +moment.</p> + +<p>He lingered before his picture, then brusquely +tore himself away from it, and sat down and +wrote instructions to the frame-maker, who +was to come and fetch it away on the morrow, +and despatch it to Paris immediately.</p> + +<p>For this was his great day; that was to leave + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +with him for ever the memory of gracious +companionship and irrevocable farewell! The +day on which he would live for Lady Betty +and forget all else! Then she would pass out +of his life. He strove to face the stern decree. +But only a blank met his vision. He turned +his eyes away; his thoughts should be of the +day only.</p> + +<p>He had hardly considered what their programme +should be. But now, on his way, he +began to ponder it lazily, dwelling fancifully on +possibilities rather than arriving at anything +rigid or definite. They would roam about at +random, like two sweethearts of the people; +their evening they would spend at a theatre, +no doubt something out of the way, and they +would find their meals as the bizarre occasion +might offer itself. They would invest this +everyday London with the romantic light of +their own spirit; they would wander as through +a strange capital, and observe humanity with +a new eye. And then, of course, he must keep +before him the possibility of the visit to his +own studio, in which Lady Betty had never +as yet set foot.</p> + +<p>At midday he rang the bell at Grosvenor +Place, and was shown up into the great drawing-room. +In a minute or two Lady Betty came +tripping in. A glance showed she was ready +to go out at once; her simple coat and skirt +formed a costume unobtrusive enough for any + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +expedition, and her hat and veil matched the +occasion to a nicety.</p> + +<p>She was radiant with an unaffected gaiety; +he could hardly conceive the weight of sadness +that must lie at the bottom of her heart.</p> + +<p>"We shall have a happy day," she said, +smiling at the thought of it; "something to +remember always."</p> + +<p>He was quick to grasp her spirit. They were +to have this happiness as if the day were one +of many days, some past, more to come. They +were to give themselves up to the joy of each +other's companionship in simple acceptance of +the passing hour; not dilating on the occasion +as a parting; not letting it be overshadowed +by the sense of what they had so tragically +missed in life. Parting there would be; and +then sadness would descend swiftly enough. +Till that bitter moment—sparkle and enjoyment! +He had come prepared to talk much of themselves; +but he saw she was wiser than he, and +at once fell in with her mood. There would be +all the rest of his life to lament in.</p> + +<p>"Have you thought of any plan?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"None," she replied. "To tell the truth, I +rather shrank from anything definite. 'The +wind bloweth as it listeth.' Let us go on +without end or purpose. That seems to me the +ideal way."</p> + +<p>"But we are bound to make a beginning. +After that the game may play itself."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> + "Let us get away from the London we know; +let us go to a romantic, wonderful London that +we have never seen." She was almost echoing +his thought. "We shall glide discreetly among +the crowds as if we belonged to them."</p> + +<p>"Then away!" he laughed. "To horse—or +rather, to omnibus! Or is it to be hansom?"</p> + +<p>"Everything in turn, and nothing long."</p> + +<p>It was a cold day, yet though the sky was +lightly clouded, the air was free from mist. +As they stepped into the street a few patches +of blue were visible, and a wintry sunshine +filtered down with a pleasant sense of promise. +The neighbouring houses were for the most +part shuttered and silent, but the outlook on +the great triangular space before them was +cheerfully busy.</p> + +<p>"How unlike the scene of your painting!" she +exclaimed. "There is no suggestion of drama +here, but just the average feeling of the London +thoroughfare—busy people going their way, +and a procession of omnibuses mixed up with +carts and hansoms."</p> + +<p>"Yet my own scene swims before my eyes—I +have lived with it so long."</p> + +<p>"You have still to live with it," she reminded +him.</p> + +<p>"If I do not die of it," he answered pleasantly. +"Seriously, I came near to doing so."</p> + +<p>"This omnibus is marked 'Aldgate,'" she flew + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +off. "Now that makes me think of Aldgate +Pump. I wonder if it goes near the Pump?"</p> + +<p>Wyndham jumped on the foot-board, and +put the question to the conductor.</p> + +<p>"We pass within a yard of it," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Good," said Wyndham. The omnibus drew +up, and Lady Betty mounted the stairway, and +they seated themselves on the roof.</p> + +<p>"Look!" he exclaimed. "The clouds are +suddenly breaking; it will be all blue and +sunshine soon."</p> + +<p>"A grey ghostly blue, a cold, charming sunshine."</p> + +<p>"Yet the promise is splendid after all this +winter."</p> + +<p>"The promise is splendid," she echoed; "and +we are so happy to-day."</p> + +<p>"We are so happy," he repeated.</p> + +<p>He let himself lapse into a dreamy mood; he +was enchanted to have her so near him, to +feel the afternoon and evening stretching +endlessly before them—a veritable lifetime of +golden moments. Lady Betty's manner offered +a marked contrast. Hers was a frank exhilaration, +an excited gaiety, of which he had the +full impression; though she kept it in a low +key, like love's whisper intended for his ear +alone. Soon, as he had predicted, the sky grew +bluer, the sunshine warmer; the traffic and the +bustle of the streets were cheerfully pleasant to +the eye and the ear in the fresh day.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> + "Even the London we know seems delightful," +he remarked.</p> + +<p>"London, though sometimes impelling to +revolt, is always wonderful—it has always the +fascination of the unknown."</p> + +<p>"And is as supremely problematic as the +unknowable of the philosophers."</p> + +<p>"But it is solid and real, comes to us through +all the five senses. Look at that strange old +man with the tiger-lilies. I wonder how he +comes by them at this time of year."</p> + +<p>"That is one of the wonders of London," said +Wyndham. "One sees the flowers of all seasons +at every season."</p> + +<p>"And sometimes the weather of all seasons +at every season. Has Aldgate Pump a +history?"</p> + +<p>He confessed to ignorance, though he had +an idea that he had read much about it in his +boyhood, an epoch when he had been fascinated +by all the odd monuments of the town. He +recalled, however, after a time, that there was +a legend connected with it, not unlike that of +the wandering Jew.</p> + +<p>"Is it actually a pump?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's a real pump," he assured her.</p> + +<p>"Because I had a suspicion just now; it struck +me it might be a sort of old coaching-inn or +something of the kind. I've often been deceived +like that, have gone off to see strange things, +and have found a coaching-inn."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> + "At least there is the consolation of refreshment +at the inn."</p> + +<p>"Not a bad idea," she conceded. "It would +be a thing to boast about for the rest of one's +life—to have refreshed one's self at the Aldgate +Pump."</p> + +<p>Both laughed. The omnibus pursued its way +with a steady rumble. They had turned out of +Piccadilly and passed through Waterloo Place, +and soon after through Trafalgar Square into +the Strand, where the scene proved much busier. +The pavements were thronged; people were +pressing forward with an appearance of being +very much in earnest. A sprinkling of tourists, +clearly self-proclaimed by their holiday air and +the style of their attire and grooming, paraded +at leisure or gazed into the shop-windows. Here +and there a young girl, in a picture frock and +a big hat, tripped along daintily, holding her +skirt with a touch that suggested Paris, and +swinging her little bag from her free hand.</p> + +<p>"Actresses going to rehearsal?" hazarded +Wyndham, in response to his companion's interrogation.</p> + +<p>"How charming they are!" she exclaimed. +"And they are most of them frightfully poor. +They struggle for years, and then drop out +gradually. Fortunately we women have the +gift of living intensely for the day. A few +weeks' engagement, the guinea or two assured +for the time being, and see how we bloom."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> + "Ah, yes," said Wyndham reflectively; "life +for them, as for many others, is pretty much of +a game of roulette. They stake their all on +the table, fortune fluctuates during a few turns +of the wheel, and then—everything is swept +away."</p> + +<p>"Away, please, with these sad reflections! +Why look too searchingly at things? The +world is pleasant; why spoil it by examining +it? Why turn one's eyes willingly away from +the good to see the evil?"</p> + +<p>"And at any rate the good is as real as the +evil," he agreed.</p> + +<p>"We must make things contribute to our +happiness while we may. All these crowds of +people have no idea that they are there for our +entertainment; they do not know, poor things, +that we have willed they should be masquerading +to please us. They have the delusion +they are going about their own affairs, and they +see only an ordinary omnibus, full on the roof—that +is, if they cared to look at us. To them +what more commonplace than a journey on an +omnibus from Hyde Park Corner to Aldgate +Pump? Yet, to us, what a whimsical universe +it is!"</p> + +<p>The omnibus rattled along with a not unpleasing +vibration. They passed through the +heart of the City, swept alongside St. Paul's, +and then the humour of country cousins took +possession of them. They pretended to be + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +roused to excitement by all these guide-book +regions and monuments, affected to be seeing +them for the first time and to be recognising +them from the engravings. Down Leadenhall +Street they clattered at last, and presently to +their surprise the conductor's head appeared +above the stairway with the announcement of +"Aldgate Pump, sir."</p> + +<p>They descended. The omnibus passed on, and +they stood hesitating, a little lost, but greatly +amused.</p> + +<p>"Here it is!" she exclaimed. "And a street +arab in the very act of pumping! Why, it's +real water."</p> + +<p>They contemplated it for a moment or two. +"Well, what do you think of it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Thrilling," she admitted. "All pumps are +interesting—in these days of universal taps. +But look at those warehouses opposite, beyond +the hoarding. Aren't they fascinating?"</p> + +<p>"I believe the river lies beyond." Probably +no existence had been less intertwined with +the City of London than his, but he remembered +the immediate neighbourhood pretty well from +ancient wanderings, and he told her as an +interesting fact that Mark Lane and Mincing +Lane lay thereabouts.</p> + +<p>"I think I have heard of them." Her face +lighted with the pleasure of recognition. "Indeed, +I'm sure I've seen them mentioned in the +newspapers."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> + He tried to plumb her knowledge, but found +no deeps. She knitted her brows prettily, or +at least he imagined she did, under her veil. +"A sort of Latin Quarter—an artist's colony?" +she hazarded. "No, wait a bit, there was a +wealthy, humdrum sort of man I once met, +and everybody whispered he came out of +Mincing Lane. He was not artistic. I give +it up."</p> + +<p>"He imported tea?"</p> + +<p>"That's not unlikely," she agreed.</p> + +<p>"That's what Mincing Lane is for. And Mark +Lane is for corn and produce."</p> + +<p>"How useful! What a good world it is! I +think I like this part."</p> + +<p>"Beyond is Eastcheap, famous for groceries, +and beyond that again the water-side where all +these things are landed."</p> + +<p>"Let us come to Eastcheap." She was eager +to see all the places he had enumerated, so he +took her through the famous side-streets.</p> + +<p>"I certainly do like this part of the world," +she repeated emphatically. "And do you know, +your talk of tea, and corn, and produce, and +warehouses has made me very hungry. If we +stumble up against a charming place, we shall +lunch."</p> + +<p>And, a minute or two later, as they strolled +down Eastcheap, at the corner of a narrow +winding lane, they came upon a sort of café, +which nice-looking merchants were entering, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +besides a goodly sprinkling of brisk young +women. Lady Betty peered in through the +door. The place seemed pretty full, but a stairway +led to regions below. In a box, at the head +of the stairway, and busily taking the cash, +was a charming old man of mildest aspect.</p> + +<p>Lady Betty declared it all fascinating, especially +the part below stairs, which had the +attraction of the as yet unseen.</p> + +<p>Wyndham hesitated. "There is smoking below. +You may not like it."</p> + +<p>"There are other women going down," she +insisted. "I can't resist the temptation."</p> + +<p>It was an average type of City lunching place, +but Lady Betty had never before tried the sort +of thing, so Wyndham fell in with her whim. +Down the stairs they went into a spacious +cellar, lighted with jets of gas, though the sun +was still shining outside. Wreaths and clouds +of smoke floated in the atmosphere, and a clatter +of dominoes and crockery dominated the buzz of +voices that rose from the chaos of people at the +marble tables. The central tables seemed given +up to chess-play, each game surrounded by onlookers, +all with patient cups of coffee beside +them. And here and there an exceptional table, +laid with a napkin, and in possession of vigorous +eaters, gave the note of the restaurant. +Wyndham and Lady Betty found a snug place +on one side from which they could survey the +room; and a neat little waitress, scarcely more + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> +than a child, came briskly forward to serve +them, handing them with a sweet professional +smile a long slip headed "Bill of Fare." They +were glad to note that their entrance had +attracted no attention. Lady Betty studied the +bill excitedly. They made their decision, and +Wyndham imparted it to the waitress.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," she said; "And what'll you +have to drink, please?"</p> + +<p>Again an eager colloquy, with the prosaic +result of "two ginger-beers." "A true old +English beverage," declared Lady Betty, and her +approval seemed to flash the æsthetic quality +into it, to invest it with rank and nobility. +"Small or large?" persisted the waitress, her +tone and demeanour of the gravest.</p> + +<p>"Oh, large," said Lady Betty, and the girl's +face brightened at the definiteness of the information.</p> + +<p>"Two large ginger-beers—thank you, ma'am," +she said, and went off sharply, leaving them to +their amusement.</p> + +<p>Whilst waiting, they surveyed the place at +their leisure. "I like it here," exclaimed Lady +Betty again. "Look at the old chess player +there, with the bald pate and the eagle's nose. +Watch him considering his move, with his hand +hovering in the air, hesitating, yet ready to +swoop down to capture a piece."</p> + +<p>But the hand did not capture the piece. +Instead, the shoulders shrugged, an expression + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> +of disgust overclouded the face, and the hand +descended, dashing all the pieces from the board +with one sweep. A roar of delight broke from +the onlookers, and mingling with it from +another part of the room came a sudden fresh +clatter of dominoes, rapidly shuffled.</p> + +<p>"What fresh, frank enjoyment! So this is +the strenuous commercial life of London—gingerbeer +and dominoes!"</p> + +<p>"A strange set of people!" commented Wyndham. +"Study these faces—from each shines a +different life. I almost want to put my enormous +accumulation of art theories on the fire, +and to paint only human faces for the rest of +my life."</p> + +<p>"Wonderful! There seem at least fifty +different races here—to judge from the shapes +of the skulls and the varying types of +features."</p> + +<p>"The thought often strikes me as I watch +people in the streets or in omnibuses," said +Wyndham. "No matter how dull or repulsive +a human face at first sight, I believe it can +always be painted so as to be interesting, and +that without departing from truth."</p> + +<p>The waitress reappeared with their lunch +which had been simply chosen so as to admit +of no possible failure, and in their present mood +they were charmed with it. Lady Betty was +enraptured by the experience, and chatted in an +undertone, every now and then breaking into a + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> +spontaneous "I am so happy to-day," and flashing +him a glance of light and radiance.</p> + +<p>They wound up with black coffee, and then +the little waitress made out the account, which, +after leaving her demurely astonished with her +big silver tip, Wyndham paid to the nice old +man in the box at the top of the stairs.</p> + +<p>"The sun is still shining—look!" she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Wyndham stepped after her into the air +gratefully. "It is fresh and almost summery. +Heaven smiles at us. Shall we stroll down this +winding lane? I fancy it must lead to the +water-side."</p> + +<p>"Hurrah for the winding lane!" she said, and +stepped out merrily. At the bottom they +entered a street full of black brick warehouses +with cranes at work, and huge carts with +ponderous horses. "An antediluvian breed!" +whispered Lady Betty. They strolled along, +peering into dim doorways at vast interiors +where a strange universe of life flourished in +the glooms amid prodigious collections of barrels +and boxes.</p> + +<p>"We are almost on Tower Hill," he said +suddenly.</p> + +<p>"An unexpected fantasy!" she exclaimed, as +the Tower of London itself came into view at +the end of the narrow street, the grey far-stretching +ramparts looming up ghost-like and +romantic. "A mediæval mirage amid all this + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> +grimy commerce. I wonder if it will vanish +presently! But let us try the opposite direction +now—are we not vowed to-day to the unfamiliar +and unknown?"</p> + +<p>They retraced their steps, and, ere long, +lighted on an iron gate that led visibly to the +water-side.</p> + +<p>"The gate is inviting," she said. "I hope it +isn't forbidden."</p> + +<p>"Ah, here is a notice. I see we shall not be +trespassers."</p> + +<p>They entered, and, passing through the preliminary +alley, found themselves on a broad, +open gravelled space beyond which flowed the +water. Save for a couple of pigeons wandering +about, they had the place all to themselves.</p> + +<p>"This is a discovery," declared Lady Betty. +"It is as interesting here in its way as the +Rialto at Venice."</p> + +<p>And indeed they had reason to admire. To +the right lay the Bridge of Bridges, whose endlessly +rolling traffic was at this distance softened +to an artistic suggestion that by no means +disturbed their sense of solitude. At the adjoining +wharf on the left a Dutch boat was +being unladen, actively, yet with a strange +sense of stillness and calm. And over all the +river and shipping hung a faint grey-blue mist, +muffling and enveloping all things out of proportion +to its density, and absorbing the sunlight +into a haze that already seemed to foretell + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> +the chills of the coming twilight of the winter's +day. They saw the sun, a large red ball, hanging +extraordinarily low in the sky over a long +squat warehouse with symmetrical rows of +windows. And across the river, under the +shadow of the opposite structures, lay strange +families of craft and barges, moored in the +water, or high on the mud; rusty and silent, +some half-broken up, some swinging lazily, +touched with the mellow decay of the +centuries.</p> + +<p>Lady Betty thought it would be ideal to stay +here awhile, so they settled down on one of the +garden-seats, and sat in quiet happiness, unheeding +of the sharp touch of the afternoon air. +More pigeons flew down from neighbouring +roofs and walked tamely around them. And +from all the mighty activity of surrounding +London, that beat strenuous, feverish, far-reaching, +there flowed to them only a serenity, an +almost phantasmal calm: they were alone, +supremely alone—far from their world of everyday +existence.</p> + +<p>The time slipped by deliciously. Their enjoyment +was as spontaneous as of two children +at play. And children they were in the perfect +simplicity of their happiness. They watched +the afternoon deepen, the haze of sunshine +weaken and yield to greyer moods; they rose, +too, and moved along the edge of the waters, +and examined the shipping and barges. They + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +spoke to the pigeons, gave them names, endowed +them with romances; they spoke to each +other endearingly, yet still as the two children +who had played together always, who had +wandered into this strange world, and were +as enchanted with it as with each other.</p> + +<p>At last they realised the light was already +fading; the mist on all things was ghostlier, +and damp in the throat and nostrils. Now and +again a spasmodic wind caught up dry leaves +and swirled them around playfully. Lady Betty +gave a little shiver.</p> + +<p>"Night will soon be on us," she said. "A +million points of light will be springing up as +by magic. It would be enchanting to stay and +watch the darkness deepen and the river-fog +steal down; to sit here through the mysterious +hours, and study the shadows and silhouettes, +and listen to all the strange sounds of the night, +and watch all those lights glimmer on and on, +till at last they show yellow in the pale dawn, +and life again is swarming over the bridges. +Must we go back, dear?—we have left our world +ever so far away—and years ago, was it not, +dear?"</p> + +<p>A sadness had descended on them both. With +the approach of evening, they could not but feel +the precious time was fleeting; they could no +longer immerse themselves with such wholeheartedness +in the simple appreciation of the +moment. The terror of the parting to come + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> +rose in the hearts of both. Yet they made a +brave resistance.</p> + +<p>"Come, darling," she said at last; "the hours +still belong to us. We have indulged our day-mood. +Let us search for something fresh now; +our good star shall watch over us and send us +happy adventures."</p> + +<p>So they passed again into the street, and, +absorbed in their talk, were scarcely aware +whither they were turning. They knew they +were in a network of by-ways, flanked by +warehouses and offices, and sometimes they +stumbled on terraces of decrepit old dwelling-houses. +They were vaguely conscious that they +were leaving the river far behind, and that they +must have crossed Eastcheap again at some +narrower part without recognising it. After +some leisurely wandering they came into a +more important thoroughfare with pretentious +edifices, yet with archaic touches here and there, +the relics of another epoch, worn and decaying, +yet more suggestive of coming stone buildings +to supplant them than of the glory of their own +century.</p> + +<p>At a street-corner, under the light of a lamp +that was still pale in the gathering dusk, a +shivering flower-seller with a red shawl over +her shoulders stood with a basket of deliciously +fresh violets, and Wyndham stopped to get +a big bunch of them put together for his companion. +Lady Betty was immensely gratified; + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> +she breathed in the odour of the violets with +rapture, then fastened them in her bosom. She +was herself again now, overflowing with good +fellowship, and amused at every trifle. He +caught her exhilaration. "We shall fill our +evening with a whirl of gaiety!" he cried. +"Rockets and fireworks; I wonder if the good +star you spoke of will be kind enough to set +down in our path some unheard-of theatre."</p> + +<p>She suggested they should study the hoardings +as they went along, and both undertook to +keep a look-out. But they were absorbed again +in each other, having only a vague pleasurable +sense of the crowded roads into which their +steps now took them. Eventually they were +in a main thoroughfare, with bustling shops +brilliantly alight, and endless lines of stalls +a-blazing; the roadway full of traffic and tram-cars +and amazingly gigantic hay-carts, the +pavements thick with a working population +pressing forward and forward in multitudes. +It was night now, absolutely; but it had stolen +on them so gradually, they were astonished it +was so definitely manifest. The hours of light +were fresh and vivid in their minds, they could +almost hear and feel the unending clatter of the +omnibus that had carried them across the town, +and the riverside picture was still before them. +The change that had come over the world, this +transition to absolute darkness illumined by +street-lamps and flaring naphtha, seemed mystic + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> +and amazing. And a subtle warmth from all +this illumination and from all this press and +bustle, from all these close-packed moving +vans and cars and hay-carts, pervaded the +wintry air; a sense of exhilaration, too; a sense +of life in all its unrefined, joyous reality, intense +and vigorous, accepting itself unquestioningly, +too sure of the worth of the gift ever to doubt +it—even as the hungry ploughboy does not +speculate metaphysically about the fat pork on +his plate, but simply falls thereon and devours it.</p> + +<p>"Book-stalls!" cried Lady Betty, "and piled +up ever and ever so high. And look, rusty +Wellington boots on the one hand, and rusty +tools and bits of iron on the other."</p> + +<p>They stayed a few minutes, and turned over +some of the books, as interesting and varied +as those in any more pretentious bookman's +paradise. They both grew selfishly absorbed, +each striking out an individual path, though +remembering the other's existence at moments +of extraordinary interest. In the end each +became the possessor of a volume. Wyndham's +was a facsimile of the first edition of the +"Pilgrim's Progress," a fattish octavo with the +loveliest of wide margins, and the exact reproduction +of the original engravings. Lady +Betty's treasure was an old copy of the Dramatic +Poems of Browning. Each paid the same one-and-sixpence, +and as they bore away their +prizes they discovered that each had been + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> +inspired by the same motive—of giving the +other a memento of this wonderful day. +Laughingly they exchanged their volumes, and +the presentations thus formally carried out, +Wyndham took possession of the Bunyan again +in the mere capacity of carrier.</p> + +<p>At last a hoarding with a great glare of light +on it.</p> + +<p>Wyndham let his eye roam over the posters. +"The very thing," he cried. "A fine old-fashioned +melodrama!"</p> + +<p>"Splendid!" echoed Lady Betty, gazing at +the many-coloured scenes that promised a +generous measure of thrills and emotions.</p> + +<p>"We shall have a box to ourselves," said +Wyndham. "As you see, it is not so very +extravagant. Only there is the problem of +dining."</p> + +<p>"What healthy little children we are!" she +laughed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we must dine," he protested.</p> + +<p>"I have faith," she declared. "Our good star +has served us till now, it is not going to desert +us. We shall light upon some quaint place +presently."</p> + +<p>The confident prediction justified itself, for, +later on, they stopped before a Jewish restaurant +that proudly announced itself as "kosher." +And it proved immediately irresistible to the +wanderers, who entered straightway, and found +themselves in a simple sort of room with freshly + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> +papered walls, full of neatly laid tables, the +very antithesis of the familiar formal restaurant +of ornate intention. The place was empty of +diners as yet—no doubt it was early for the +usual clients; but the proprietor, a grave bearded +personage in spotless broad-cloth and with the +air of an ambassador, come forward bowing +profoundly, and escorted them to a choice corner. +Through a half-open door at the back they +had a glimpse of a neat, comely Jewish woman +busy amid pots and pans, whilst a boy and +a girl, who both looked good and intelligent, +were industriously doing their lessons at a +side-table. The host waited on the adventurers +in person, taking the dishes from a younger and +shyer assistant who brought them from behind +the scenes.</p> + +<p>Despite the magnificent gravity of his presence, +their host turned out to be an unaffected human +being, whom they encouraged to talk of his own +affairs, and who was pleased at their manifest +interest in his homely establishment and in his +little family. His wife and he worked together, +and it was her cooking on which they were now +being regaled. Their favourable verdict gave +him an almost naïve gratification; a radiance +and an illumination broke brilliantly across his +features. He told them the Jewish names +of the various dishes, but though they repeated +them sedulously, the strange, charming words +would not remain in their heads a moment. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> +Meanwhile the kitchen was being stimulated +to a display of delicate skill and finesse; the +fish was as good, declared Lady Betty, as +anything she had tasted at the Maison d'Or. +A few other clients began to appear—a long-bearded +Russian, carefully dressed, accompanied +by a simple, buxom daughter of rosy complexion +and deep, serious, aspiring eyes; then a middle-aged +man, with a leonine mane that was dashed +with grey and suggested the poor composer +of genius; and finally a spectacled German +in a threadbare cut-away coat, carefully brushed, +who suggested unrequited scholarship. But +all these, after the first distinguished bow +and salutation on the part of the host, were +left to the attentions of the assistant; the host +himself being magnetised by the unaccustomed +guests with whom he was deep in conversation. +But, though he waited on them perfectly, there +was yet conveyed in his bearing such a touch +of distinction and courteous affability that they +were sensible as of an honour that was being +bestowed upon them. And that he was no +mere small-souled tradesman was abundantly +evident when he brought them a bottle of claret +with the romantic recommendation that it had +been grown on Palestine soil, and that, in its +passage from the wine-press to their table here, +it had never left the hands of his compatriots. +He handled the bottle with pride and certainly +emotion, and begged them to accept of it, and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +to allow him to fill their glasses. They were +touched by the invitation, though they were +naturally unwilling to accept such a gift from +a poor man, but he understood their doubts +and laughingly explained that, as he did not +possess a wine licence, he could not possibly +accept payment; a piece of reasoning which +drew them into the laugh and disposed of their +hesitations.</p> + +<p>They made him join them, however, and they +drank to the prosperity of the Palestine colonies, +irrelevantly but charmingly coupling the toast +with that of their host and hostess, the children +and the restaurant. The other visitors smiled +quietly, and, with conspicuous good breeding, +scarcely turned their eyes towards this convivial +table, the Russian conversing in an undertone +with his daughter, and the musician with the +scholar.</p> + +<p>And at the end the host did not give himself +any false airs, but made out their modest +reckoning and handed Wyndham the change, +all with the same courtesy and with a distinction +of manner which seemed to lift trade to a +higher plane than it occupies in Occidental +prejudice. And as the wife appeared hovering +with a shy smile in the kitchen doorway, she +was invited to join the group, and warmly +complimented on her culinary skill. Then Lady +Betty asked for the children, and presently +their bright faces were illumining the room + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> +with a warmer and sweeter light. Wyndham +and Lady Betty spoke to them a little, +then Lady Betty slipped a fragile ring with +a single small fine pearl off her finger, and put +it on the girl's. The little thing blushed and +hung down her head. But the jewel became +the tiny hand immensely. Meanwhile the boy's +eyes were glued on the books.</p> + +<p>"I can see you like books, little man," said +Wyndham.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said the child, "better than +anything else."</p> + +<p>"His ambition is to become a scholar," put in +his father proudly.</p> + +<p>"He is to have the Browning as a memento," +said Lady Betty. She handed it to the child. +"Keep this volume carefully. When you are +older, I am sure you will love and treasure it." +Then she unfastened her big bunch of violets +and pressed the flowers on his mother, who took +them shyly but coloured with pleasure.</p> + +<p>When they were in the street again they +walked on silently for a while. Wyndham saw +that Lady Betty had been deeply touched; that +something wonderful had been revealed to her +of which, perhaps, she had never caught a +glimpse in her whole existence. Presently +she turned to Wyndham with a quiet smile +that was the natural reflection of her +thought.</p> + +<p>"You do forgive me, dear," she asked, "for + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> +my arbitrary disposal of your Browning, my +own present to you!"</p> + +<p>"You sacrificed my gift of violets, so we are +quits."</p> + +<p>"After this we shall scarcely need any +memento of the day—who could ever forget?" +Then with a little thrill of joy: "But I've my +Pilgrim all the same." She touched the book +lovingly as he held it, and he was aware of +her movement as of a caress. It was his gift +to her, and what a world of affection in this +implication of the value she set on it!</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span></p> +<h2>XXIII</h2> + +<p>They found the theatre easily, and, from their +snug box, enjoyed a most lurid melodrama, +which amply redeemed the promise of the +hoarding, and was played by a vigorous company +who seemed in no wise dismayed by +yawning spaces and a thin scattering of audience. +Nay, the thrills were even more than the +adventurers had reckoned on, for pistol shots +suddenly rang out in the third act, and Lady +Betty clutched hard at the curtain of the box. +She presently realised, however, that the iniquitous +foreign nobleman with the fur overcoat +and large moustachios, whose veiled hand had +directed the remorseless persecution of the good +and righteous, had at last paid for his misdeeds, +and with this passing of the villain Lady Betty +found that her sense of poetic justice was abundantly +satisfied; though the luckless heroine, +appearing on the scene just then, and incautiously +picking up the fallen pistol, was at +once arrested as the manifest murderess. Then +the curtain went down, and Lady Betty rose.</p> + +<p>"We must not stay to the end. Our day is + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> +over, and I want to give you the promised +souvenir of our brief friendship."</p> + +<p>There was a catch in her voice, and he understood +that the sob had been suppressed with +difficulty. He felt it was for him now to be +strong; to set the note of stoic resignation, even +as she had led off their adventures with a mood +that had made this day the most wonderful of +all his life.</p> + +<p>"Ah, your strange, strange souvenir!" he +laughed. "You must admit I have waited +patiently."</p> + +<p>"It was very wicked of me," she admitted. +"But I shall keep you tortured with curiosity +till the moment I give it to you. I have it at +home. We had better drive back all the way, +if we can find a vehicle."</p> + +<p>They slipped out of the box and along the +corridor and into the open road. It was a keen +night, but very clear. The perspective of street +lamps stretched endlessly on either hand. There +was a plentiful sprinkling of people about, and +the tram-cars were still passing. At the kerb +were a few cabs, waiting for possible clients, so +they selected the smartest of the vehicles; and +the driver, who had been standing flinging his +arms about for warmth, climbed into his seat, +stolidly indifferent that "fares" from the theatre +should wish to go so far afield into the regions +of the elect.</p> + +<p>No doubt the horse was glad to be off, for + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> +they started at an astonishingly brisk pace. +Outside lay the endless road and all the shuttered +world of streets and houses, over which still +hung the romance of their splendid day. Quietly +they had their last glimpses, as if fearing to +speak, and yet thrillingly conscious of their +proximity to each other. Lady Betty was sunk +in sadness; as if she recognised now that any +affectation of cheerfulness was utterly vain. +And Wyndham was thinking of the definite +moment of parting. He had resigned himself +to saying "goodbye" at the door of her home; +not daring to suggest now that she should visit +his studio, even for the first time and last—since +the chance had not naturally arisen in the course +of the day's wanderings, and she had not even +expressed the desire for it. Indeed, in all these +weeks she had thrown out no hint of such a +wish, and he had felt that she considered the +ground as within Alice's absolute sphere, and +would not intrude on it. No doubt many +mingled shades of feeling went to create this +attitude of hers. Still, Wyndham, having +dreamed of her coming there on this last day, +was to that extent unsatisfied. Time and again +the suggestion mounted to his lips even at this +eleventh hour, but he had not the confidence to +let the words fall.</p> + +<p>Perhaps they had both fallen into reverie, +for Wyndham found himself saying suddenly, +"Why, here is the Bank of England!" And + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> +Lady Betty started, too, astonished at the stillness +and the solitude here in the heart of the +City.</p> + +<p>"The night seems darker now, and how +ghostly and silent the lights are!" she said. +"The sky has clouded. Goodbye, dreamland," +she added in meditation. "I shall never dare +revisit the ground we have covered. I don't +want to see it again; I couldn't bear it. But +I shall always think and dream of it."</p> + +<p>He dared not answer. The least false note, +and she would be unnerved. Since the parting +had to be, let them grip hands silently for the +last time, almost without realising it; let them +go off as if they were to meet again on the +morrow—as in so many partings that life itself +brings about.</p> + +<p>And as they were borne westwards, signs of +life began to appear again; as they approached +the Strand they came full upon the torrents of +population pouring out from their amusements. +At Trafalgar Square the town was alive with +masses of hansoms in motion that broke into +jets and streams flashing and darting into all +the avenues. They seemed to have returned +into this familiar, dazzling London of the night +as from a long journey. They were giddy with +the impression of it all, and winced as if they +had long grown disaccustomed to it. But, +definitely, they were at home again; soon the +houses of Grosvenor Place would loom up before + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> +them, though somehow their everyday universe +had taken on some subtle quality of unreality +since the morning.</p> + +<p>And yet how small the distance they had +gone afield, how soon annihilated! Up St. +James's Street went the cab, alongside the +Green Park, and in a few minutes it had pulled +up in Grosvenor Place. Wyndham sprang out +with a forced alertness, and helped his companion +to descend. The house was quite dark. +Lady Betty led the way to the door-step and +produced a latch key from her purse. Wyndham +stood by, strained and nervous.</p> + +<p>"You must come in to receive your souvenir," +she said. "You have well deserved it," she +added with a brave smile.</p> + +<p>He followed her in as she pushed the door +open; then she switched on the light. "You +had best wait in the dining-room, I shall join +you again presently."</p> + +<p>Wyndham stood alone in the spacious room, +with a sense of chill and desolation. The +thought of his marriage and life to come flashed +on him with a stroke of terror. Suddenly he +shivered. Ah, it was bleak here in this deadly, +all-pervading stillness. The very lights seemed +to flood the room mournfully. How tired he +was! Everything seemed to swim before him.</p> + +<p>And then he was aware she was in the room +again, smiling at him and exhibiting a package. +Her presence seemed to revive him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> + "At last I am to be enlightened," he murmured.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you are doomed to be disappointed," +she said, as she came and stood by his +side at the table. "I have made such a mystery +of it, whereas, no doubt, you will find it trivial."</p> + +<p>"You said it was a weird idea. I am sure it +is a charming one. Whatever it is, you know +what it will be to me."</p> + +<p>"I know, darling," she said, suddenly grave +again.</p> + +<p>She bade him cut the string and open the +package. At last, as he was removing the many +wrappings, "It is an old door-knocker," she said; +"the figure of a lovely grotesque old wizard, +wrought in bronze. I came across it on the +door of a fifteenth-century house in Delft a +year or two ago, and it so fascinated me that I +bargained for it with the owner. It has ever +since remained one of my pet possessions, and I +at once thought of it for you. Tell me truly +what you think of it!"</p> + +<p>Wyndham held up the strange bronze man, +slim and long, with fantastic bearded head, and +grasping in one hand a rod that merged into a +huge serpent that lay coiled round the body. +The two legs were welded at the bottom into +one big foot, the heel of which formed the +hammer. It was a piece of grotesqueness +worthy of the East, finely and subtly modelled, +and quaint rather than grim in its suggestiveness.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> + "A masterpiece!" he said at last. "I have +never seen anything of the kind to match it."</p> + +<p>"I should say it is by an artist of at any +rate the early renaissance," she ventured, her +face agleam, for she had awaited his verdict +with anxiety. "The modelling is so careful +and scientific."</p> + +<p>"Those were the days when artists still +thought only of their work, and so much forgot +their own existence that they took no pains to +proclaim themselves to the world. The work of +the so-called dark ages remains, the artists lie +unknown and unheard of, if indeed they were +known to the world at any time."</p> + +<p>"You will set up my wizard on the door of +your house. Every time you hear it you will +think of me as floating there like a spirit. Isn't +that weird? I have the idea that if an enemy +should touch it, you would somehow know at +once, and be on your guard. Oh, yes, I was +convinced it was a magic knocker the moment +I saw it."</p> + +<p>He was still staring at it gravely, as if he, too, +felt some eerie quality in it. She looked at him, +then broke into laughter. "Aren't we a charming +pair of children, taking our own make-believe +so seriously?"</p> + +<p>He laughed, too, though uneasily. "It is good +to be children again."</p> + +<p>"Like all good things, it is cut short so soon," +she responded meditatively.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> + He replaced the old wizard in its wrappings. +"It is true," he murmured, pale and haggard. +"Time is flying."</p> + +<p>"Ah, well," she said with a catch in her +breath.</p> + +<p>They were looking at each other brokenly. +The air echoed and echoed with the "goodbye" +that was not spoken.</p> + +<p>He took her hand in his. "Princess," he +whispered huskily, "I had dreamed of your +seeing my studio ere we said goodbye. It +would be for the first time and last, remember. +Won't you come with me now, dear?—the +merest glimpse—if only to see where your +magic knocker is to hang—You understand, +dear?"</p> + +<p>Her eyes glistened. "Yes, I understand, +dear. I will come with you."</p> + +<p>"This is one of the kindest things that even +your life will hold!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>So again they were in the street, and the +door swung to behind them. Wyndham was +carrying his package, unexpectedly heavy, all +concentrated weight, like a dumb-bell. The +point caught her attention, and in a flash she +changed again, was once more the amused +laughing comrade, even though the sky was +clouded now and tiny specks of rain flew in +their faces.</p> + +<p>"A midnight expedition!" she cried. "Let +it be a hansom this time."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> + At the corner of Knightsbridge they found +one, and they were off again at a trot; a fact +so astonishing that they could hardly grasp +it. And then, instead of feeling broken with +fatigue at the end of a long day, they found +themselves fresh and spirited, as at the +beginning of a new adventure.</p> + +<p>Soon they were cutting down Sloane Street, +and then Wyndham suggested they should +go the more interesting way round, so as to +take in the Embankment, and drive into the +Tite Street at the river end. It would leave a +pleasanter impression with her, he argued, and +Lady Betty readily assented. He gave the man +the word, but straightway again the pair were +deep in conversation, and lost all sense of the +outer world.</p> + +<p>Some minutes passed. Suddenly their driver +gave a shout, the hansom jerked violently, and +Lady Betty, clutching at Wyndham's hand, saw +a woman just step back in time from under +the horse's head. The driver cracked his whip +and shouted something angrily, and then the +hansom moved on again. Wyndham stared +out into the night. He saw the line of lights +gleaming along the parapet of the river, and +recognised they were within a short distance +of Tite Street. But the woman was already +lost in the gloom.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p> +<h2>XXIV</h2> + +<p>At the table that evening, Alice Robinson +announced that she was going to meet Wyndham +immediately after dinner. Had her parents +not been accustomed to her departure at such +summary notice, they might have observed the +touch of embarrassment that accompanied it. +For, although the expedition had been planned +and considered for twenty-four hours on end, +Alice found the initial falsehood singularly +agitating. Painfully conscious of this lack of +sangfroid, and fearful of betraying herself, +she felt she must escape from the house as +soon as was plausible. So, a little later, she +rose in feverish haste from the dinner-table, +and went to her room to put on her wrappings. +No one was to wait up for her, in case she might +be late, she said; she was taking a latch-key as +usual. Then she slipped out of the house, and +went down the street rapidly.</p> + +<p>Some little time had elapsed before she had +control of her wits and began to reflect. She +had been impelled to start far earlier than she +had calculated, and thus she undoubtedly ran + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> +the danger of finding Wyndham there, if she +went straight to the studio. It was half-past +eight; by taking various omnibuses she could +fill out the time and be there by half-past nine. +But even that seemed too early—he might be +only just on the point of going out to his club +engagement. No, to be absolutely safe, she +would not venture actually to intrude till ten +o'clock.</p> + +<p>However, she decided to make the journey +at once, and to pass the remaining time in +that neighbourhood. So she mounted the first +omnibus that came along, and, once settled +down for the long drive, she drew a deep breath +of relief. Now that she was definitely on the +way, some of the stress and pressure seemed to +leave her, and the expedition seemed less +terrible. She pictured herself stealing down +Tite Street, standing nervously on the opposite +pavement in the shadow, and looking up to see +if the studio were illuminated. Even if all were +dark, Wyndham might still be dressing in +the room at the back; for, from the state of +the hall, nothing could be deduced, as often he +would not take the trouble to light the oil-lamp +on which he at present depended. No, it would +be certainly more prudent to wait long enough +for certainty. Should she once break in upon +him, she knew he would take good care she +should not see the picture; for no doubt he had +taken measures against such a surprise visit.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> + Immersed in these reflections, Alice was dimly +aware of the miles of streets through which +she was being carried. Indeed, she forgot to +change omnibuses at Oxford Street, and was +borne some distance out of her way before +she discovered the omission. The whole town +seemed to her like a dream; the street and the +studio at her journey's end were all that existed +for her. And even when she gazed at the +world around her, it refused to take on any +reality; the people that were abroad, going +their way and standing out brilliantly in the +night wherever a blaze of light fell upon them, +seemed all strangely irrelevant. The only +figures that mattered were her affianced +husband and the beautiful, sad woman of +stately presence, whose loveliness and nobility +had drawn him from her. She knew now she +hated Lady Lakeden—definitely, terribly. It +was shameful, it was wicked—to hate like +that! Lady Lakeden was blameless, and had +not the least idea of all this suffering which +her loveliness had caused to a fellow-woman, +and to Wyndham, too. Yet how good it was +to let this mad fury against Lady Lakeden +develop in her heart!</p> + +<p>She pictured the portrait as standing with +its face to the wall, unobtrusive, even lost, +amid the hosts of other canvasses. With what +terrible eagerness she would dart on it, turn +it again, and let the light fall on it! At last + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> +she should gaze on the face, should satiate her +consuming curiosity!</p> + +<p>At Sloane Square she alighted, deciding to +eke out the time by walking the rest of the +distance. As she plunged into the heart of +Chelsea, and was so sensibly near her journey's +end, her pulse beat faster, her breath came +irregularly, and again her whole mind was +concentrated vividly on her goal. The streets +through which she passed were almost deserted. +The old houses, the gardens, the stretches of +brand-new buildings, the great Hospital itself, +were all vague silhouettes; above, the stars +were keen, but her eyes were fixed rigidly +before her.</p> + +<p>At the corner of Tite Street she stopped to +draw breath, for her heart was now thumping +painfully. At the same time she felt almost +afraid to set foot in the street itself. The +hesitation was unexpected; she had imagined +herself going straight to the studio, all of the +same impulse. But here a sense of wrong-doing +came upon her; the underhandedness of the +whole proceeding stood out in that moment, +curiously revealed, strangely impressive. A +strong temptation assailed her to turn, to run +off with all her force, to go back home. But she +set her teeth, again. No, she must not go back +without seeing Lady Lakeden's portrait. She +must not yield to these moments of cowardice. +It was stupid. Other women dared much + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> +greater things; would hesitate at nothing, +however false and ignoble, to gain their own +end!</p> + +<p>She crossed to the opposite side, and flitted +down the street like a shadow. She had so +effectively lengthened out her journey that it +was at last nearly ten o'clock. Wyndham's +whole house was dark, and she had little doubt +but that he was already out. Yet she wanted to +be absolutely certain, so she moved on again, and +sauntered off into a network of neighbouring +streets. But she was too impatient to go far +afield, and, after a few minutes, she retraced +her steps till once more she found herself looking +across the street at the silent house that +lay all in deep shadow. How dark and deserted; +how unnaturally still the whole quarter! Then +tramp, tramp, tramp, came the heavy foot of +a policeman, and she made him out dimly +approaching her. She crossed the road, nervous +indeed of any human scrutiny, and walked on +briskly, only venturing to turn back when he +had finally passed out of the street. Now, she +told herself, was the moment.</p> + +<p>With every muscle tense, her heart beating +now with terrible strokes, so that she felt she +might fall swooning at any moment, she approached +the house, and mounted the few steps +that led to the doorway. Her key was in her +little purse-bag, and she extricated it tremblingly. +At last she had the door open, gave + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> +a last, quick, furtive, glance around, and then +stepped into the hall. For a moment she stood +listening, her ears intensely on the alert for the +least sound in the house. But the sense of +absolute emptiness was too profound: the +measured ticking of the tall hall-clock seemed +to be sounding a curiously vigorous note. She +let the door slam behind her, and moved forward +a step or two, her feet sinking into the +deep Turkey carpet that she herself had chosen; +then she sank on a hard oak chair, and sat +there gratefully, trying to master her breath, +and waiting for her heart to thump itself +through sheer weariness into a gentler measure. +She unfastened her wraps and threw her coat +open, for from head to foot she was burning. +She did not note the time that passed, but when +she rose again with a start she heard from +some neighbouring church clock the single +stroke of a quarter. She hesitated no longer, +but determined to go up at once to the studio.</p> + +<p>But first she lighted the hall lamp. Now that +she was here she intended to take possession +openly, as was her right. If he should come +back suddenly, he at least should not imagine +that she was there in secret. But the cunning +of the reasoning gave her a twinge of shame; +she knew that she was throwing dust in her +own eyes in thus spouting of her right. Admit +at once that this liberal illumination was a piece +of craft, was intended to maintain the surface + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> +of innocence that was the cover for woman's +guile from time immemorial. Well, so be it! +She had been a child all her life. If perhaps +she had been less truly innocent, even she might +have kept the man who had slipped from her. +She was graduating in womanhood now; how +splendid it was to be unscrupulous, to do absolutely +what you wished, yet skilfully maintain +the blind belief and confidence of those you +tricked! What great power, what joy could +be gathered for yourself that way! Yes, that +was the only thing for woman in this world; +otherwise she was left to rot!</p> + +<p>And, as if to emphasise the conviction, she +deliberately lighted a second spare lamp that +stood in the hall, so that the spaces were +illumined resplendently. Then she mounted +the flight of stairs, letting her hand trail along +the graceful sweep of balustrade, and pushed +open the door of the studio.</p> + +<p>Peering into the darkness, her eyes at first +could distinguish nothing save the objects in the +spaces near her, as some of the light flowed up +from below. But presently she was able to +distinguish the familiar furniture, and cautiously +felt her way across to the mantelpiece. Soon +two powerful lamps were in full flame, and she +sat down again to rest for a minute, whilst her +eyes wandered round seeking for the portrait that +was the object of her pilgrimage. She did not +remove her coat and wraps, although, spacious + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> +as the room was, the atmosphere felt oppressive +and the slow fire, banked up with ashes, seemed +to give out an immense heat. Yet she felt +singularly at leisure, in full possession of her +purpose.</p> + +<p>Obviously Lady Lakeden's portrait was not +on any of the easels; nor could she distinguish +any fresh unit amid these many canvasses, all +individually familiar to her—like a card-sharper, +she could identify any one of them immediately +from its apparently featureless back. Her first +feeling was one of astonished disappointment, +and she rose now, ready to institute a closer +search. The possibility of being baulked of her +purpose stirred a sudden rage in her. She no +longer knew herself. "I am mad—mad," was +the thought that echoed through her brain. +"But if I am," she reasoned grimly, "my sufferings +all these weeks have made me so. I would +sooner die than endure this all over again." +Then she set about examining all the canvasses, +turning them one after the other to the light, in +the vain hope that her too accurate knowledge +of them might prove in some instance mistaken. +But in vain! Was it possible that the portrait +was already on its way to Paris?</p> + +<p>But wait, was there anything behind the +screen so carelessly sprawling in the corner +there under the great window? In a moment +she had dashed across, and had half-dragged, +half-flung it out of its place. Ah! she could + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +almost have screamed with fury at Wyndham's +cautious foresight—this unmistakable provision +against an accidental visit from her. It was +then true; definitely, absolutely true! The +man whom she loved to madness, who had +professed to love her for herself alone, belonged +heart and soul to another woman!</p> + +<p>A mist palpitated in the air before her, and +the gold foliage and convolutions of the ornate +Venetian frame shone through it distorted and +terrible. But the canvas itself was a vague +blur to her. She staggered over to the nearer +lamp and bore it over to the corner, kneeling +so as to bring the light full on the picture and +her own face opposite Lady Lakeden's. And +as now she saw this rare princess, bathed in +a mystic light, this figure, full of a sweet dignity +and a stately grace; as her eyes rested on the +girlish face whose character yet shone out in +a splendid illumination, though the rounded, +youthful features were free from any stamp +that might have touched the bloom of their +spring-tide beauty, a cruel knife worked in +Alice's heart, a knife that seared as well as +stabbed. For a long minute she gazed at the +portrait, letting it burn itself on her vision in its +every shade and detail—the fresh sheen on the +hair, the proud yet sweet tilt of the face, the +wonderfully fresh and deep violet-grey eyes, +the veritable rose-bud mouth that was yet so +firm and true! This, then, was her rival! How + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> +could she, the plainest of the plain, hope to +struggle against the irresistible might of this +loveliness! A sense of absolute defeat, of complete +hopelessness invaded her whole being; +it was the same submissive acquiescence with +which she had contemplated herself in the glass +on that momentous evening when Wyndham +had appeared in her father's house for the first +time. But then the hope had never been +roused; now the joy was literally snatched +from her lips. But, though her intelligence saw +the hopelessness, her heart was full of desperation. +And while yet her eyes were riveted on the +picture, fascinated, yet loathing it with a passion +that seemed to flame and to dominate her as +though her real self were too puny to stir +against it, a wild whirling thought came to her +that made her body rock and shiver, and she set +the lamp on the floor to save it from crashing +down out of her hand. What if this woman +were as guilty as the man?</p> + +<p>"I understand now," her lips broke out +involuntarily. "They loved each other from +the beginning, but she married another for +convention's sake. Now they have resumed +their old love, but I am in the way. He will +not jilt me, because his honour is at stake, but +as a man of honour he would not think it +dishonourable to deceive me." She laughed +aloud in bitterness. That was it! They would +both deceive her, though he would never break + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> +his word. Had she not seen the point exemplified +in a hundred books and plays?</p> + +<p>Ah, this honour of the fashionable classes! +And she had believed Lady Lakeden to be true; +had, in pity and sympathy, set her on the +highest pedestal of womanhood. How her +belief in her rival's perfect goodness had blinded +her! What a fool she had been, going through +life with such simplicity! With a heart so open +and trusting! No wonder nothing had come to +illumine her existence!—that what had seemed +to hold the promise was a cheat and a delusion!</p> + +<p>And, as her mind ran back over the past +weeks, a thousand things seemed to confirm her +new inspiration at every turn. Ah, God! how +she had been tricked! Was there another +woman in the world who would have been so +trustingly stupid? The blood seemed to surge +all to her temples: everything before her faded. +An impulse to give vent to her fury seized her. +She longed to tear and rend the canvas, to crush +and break it with her fingers, to bite it through +and through with her teeth. And she would +have carried the imperious impulse into effect, +had not a new thought, like a zigzag of lightning, +come flashing through her brain. Lady Lakeden +had no doubt written him letters; there must +be a whole packet of them somewhere here in +the studio! She would read them; they would +not lie!</p> + +<p>Intent on this new end, she darted across to + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> +the bureau (of which the lid was permanently +down and laden with papers and portfolios), +and scrutinised the pigeon-holes. These were +always open to her without restriction, but she +had never thought of examining the contents, +though she had often put away papers and +receipts for him. She made a quick, feverish +inspection of them now, not hoping to find the +letters she sought in a place thus conspicuous, +but yet fearful of overlooking them. The +pigeon-holes yielded in fact nothing to interest +her, and then with trembling fingers she turned +out the little drawers, one at a time, replacing +the contents of each carefully before proceeding +to the next. She was reckless now, having no +control over itself. She did not fear his sudden +arrival on the scene; she would face him—she +would taunt him with the truth!</p> + +<p>Suddenly her physical powers seemed to break +down, and she clutched at the bureau for +support. And as soon as she had steadied herself, +she was glad to drag over a chair, and +continue her search with feeble, tired movements. +And with this abrupt collapse, her +crude, violent emotions seemed to have blazed +themselves out. She felt now a poor forlorn, +helpless creature; her eyes were wet with tears, +and she was choking down her sobs. And it +seemed to her that she was gulping down an +infinite bitterness. "I have it," she said suddenly, +a momentary illumination flitting across + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> +her features. He had once shown her in this +old provincial French bureau a receptacle which +he had spoken of as his secret drawer, a space +neatly stowed away amid the other surrounding +spaces so that its ingenious existence might +remain reasonably unsuspected. She immediately +stopped her operations, replacing things +with a movement that was increasingly languid +and feeble; and eventually opened the principal +compartment in the centre which was on a +level with the writing-lid. Removing all its +contents, she inserted her nail in a little innocent +slit, made the floor of the compartment +slide along, then thrust her hand into the space +revealed.</p> + +<p>Clearly a packet of letters was there. She +drew it forth—over a dozen of them, carefully +preserved in their fashionable-looking envelopes +and tied together with a broad piece of tape. +A faint perfume of violets was in her nostrils +as she handled them. And this packet, too, +seemed strangely imbued with the personality of +their writer, reminiscent of a world of dream +and books. How remote from her they seemed! +How remote from her, indeed, all the amazing +history of these past months! That, too, belonged +rather to a world of dream and books. +What! these great tragic complications and +emotions had sprung up in her simple, uneventful +existence! had related themselves to a brick +bow-windowed house in the suburbs!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> + She gazed at the packet again, conscious that +her fingers were faltering. How mean, low, +hateful to read letters that had not been meant +for others' eyes! And what purpose would be +served by her reading them? She needed no +further proof of the intrigue that had been +carried on in the shelter of her own credulity +and simplicity. Besides, she could divine what +passionate vows of love were written herein, +and to pry into them would be to renew her +tortures beyond human endurance. She feared +and turned away from them as from a furnace +heated seven times hot. The packet dropped +amid the masses of papers that encumbered the +desk. Her tears came anew, and she gave them +full vent; a storm of hysteric sobbing shook her +convulsively.</p> + +<p>When eventually the attack had spent itself, +she sat there listlessly, without the force to +stir hand or foot. But her brain was working +feverishly, definitely recognising that her life +was spoilt. She had made her great cry of +revolt in this mad dash and underhanded +search; better perhaps to have made it in the +silent depths of her heart! Ah, God, it was +bitter, it was cruel! But what had she expected? +Had she not known from the beginning +that she ought never to accept one so far +above her?—that she was not the ideal his +heart would crave for, but that, at the best, a +deep secret dissatisfaction would rankle in him + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> +all his life? Had she not steadily seen this, +while yet a shred of sanity remained to her? +But it had all happened in spite of herself; she +had been stricken with blindness, and her clear-seeing +mind had been possessed with inexplicable +folly. She—Alice Robinson!—and the +thought made her laugh out aloud—had wholly +believed that this man sincerely loved her! +She laughed again and again, seized suddenly by +the pitifully comic spectacle she presented to +herself—Alice Robinson, shy, awkward, devoid +of all the graces, lacking <i>savoir-faire</i>, neglected +not only by men, but even by her own +sex: Alice Robinson, the granddaughter of a +carpenter, seriously beloved by an aristocrat +with all the graces and culture, an artist, moreover, +for whom beauty was always the primal +appeal! She—Alice Robinson—had been under +this wondrous delusion! Was there <a name="anything" id="anything"></a>anything +more ridiculous since men and women were? +Her laughter could not be repressed, but it +rang out through the studio weirdly, with a +strange note of hardness and bitterness, and +somehow it echoed and re-echoed through all +the house, coming back to her mockingly from +the empty rooms beneath her.</p> + +<p>Even when her laughter had died away she +sat there brooding. And for the first time +there was mingled in her emotions a touch of +pity for Wyndham. She was conscious now of +a softening, in spite of all. Poor Wyndham! + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> +Had he not loved Lady Lakeden years before he +had set eyes on the Robinsons? If only he had +not possessed that terrible code of honour! He +might then have come to her frankly and begged +her compassion! She would have released him. +But he could not break his word. His honour +only allowed him to carry on an intrigue!</p> + +<p>But time was passing, and she told herself +she must not stay. She knew she was defeated +and must accept it: she must leave him to his +intrigue, whilst she herself stepped back into the +old suburban existence!</p> + +<p>She replaced the letters in the secret receptacle, +and restored everything in the bureau as +it had been before. Then she dragged back the +screen before the picture, turning away her +eyes resolutely so as not to catch sight again of +that gracious figure gleaming out in exquisite +radiance. The lamps were put back as she had +found them, then carefully extinguished. But +the difficulty she had with them revealed to her +the tense nervous condition under which she +was still labouring, though she had appeared to +herself quiet and resigned now. She stood in +the dark a moment, conscious of the suffocating +closeness of the atmosphere. How good +it would be to be out in the air again! She +would walk on the Embankment for a few +minutes, and then ingloriously go home as fast +as possible—in a hansom! having yielded to +ignoble impulses and played the rôle of a + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> +common spy. But in one way she at least had +no regret She was enlightened, knew as much +of the position as Wyndham.</p> + +<p>She descended the stairs, put out the lamps +in the hall, and stepped into the streets again. +The cold air beat in her face deliciously; the +stars were brilliant in the pure sky. She looked +up to them now yearningly—their calm and +beauty shamed the storm and fever in her own +mind. The street, too, seemed so exquisitely still +in the splendid darkness. She let her wraps +hang loosely about her, and did not fasten her +coat. She breathed the air greedily, and it +seemed to allay the stress at her heart. Then +somehow she turned her steps towards the +river, wondering where Wyndham and Lady +Lakeden were passing their evening! She +could take that for granted now, she felt. How +carefully he had built up the wall around his +romance!</p> + +<p>At the bottom of the street the river night-scene, +scintillating with points of light, burst +on her vision, and seemed to draw her into its +own strange mood of mystery. It was as +though a new universe of stars had come into +being, wafting some fascinating message which +baffled her reading. And as she stood in the +great avenue, under the far-spreading arch of +foliage, a deeper calm seemed to fall upon +her. She went to the parapet, and looked over. +The long stretch of water, all gleams and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> +shadows, lay gently between the two gray +bridges that hung suspended from their steel +network in soft silhouette.</p> + +<p>Alice strolled some distance down the bank, +then turned and retraced her steps. She told +herself it was foolish to linger here, that she +ought to make at once for the busier streets, +and take the first vehicle that offered itself. +But it was so deliciously silent, so majestic, that +it comforted her to stay here. Besides, somehow, +she could not tear herself away from the +neighbourhood of the studio. She looked at +her watch; to her surprise it was nearly half-past +eleven; she had been at the studio a full +hour and more! Surely he must be coming home +soon. Perhaps, indeed, he had returned already!</p> + +<p>She found herself instinctively turning up +Tite Street again, keeping as before to the +opposite side of the road. But all was as dark +and still in the house as when she had left it. +Then the idea came to her that she would wait +and see. It was a mere whim perhaps; but she +could not go home till she had watched him +enter. Still, she could not wait here in one +fixed spot; she had almost the sense of being +observed by she knew not whom. Besides, she +must be cautious; she did not intend that he +should suspect she was actually so near to him +at that hour of the night. It gave her an +anguished thrill to think he would pass close +by her, and yet never give her a thought.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> + She was, however, loth to move away, for she +could not know from which end of the street he +would come. If she waited too long near one +end, he might slip by from the other. And this, +whether he came on foot or in a hansom. +Feverishly she paraded the street, stopping here +a minute, there a minute; keeping well within +the shadow, and avoiding the encounter of +every chance passer-by. Now and again she +heard the ring of a hansom, the smart trot of +a horse, and she held her breath with excitement. +And there was even a minute when +hansoms came dashing into the street one after +the other; most of them to pass right through +it, and only one or two to draw up in the street +itself.</p> + +<p>Midnight sounded, but still no sign of Wyndham. +She looked up at the sky, but was surprised +to find the stars were blotted out. A +spot of rain fell on her upturned face. Her +sense of misery reasserted itself, and with it +came a sullen resolution to stay out till dawn, +if needs be. Again she went to the Hospital +end of the road and took up a discreet point of +vantage. But again the tramp of a policeman +scared her away, and accepting this as a sort +of unpropitious omen she definitely decided to +keep to the other end. She was like a gambler +uncertain how to stake, but at last abruptly +deciding for any irrelevant reason.</p> + +<p>The minutes passed, infinitely long to her + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> +now impatient mood. The spots of rain kept +falling. The neighbouring clock boomed out the +quarters. At last another hansom—coming +from the abandoned direction! Back she went +again into the road, but it had stopped short +farther down. The studio was still in darkness. +Strangely disappointed and fatigued almost to +the point of falling, she dragged her worn feet +once more down to the Embankment, keeping +her wits alert with a sustained effort, that +grew harder and harder. This time she did +not cross to the parapet, but walked under the +great red brick houses, noticing idly their gates +and doorways as they loomed on her. And her +eyes were half closed in spite of her struggle. +The trot of a horse, and the rattle and tinkle +of a hansom sounded just then, coming smartly +along the avenue. But she went on more and +more as if in a dream, taking one step only +because she had taken the last. Nearer and +nearer came the hansom, louder and louder +beat the horse's hoofs on the asphalte, but she +pursued her meaningless way, without paying +any heed to it. Her senses had almost left her. +She opened her eyes suddenly, and, looking towards +the river, saw that a greyish mist hung +over it, that the pavements were wet and +glistening. Ah, yes, the water lay below, dark +and soft, full of an eternal peace. The message +that had baffled her!—she understood it now! +She had nothing to live for! In a flash all + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> +would be finished. Impulsively she stepped into +the roadway to cross to the parapet.</p> + +<p>"Hallo, hallo!" The horse's head was almost +on her, and she drew back with a natural unreasoned +movement. The driver shook his +whip and shouted angrily, then went onwards. +But a moment's vision had burnt itself on her +consciousness as deep as that first sight of the +portrait of Lady Lakeden. Wyndham was +seated in the vehicle side by side with Lady +Lakeden, his face turned towards her, whilst +her hand clutched his convulsively. And in +that same swift moment Alice had felt Lady +Lakeden's face encounter hers with mutual +intensity. The sudden backward movement +had almost paralysed her muscles; an agonising +pain racked her at her knees and ankles. She +dragged herself to the nearest wall and leaned +against it. The picture of those two side by +side was always with her: of Lady Lakeden's +eyes flashing full on her own.</p> + +<p>She knew not how many minutes had passed +when she was called to herself by the inexorable +clock that had sounded its notes throughout this +strange evening, and that now seemed to fling +its boom through all the spaces of the night. +Was the universe resounding with a peal of +mockery?—disproportionately Titanic for so +humble a soul as hers, so paltry a destiny? Ah, +she remembered now her frustrated purpose; +the instant when death had beckoned her + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> +imperiously and she had responded with every +fibre of her soul and body. Why, then, had she +not let the wheels crush her?</p> + +<p>But she shuddered. Ah, no, no! Thank +Heaven she had been inspired to save herself. +How his life would have been saddened and +embittered by so ironic an accident! She had +meant only to help him; never to be a cause +of grief to him! Since apparently it had been +thus fated, better perhaps to live on. "I have +others as well to think of—father and mother!" +she murmured. "How wicked it was of me +to forget them! Besides, as I never expected +anything in life, why should I be disappointed +now at getting nothing?" The argument +seemed convincing, so painfully she began to +hobble along the Embankment, moving again +towards the familiar street, why she knew not. +But her lips kept muttering, to herself. "She +has gone with him alone to his studio. She is a +wicked woman."</p> + +<p>And opposite the house, that had held her +brilliant hopes of love and wonderful happiness +for so brief a period, she stood still again, and +looked up to the great window of the studio +that was now illumined with a warm light, +though everywhere else the house was dark. +She saw a shadow flit across the blind, and then +another shadow. They were there together.</p> + +<p>How they would stare if she boldly used her +key and intruded upon them! How they would + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +tremble if they knew she was there, straining +for a glimpse of their shadows!</p> + +<p>But she had no impulse now to disturb them. +The game had been played, and she had been +thrown out.</p> + +<p>With a sigh she moved away, turning her +painful steps up the street, more instinctively +than consciously. She walked and walked +mechanically, retracing the route she had taken +on her way there. The rain descended in thin, +sharp lines, but she took no heed. But suddenly +an arm was thrust through hers, and she looked +round with a terrible start. A burly flush-faced +man with a ruffled silk hat was holding an +umbrella over her, was speaking to her. Her +eye noticed irrelevantly they were just by a +closed dark public-house whose nickel reflectors +caught the light from an adjoining street-lamp.</p> + +<p>"Hadn't you better take me home with you, +my dear?"</p> + +<p>For a second she stared at him, then, with a +hoarse cry, she shook herself free, and with +a supreme effort rushed off like a frightened +fawn. As she turned into another street she +overtook a hansom going at a snail's pace.</p> + +<p>"Where to?" asked the man through the +roof, after she had got in.</p> + +<p>"Straight home as fast as you can," was her +strange answer.</p> + +<p>The man looked down upon her. "Where's +that?" he asked good-humouredly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> + "I beg your pardon," she exclaimed, vainly +attempting to control her breath. She gave +him the address, and off they went.</p> + +<p>At the end of the journey she paid him +profusely, and he thanked her with as profuse +a civility. She let herself in with her key, went +up at once to her room, and threw herself +across her bed. Her sobs broke out afresh. +"Darling," she called; "I want you back again +to be mine, and mine only."</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span></p> +<h2>XXV</h2> + +<p>Lady Betty did not let go the hand which she +had clutched in terror, and her companion +responded with a touch of caressing reassurance.</p> + +<p>"My heart is still beating," she said, as they +turned off the river bank into Tite Street. +"Suppose we had crushed that poor creature. +What a terrible memory it would have left +with us!"</p> + +<p>"Happily she wasn't in the least hurt," he +replied. "She must have been in a fit of +abstraction."</p> + +<p>"I caught sight of her face," said Lady Betty; +"and I shall not easily forget it. Such a wild, +haggard look I have seldom seen. She must +have been labouring under some terrible stress +of emotion." She gently withdrew her hand, +and appeared lost in thought. "I hope, dear," +she exclaimed suddenly, "that there is nothing +horrible happening."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed! The thing has got a little +bit on your nerves."</p> + +<p>"You did not see her," she insisted. "She + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> +came full into the light of our lamp, though it +was barely for an instant. My face was turned +that way and yours away from hers."</p> + +<p>"Naturally she was startled at the moment!" +he ventured. He was certain Lady Betty's +nervous imagination had deceived her, and that +her alarm was groundless.</p> + +<p>"It was not a startled look. It was a set +look, something like the desperation of a hunted +animal. Some man has treated her badly. +Darling, you don't think she was going to throw +herself into the river?"</p> + +<p>"Seriously—I don't think anything of the +kind. If she had wanted to take her life, would +she have stepped back so promptly?" he +argued.</p> + +<p>"I daresay you are right," she conceded, +though her tone was not wholly one of conviction.</p> + +<p>The hansom pulled up, and he helped her +down. They mounted the house-steps in silence, +she unusually engrossed in thought, and with an +unmistakable air of sadness, as if her mind still +lingered on this woman's figure that had flashed +on them out of the darkness.</p> + +<p>They entered the hall, and after some searching +and fumbling he lighted one of the lamps. +His companion shook herself out of her abstraction, +and surveyed the place with affectionate +interest. He was anxious she should take away +with her a very definite impression of his future + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> +home, and threw open the various rooms, and +led the way into them, as he held the lamp +aloft. They went, too, below stairs, and here +Lady Betty's eyes beheld the many evidences +of domestic comfort and foresight that the +Robinsons had established in these regions +where they had reigned supreme. Her face +lighted in comprehension, though her thought +remained unexpressed. At last, after they had +completely explored the rest of the house, he led +the way up to the studio, and soon had it +brilliantly illuminated. Lady Betty refused the +chair he wheeled forward for her. She preferred +to be moving about, to be examining everything +at leisure—his bureau, his great oak worm-eaten +armoires, his long, low chests on whose panels +Gothic Church dignitaries stood solemnly in high +relief, his wonderful easels, his model's throne, +his draperies and costumes, and, so far as it +was possible by this lamp-light, his old canvasses. +She did not ask for Miss Robinson's portrait, as +she knew it was at the house in Hampstead, and +would remain there till its despatch to the +Academy. She saw, however, the large picture; +and although she did not love it (for she knew +at what a cost it had been brought up to its +present pitch, and felt, moreover, that it was too +sensational a bid for public attention), she yet +recognised that there was much excellence in +it, and that it would probably bring him the +actual success which was of importance even to + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> +genius. Her ideal for him, she repeated, would +have been the most absolute "no compromise." +"But I agree that we must take a +strictly practical view of the situation. It is +not really compromise," she added, "but only a +surer grasping of the ideal in the future. The +idealist who does not know when to make his +concessions in practice is just the one who loses +his ideal altogether, and never comes down from +the realm of abstractions."</p> + +<p>He seized a favourable moment, whilst her +attention was otherwise engaged, to fetch her +own portrait from behind the screen and arrange +it on one of the smaller easels. Then she turned +with some curiosity to see what he had prepared +for her, and gave a little cry of delight.</p> + +<p>"You are pleased with it?" he asked, gratified.</p> + +<p>"And touched—deeply," she answered. "You +have chosen the setting with excellent judgment. +But what pleases me most is the +absolutely fresh impression I now get of the +picture itself. Though I have seen it grow, and +have lived with it every day, I am really seeing +it for the first time. It is a beautiful piece of +work—I speak for the moment as if I were +entirely unconnected with it." She stood examining +it in silence, and he watched her face +and every shade of expression that declared +itself.</p> + +<p>"And this truly is your personal impression of + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> +me?" she asked, with a new flash of the joyous, +eager comrade.</p> + +<p>"My everyday impression of you! I have +another which I keep for Sundays—something +with more of the stateliness of an olden time, +with a far graver outlook and a deeper thoughtfulness."</p> + +<p>"But this one is thoughtful and dignified, too, +is it not?"</p> + +<p>"Most decidedly. But it is a real warm +human being as well. To tell the truth, I stand +a little bit in awe of the other one."</p> + +<p>"Poor me!" she laughed. She stood yet a +moment contemplating the portrait, then turned +her eyes away. "Oh, well," she said. "It will +be a happiness to possess it, but a greater one to +feel that, in some measure, it has helped to gain +you the recognition that must be yours—a little +sooner, a little later, signifies nothing. But I +leave you in perfect confidence as to your +career."</p> + +<p>He bowed his head. "I shall not dare to +disappoint your confidence. To justify it is +what I shall live for before all things."</p> + +<p>"I am content," she said. "I ask for nothing +better than that our hopes shall be realised. I +am glad you have chosen so charming a home +for your labours. I hope you will be happy +here."</p> + +<p>He did not reply at once, not trusting himself +to speak. Lady Betty, too, looked sadly down.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> + "Ah, yes," he conceded at last. "It is an ideal +home for an artist!"</p> + +<p>There were bitter implications in his tone, +and she made no pretence of not perceiving +them.</p> + +<p>"Darling," she said, "you know it would be +the dream of my life to help you. That is the +only meaning happiness would have for me—to +live by your side and help your work and your +life. Before everything else, I am not the +solemn, dignified being—the thought of me you +keep for Sunday," she interposed smilingly—"but +a mere human being, a simple woman, for +whom the love of the right man, once she has +found him, is the principal thing in life."</p> + +<p>"I can't realise that you are going away," +he broke out. "I want to keep you with me +always. Don't leave me, darling! Let us begin +our life anew—now, this minute! An ideal +home here! I hate and loathe it. Let us make +a home together—a home of our very own—far +away from all these associations. Let us laugh +at all else. I am strong enough to throw over +everything, to fight!"</p> + +<p>She read the passion in his vivid face, in his +terrible movement towards her. She stepped +back, and held up her hands to check him.</p> + +<p>"It cannot be," she said. "Perhaps we are to +blame for delaying our parting. Believe me, +I thought and thought about it after our first +meeting till I feared I should go mad. I felt I + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> +had already made my great blunder—I had +revealed the awful secret of my life. I had till +then nursed it all alone, but when I saw you +again, after those miserable years, I had to pour +it out. I did so recklessly, unthinkingly; it was +such a joy to feel there was one friend in the +world to whom such things could be said, and I +put no curb on myself. And afterwards I was +bitterly sorry."</p> + +<p>"No, no, darling," he interposed. "You hurt +me."</p> + +<p>"Don't misunderstand, please. It was splendid +to think that you shared my confidence; +above all that you had cared for me as +I had cared for you in the old days. +But yet I was tortured incessantly. You +had contracted other ties; there were your +duties to others, and the tangle was horrible! +After I left you on that first day I was determined +that, if I was to be an influence in your +life at all, I must be the first to keep you true +to your duties. You and I are enlightened, +you see. We have the advantage over these +simpler souls. Therefore we must efface ourselves +to leave them their simple rights."</p> + +<p>He stood humbly; silent before her gentle +and unanswerable rebuke.</p> + +<p>"I struggled terribly with myself. I felt it +would hardly be right to see you even a second +time, and I was almost on the point of leaving +London at once, perhaps without sending you + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> +a single line of adieu. But then the thought +came to me that that perhaps would be a worse +blunder than the first. My intrusion into your +life might in that case have disturbed it to no +purpose. I thought my sudden departure might +leave a bitter memory for years. So I determined +to stay long enough to soften the parting +for both of us—for me as well as for you. And +during all the time I meant to influence you to +be loyal to your engagements. I had made the +first mistake; on me lay the obligation of +mending things. I stayed only to mend them! +That was my sincere motive in asking you to do +the sketch. I know I have had my moments of +weakness; it is hard to live with one's hand in +the fire without flinching now and again. +Darling, I must go—far away from you, and +you must not follow me. Your honour, +dearest, is precious to me. The thought +of your perfect loyalty to Alice will help +me. I only ask you to remember the high +standard I have set for you. Strive for the +best; let your watchword be 'No compromise!' +You will let me go now, darling. Say +you understand my motives, and forgive me +if they were mistaken. Perhaps, instead of +mending things, I have only added mischief to +mischief. I throw myself on your generosity +and magnanimity. Promise me you will be the +truest husband to her, that you will do everything +in your power to promote her happiness."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> + He seized her hands; his flesh burnt hers. +"I love you, darling, I love you," he cried +hoarsely. "I cannot let you go."</p> + +<p>She looked him frankly and firmly in the +face. "Don't break my heart, dear," she said +gently. "It is as hard for me as it is for you. +Think, darling, what it might be, if you gave +her up. If she were to kill herself, our love +would be a curse to us. Dearest, the face of +that woman we saw on the Embankment still +haunts me. It was the face of a woman whose +heart had been broken. I tell you, dear, that +if I had not of myself the strength to part from +you to-night, the awful glimpse I had of her +face would have given it to me. I have always +seen where our duty lay; yet I read it in that +poor face a thousand times more. Darling, it +must now be goodbye. I shall often think of +you here, and of this evening—and of our whole +glorious day," she added, smiling. "Come, you +do promise all that I ask of you?"</p> + +<p>Her smile and her cheerful note won his +surrender. "I promise," he said slowly and +solemnly, yet with distinct decision. "All that +you have urged on me shall be sacred, shall be +the principle of my life."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, darling," she said simply. "I +believe you, and I trust you absolutely."</p> + +<p>They gripped hands, looking each other full +in the face. The neighbouring church clock +sounded its preliminary change, then struck + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +two sonorous notes. It recalled them to the +sense of the night and the silent world without. +"Come," he said at last. "I will escort you +back."</p> + +<p>They went down, and out into the street +again. "The clouds and the rain have vanished. +It is a beautiful night again," she said. "Even +that helps to soften the moment."</p> + +<p>He strolled along by her side; they spoke now +of matter-of-fact points. If the picture were +accepted by the Salon he was to send it eventually +to her father's country-house in the North. +She hoped, too, he would not entirely forget her +father, but that he and his wife would call and +see him at Grosvenor Place—they could count on +finding him there most years during the height +of the London season. And, by the way, she +was curious to know how the picture would +fare when it got to Paris. Was the Salon so +considerate to foreigners that it took the trouble +to open packing-cases and take care of them? +Wyndham gravely explained that pictures were +usually consigned to the good offices of a French +frame-maker who unpacked and delivered them +to the Salon, afterwards collecting them and +sending them back to England when the show +was over. Some of these people had a large +foreign clientèle, and put only a moderate value +on their services. Thus chatting in this trivial +fashion, they were fortunate to meet a hansom, +though they had abandoned the hope of one + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> +at that hour, and were prepared to stroll all the +way.</p> + +<p>"Let us say goodbye here," she insisted. "It +is simpler, and perhaps easier. We part just +as two friends who have met casually."</p> + +<p>"Goodbye, then," he said huskily. "I wish +you many happy days and dreams in your +wanderings in the sun-lands."</p> + +<p>"And I wish you the power to be as great in +your life as I am sure you will be in your work." +She held his hand with a gentle pressure. +"You will be loyal to her," was her last wistful +whisper. Then she gave him a parting smile, +full of sweetness and affection, and he heard +the driver crack his whip, and the horse started +off briskly.</p> + +<p>Wyndham was left standing on the pavement, +his head bowed. For a long minute he did not +stir, and when he roused himself again to look +after the hansom, it was already in the distance, +though the trot, trot, of the horse came sharply +to him. He watched it till it was out of sight, +then turned slowly and gently homewards.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span></p> +<h2>XXVI</h2> + +<p>"Father," said Alice Robinson the next morning +at the breakfast-table, "I want you to find +some more portraits for us. This whole month +has to be given up to the big thing for the +Academy, and then we shall come to a stop for +the present, at any rate so far as immediately +remunerative work is concerned, and you must +not forget we have a heavy rent to pay now."</p> + +<p>"I shall certainly keep my weather eye open," +declared Mr. Robinson, "and my ears too. +Portraits in oils are rather the thing just now +in the City, and I daresay we shall be able to +find something for you."</p> + +<p>"That is nice of you, father. I think I am +just beginning to like you."</p> + +<p>Mr. Robinson smiled, and looked across at her +affectionately. "You know it is my greatest +pleasure to work for you both," he said.</p> + +<p>Alice bore his gaze heroically, sustained by +the curious satisfaction she felt at having thus +set the never-failing machinery in motion. +But his trusting belief that all was well touched +the tenderest chords of her nature. She longed + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> +to throw herself into his arms, to tell him the +terrible truth. But why cause him suffering +when she still hoped to avert it from everybody, +and let the whole burden rest on her shoulders +alone? She must do nothing abrupt, nothing +to cause any trouble or scandal; above all, she +must pay the most watchful regard to the peace +of those around her.</p> + +<p>For she had seen the quietest and simplest +solution of the tangle; nobody but herself need +suffer a single pang! Since she had endured +so much, she might now as well offer herself +for the sake of everybody else's happiness.</p> + +<p>Such had been her dominating thought, as +she had lain thinking through the night. And +the moment had come when she held the +solution clear in her mind. How glad she was +that she had decided to live! Her parents had +been spared a cruel grief, and her affianced +husband would be left to his happiness without +any alloy of remorse or tragic memories.</p> + +<p>There was only one worthy and rational +path before her. She must break with Wyndham +and leave him free. Mr. Shanner wanted +her; she would give herself to Mr. Shanner. +His ashen figure, gray-clad, rose before her, +wistful, pleading, pathetic. She remembered +his touch of sentiment, his hint of deeper +feeling—how he would have treasured her +promise; how he would have looked forward +to "the new light to shine in his household." + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> +He was good and honourable; full of kind +actions. She knew that Mr. Shanner had not +found felicity in his first marriage. After all, +if she could bring somebody a little happiness +she might as well do so; and she could make +this ostensibly the ground for her action. She +and Wyndham were unsuited to each other—could +anything be truer? She had made a +mistake, since she now found she cared for +Mr. Shanner, who reciprocated the sentiment, +and for whom, as regards upbringing and +ideas, she would make so much more suitable +a wife. That was less true, and, after her +surrender of the evening before to her ignobler +side, she now loathed the idea of playing a +further part. But the fiction that she cared +for Mr. Shanner, and her actual marriage with +him, constituted in essence the sacrifice that +the position demanded of her. To Mr. Shanner +she could atone by incessant devotion—she +would illumine the light in his household he had +spoken of so yearningly; her parents would +be spared all but the first painful surprise; +to Wyndham the break would come as a +splendid release. It would restore to him his +honour and self-respect, since in his eyes, and +in the world's eyes, she would be taking all +the blame for his freedom.</p> + +<p>Wyndham had told her that Lady Lakeden +was leaving England indefinitely, and that he +did not know when he was likely to see her + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> +again. But Alice now did not believe that. That +was part of the wall he had been building +behind which to pursue his romance; she had +tested things far enough to feel sure of it. And +even if Lady Lakeden was really going to travel +for a time, there would be correspondence +between them, and their relations would be +renewed on her return. Since he loved this +woman he should be free to love her openly.</p> + +<p>And all the world would be left at peace!</p> + +<p>In the days before she had come into his +consciousness, had she not longed and prayed +in vain for the joy of helping him to rise again; +had she not dreamed of stretching out a helping +hand across the abyss that separated them, +telling herself that that alone would mean +supreme happiness for her? It now came +strongly upon her that that mission had been +granted her, and the knowledge that she had +achieved it should help her to be strong! Had +not her love for him held a perfect unselfishness? +Was not her goal his happiness before everything? +Ah, there was far too much self in +the earthly love of woman for man. This note +of self, at first so carefully suppressed, had +yet asserted itself insidiously. Yes, that had +been the cause of all her suffering—poignant, +shattering, almost beyond human endurance. +It had been wrong of her; she ought to have +kept closer watch over herself. She had not +meant to be a source of pain and embarrassment + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> +to him. To burden his life with a marriage +against his heart and true self were hate, not +love. Let him mate with this brilliant, +beautiful woman of his own world, who could +tranquilly breathe the air of the great heights—of +Society, of Art—in which his destiny had +placed him. What more could she wish him +than that he should find in life all that he +desired?—all the joy, all the achievement, all +the love! Was not this the supreme self-sacrifice +of love?</p> + +<p>And she must be content with the privilege +of the high mission that had been hers, nay, +she must be proud of it—to have entered into +his life at his moment of blackest despair, +and set him on the road to heaven! Let her +go back into the darkness now with the ecstasy +of sacrifice for a great love, keeping herself +for such service to others as she might find to +her hand.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span></p> +<h2>XXVII</h2> + +<p>But her mission was not yet complete. She +thought of his inadequate resources, of the +uncertainty of the future, if his exhibition +pictures were not successful with the Press +and the public. She wished to see him +embarked on the full tide of success before +she retired, so that all joy should flow to him +at once. Her retirement must cause him some +little emotion, but the intoxication of success +would soon thrust that aside, and the lapse of +a day would find him in full appreciation of his +freedom. The projected period of their engagement +had of itself three full months to +run; there was time to withdraw at any +moment she chose. And these months that +remained should be devoted to her finding +more work for him, so that he should be left +with a substantial balance at his bankers.</p> + +<p>She thus attached some importance to his +not yet suspecting any change; so she decided +to go across to Tite Street at tea-time, and see +him, and do things below stairs just as on +a normal day. But she feared to face the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> +experience alone; she did not trust her own +sangfroid. As the afternoon proved a fine one, +she pressed her mother to join her in the +journey across town, throwing out the inducement +that they would look at the shops in town +<i>en route</i>.</p> + +<p>They found Wyndham putting his brushes +in order after his long day. He had risen early, +he explained, and had started work with the +light. A month was not too long to finish off +this great picture; he really saw a year's work +yet to be done on it! So therefore he was +making a tremendous effort and giving himself +up to it, body and soul.</p> + +<p>"And I'm afraid I must claim your indulgence. +If I appear neglectful, you will really understand, +and put up with me. I shall make it +up to you afterwards," he added, smiling.</p> + +<p>Alice was surprised at her calm, once she +had mastered the first tremor at the moment +of arrival. It gave her confidence, too, for +the future, since it was good to know she could +trust herself.</p> + +<p>And this strange, almost inhuman, calm +which had succeeded to the tempests that +had swept through her of late did not desert +her. She knew that the storms had worn +themselves out, and that she had found a +strange, an almost baffling peace.</p> + +<p>Wyndham, for his part, only rejoiced that +she seemed so contented and happy; so ready + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> +to overlook his shortcomings in the rôle of +affianced husband. Poor child, how good and +devoted she was! If only out of his brotherly +tenderness for her, and appreciation and gratitude +for all she had planned and done to smoothe his +life, he would take care that his promise to Lady +Betty should be carried out, not grudgingly and +according to the letter, but in a generously full +and human way.</p> + +<p>Perhaps now, in this last critical month, when +every stroke of the brush seemed a stroke of +fate, he threw more frenzy into his work than +ever before. His mind struck deep roots in it, +so that the passion of it was ever in him. Yet +a sense of suffering and defeat stirred sometimes +in him, so that he dared not be alone with +himself. He spent some of his evenings in +coteries where art and other things were hotly +debated, and this, too, helped him, furnishing +food for reflection and sending him to books as +an interested reader in search of enlightenment +and suggestion.</p> + +<p>Thus the month flew away with almost unprecedented +rapidity. Show Sunday arrived, +and the great picture (on which he had worked +till the last moment) was revealed to the world +at large. The house was thrown open, the +empty dining-room improvised into a commodious +buffet, and the great studio arranged as a +gallery, with the new portraits and the best of +the old work all brilliantly framed and lining + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> +the walls. Alice's portrait, which had been +brought across for the occasion, occupied a +central place of honour immediately facing the +masterpiece.</p> + +<p>The function was eminently successful, and a +great many people of the very pink of fashion +came to lend it the light of their countenances. +The Robinsons had worked hard the previous +fortnight preparing for it, and had arranged +the house and buffet, and had seen to the framing +of the pictures, and attended to the catering +arrangements, without taking a moment of the +precious time away from Wyndham. Everybody +said the house was charming and the +pictures works of genius. People could be +overheard asking each other, "Well, what do +you think of it all?" and then eyes would be +turned up in ecstasy, and faces would glow with +enthusiasm, and the long-drawn "Beautiful," +full of conviction, was the epithet most largely +utilised. There was in the air the dominant +note of triumph, the unmistakable feeling of +Success. Alice, who flitted about quietly, showing +herself as much as good taste demanded, yet +by no means in the centre of the world's eye, +was keenly sensitive to the prevailing spirit of +the afternoon, feeling closely the pulse of the +assembly, and she knew at last that Wyndham's +barque was to sail in full career.</p> + +<p>Mary, too, was there, immensely important as +the host's sister, conducting special friends of + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> +her own round the walls, and talking ubiquitously +in an unusual glow of zest and animation. +If for Alice the occasion happily revealed the +future, for Mary that future had emphatically +arrived already!</p> + +<p>And in the midst of all the crush Sadler +arrived, extraordinarily smart in an immaculate +frock-coat and a beautifully embroidered tie, +his big powerful face shining with friendliness. +"Gee! What a swell affair you've got on!" he +shouted in Wyndham's ear. "I thought there'd +be something of the kind, you old brute, so I +rigged myself out."</p> + +<p>"You are certainly fascinating," smiled +Wyndham.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's a jolly good coat!" declared Sadler, +glancing down at himself. "I gave the tailor +hell over it. Gee! you've fetched them this +time! We shan't be able to squeeze past your +damned picture at the Academy!"</p> + +<p>The crowd still kept surging up the stairs, +and Sadler was swept aside. But Wyndham +was not only receiving his visitors; with great +address he was here and there, pointing out his +Exhibition pictures, explaining his ideas and +motives, accepting choruses of laudation. He +had good reason to be elated with this afternoon +of tribute and foreshadowing!</p> + +<p>In the last two or three weeks, moreover, +Mr. Robinson had been drumming up the further +commission for which his daughter had enlisted + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> +his good services. He had heard that one of +the great joint-stock banks meditated presenting +their retiring general manager with his portrait; +the gift to be made with full ceremonial at the +next meeting of the shareholders. Mr. Robinson +was himself an important shareholder, and two +of the directors were his personal friends, but +although they worked strongly on his side, he +had a far more difficult task than usual in +achieving his purpose. He was forced to expend +his choicest diplomacy and pull enough strings +for a piece of international politics, but the +majority of the directors, who knew what was +appropriate to the dignity of the bank, wanted +a full-blown Royal Academician, and were +strongly in favour of following the lead of +another great institution, which, under the like +circumstances, had approached one of the most +learned of the body Academic, and had honoured +him and themselves with their command. There +were dissensions at several board meetings, but +the opposition, sedulously fanned by Mr. Robinson, +could not be beaten down. Academicians, +they argued, sometimes went down woefully in +the sale-room only a few years after their +demise. Surely it was better to choose a genius, +the connection with whom would be everlastingly +honourable to the bank, whose insight +might become historic. In the end a small +sub-committee was appointed to investigate and +report on the matter. The members of this + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> +sub-committee were invited to Tite Street for +Show Sunday, arrived together, were received +by Wyndham with charming urbanity, had +every attention showered on them, and were +greatly impressed by this society gathering. +They were enchanted at their reception, and, +being kept and marshalled together, stimulated +each other's enthusiasm. This great display of +Wyndham's work astonished and dazzled them. +Above all, the amazing <i>pièce de résistance</i> of the +afternoon won their obeisance to the genius. +They stared at the vast canvas in wonder, at +once conquered by this crowd of tattered labour +intermingled with the silk hats and frock-coats +of Bond Street, the smart brougham rolling +along with its aristocratic occupant and her +poodle, the pillared structure in the background, +the vista of roadway, the trees and the foliage. +At the buffet they talked it over among themselves, +and presently Wyndham himself appeared +again, and with a discreet introduction here and +there to people of social importance, he quietly +and swiftly sealed his victory. Such civility +indeed was the only part that had fallen on him +in the matter, and the commission was well +obtained at that outlay of trouble, he told himself, +since, with so fairly an expensive place on +his hands, he could not yet despise so solid a +piece of business. But with the new little heap +of guineas to accrue from the month's work or +thereabouts that would be involved, he felt he + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> +could face marriage and the beginnings of housekeeping +with dignity, and yet carry out any +artistic schemes he might next conceive. And he +welcomed the work, too, as likely to keep him +busily occupied during the time his great picture +was in the balance at the Academy.</p> + +<p>When Alice reached home after the reception, +with the full confidence of his success in her +heart, she realised the end was now fast approaching. +The afternoon had excited and +unnerved her again, and she had once more to +reassure herself that she had the strength to go +through with the coming breach. Since her +memorable secret visit to the studio she had +borne up with firm strength, but to-night she +felt frail and broken! A storm of sobbing +shook her, but when at last she had controlled +herself she knew that she would never weep +again for her lost dream of happiness.</p> + +<p>And now all things began to go incredibly +well with Wyndham. No sooner was he +flourishing and doing work that was well paid +for, than every other horizon opened out before +him. The Academy received both his portrait +of Miss Robinson and his great piece of allegory; +and a couple of the other paid portraits found +a niche in the New Gallery. The Salon, too, +presently notified him of their acceptance of +Lady Betty's portrait, but that he had really +been counting on with an almost fatalistic +confidence.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> + On varnishing day he was delighted that both +his Academy exhibits were hung on the line. His +Press, too, was unmistakably good; the critics +seemed all to conspire to hail him as the man +of the year. At the clubs those who knew him +accosted him enthusiastically, came thronging +round and pressing hospitality upon him. There +were so many anxious to "get" him for this +and that occasion, to take possession of him, +and have the honour of dragging him here and +there. New names and faces bombarded him, +and even his own special coterie were anxious +to intensify their various degrees of intimacy +with him, contending for the privilege of entertaining +him, of being able to boast of an almost +proprietorial friendship. In Society, too, he felt +himself the object of a curious <i>empressement</i>; +on all sides he was courted and flattered, and +rival dealers were inquiring the price he set on +his wares. It was the stampede of the world +to acclaim Success!</p> + +<p>Well might his eyes be dazzled by all this +glare of sunshine! Was not this success as +persistent as the failure that had been his lot +previously? It made him think of the run of +red that sometimes followed a run of black at +roulette. He was indeed a public personage +now! And rolling in prosperity to boot!</p> + +<p>A touch of worldly bitterness indeed lingered +with him; there was the remembrance of the +lean years behind him. But his nature was too + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> +mercurial, too affable and genial, to dwell on +that aspect of his career for long. He took all +this homage very seriously, and thought tremendously +well of himself as an artist, walking +through the world with elastic step and as one +of the elect of the earth.</p> + +<p>Yet in the still moments when he sat alone at +night with his lamp for sole company, he would +lose himself in reverie; and then he would feel +saddened ineffably by the ironic side of the case, +since the more brilliant the success that came +to him, the deeper his sense of the mockery of +things! How splendid if the woman he loved +were by his side to share it all with him! How +near too he had come to attainment, yet destiny +had played him this shameful, this merciless +trick!</p> + +<p>And just as his absorption in work had helped +him hitherto in the situation, so now this new +excitement of business and the world coloured +his everyday demeanour and conversation; +wrapped the Robinsons, too, in the whirl of +busy interests, and carried him safely towards +the inevitable time when he must seriously +discuss the date of the wedding.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span></p> +<h2>XXVIII</h2> + +<p>One morning early, towards the end of May, +Alice sat down at her desk, and wrote the +following brief letter to Mr. Shanner.</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">My Dear Friend</span>,—I owe you an acknowledgment. +When you ventured to raise the +question of the wisdom of my engagement to +Mr. Wyndham, you were right in one respect. +He is in every way a man of honour, and I have +nothing against him. But, as the time goes by, +it grows upon me more and more that he and +I have made a mistake, as you were first to see, +and that we are not suited to each other. His +world and his ideas of life are not mine, and I +have decided that it is wiser for me not to +attempt to adapt myself to them. I recognise +this before it is too late, and I have determined, +not lightly, but after full and serious consideration, +to draw back. I promised you that I +should let you know if ever I arrived at such +a conclusion. I now carry out my promise."</p> + + +<p>She directed it to his office, carefully marking +it "Personal and Confidential." Shortly after +noon she was startled by the rat-tat of a + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> +telegraph boy. "Approve of your decision with +all my heart. Please remember that I am the +first applicant for the privilege." Such was +the answer he had flashed back the moment +her letter had reached him, and the perusal of +it gave her the satisfaction that accompanies +the realisation step by step of an elaborate +purpose. "So be it," she exclaimed. "To-day +I shall ask for my release."</p> + +<p>Wyndham was expecting her to join him at +the studio. They were to dine together, then +go to a Paderewski recital. But now she +decided she would not go. What good to face +him personally? Besides, it was easier to feel +that she had already seen him for the last time. +She went back to her desk, and began the +laborious composition of a long letter. On and +on she wrote, breaking off only to join her +mother at lunch, and returning to her desk at +the earliest moment. She had covered several +sheets, when brusquely she changed her mind. +Perhaps this was not really fair to him, and, +besides, he might feel he ought to come to the +house to see her again. Surely they might at +least shake hands and part as friends. So she +tore up the letter, and went to prepare herself +for the journey to Chelsea. "I have been brave +all through," she murmured; "and I mustn't +spoil it at the end by turning coward. I am +taking all the blame—let me be strong enough +to take it face to face with him."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> + And now she was impatient to have done with +it all. Her mission was ended. So, although +he would not be looking for her yet, she would +descend on him, even at the risk of disturbing +him. The commission from the bank had +already been completed, and at present he was +making cartoons and sketches for new pictures. +But he would be all the more grateful afterwards +that she had not delayed her coup.</p> + +<p>She got into a hansom, which, choosing its +route through unobstructed back streets, arrived +at her goal wonderfully soon. She got down +firmly, paid the driver, and walked up the steps +unfalteringly. She felt her calm and self-control +as a great blessing; she had so long +schooled herself for this moment, and it was +splendid to feel how actual a fact was her +resignation, how completely ingrained in her +this acceptance of the inevitable.</p> + +<p>She let herself in with her key for the last +time, and put it on the hall table lest she should +forget to leave it afterwards. Then she went +upstairs, and tapped gently at the door of the +studio, though it stood half open. She found +Wyndham in a mood that was even a shade +more affable than usual. Indeed, he seemed +almost light-hearted to-day as he came forward +with a friendly alertness to greet her, and +pressed his lips affectionately to her forehead, +and wheeled forward a chair for her. She was +in a close-fitting coat and skirt, of a heliotrope + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> +shade, and there were roses in her hat. But, in +spite of this burst of spring gaiety, her face +retained the marked pallor that had characterised +it of late. He indeed observed it for the +first time.</p> + +<p>"You must have a little of this light +Chambery," he said. "It clears the head and +nerves. I remembered I used to have a glass +at the Café des Lilas in the old days whenever +I felt done up, so I laid in a few bottles."</p> + +<p>"Do I seem so unusually flurried?" she asked.</p> + +<p>She smiled, but he saw at once that the note +was forced, and began to suspect that something +was amiss.</p> + +<p>"It's rather close to-day—the heat has come +upon us all of a rush. It's sure to be crowded +and stuffy at the concert to-night. Now do try +my remedy, child."</p> + +<p>"If you don't mind, we'll not go to the +concert."</p> + +<p>"By all means," he agreed. "We'll dine early, +take a stroll on the Embankment, and if there's +a boat going up or down, it doesn't matter +which, we'll get on, and see where it takes us. +Not a bad idea, little girl, eh?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," she said, "but I meant that we +were not to pass the evening together at all. I +came now, instead of later on, to see you and +talk to you."</p> + +<p>He looked at her hard. "You rather mystify +me."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> + "I'm sorry," she said again. "I sat down to +write you a long letter to-day," she resumed, +after an almost imperceptible hesitation. "In +fact, I really began it, or rather I wrote a good +many pages, and then I thought it would be +fairer and braver to come here to you at once +instead."</p> + +<p>He leaned up against the table for support. +"My dear child, I don't in the least understand +your drift—I am bewildered."</p> + +<p>She smiled wanly; yet the smile of one about +to set forth in a cool, reasonable way a case that +needed exposition, and that necessarily must +carry conviction. "I was writing to ask you +a favour. Now I have come to ask for it in +person."</p> + +<p>"It is yours to command." He inclined his +head graciously and gallantly.</p> + +<p>"You are sweet to me, as always," she +returned. "But, as you will see, I am quite +undeserving of your graciousness on this present +occasion."</p> + +<p>He laughed. "Modest as usual, my dear +child! I'm afraid it's going to be one of the +tasks of my life to impress you with a sense +of your own merits."</p> + +<p>"Please don't say any more nice things to +me," she implored. "Your kindness hurts me."</p> + +<p>He looked hard at her again, then passed his +hand across his face. "Let me see," he said; +"where were we? I confess I'm rather confused. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> +Ah, yes, you said you preferred that we +shouldn't go to the concert."</p> + +<p>She drew her breath hard; her bosom +palpitated. "Because I want you to set me +free altogether." Her face was suddenly on +fire, but an exultation thrilled through her. At +last the words had been spoken; she was near +the end.</p> + +<p>But she felt his eyes upon her; she saw his +face set in a strange expression, half-vacant, +half-surprised. "To set you free?" he murmured.</p> + +<p>"To break off our engagement," she launched +out. "Oh, I know it is horrible of me," she +went on quickly, feeling herself giving way at +this moment of trial, despite all her fortitude +and all her schooling. She saw that his lips +made as if he were about to speak, but, dreading +to hear him yet, she gathered up her force +and hurried on piteously. "Please don't think +that I have anything against you, that you are +in the least to blame. You have been chivalrous +and kind throughout. The responsibility must +all rest on my shoulders."</p> + +<p>He winced at the pain she was visibly enduring, +the expression of her eyes, the convulsive +catch of her breath.</p> + +<p>"But what on earth has come between us?" +he exclaimed, in a sort of dull despair. He felt +no joyous glow at the return of his liberty. +The occasion seemed too miserably tragic, and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> +his human association with her had made him +care for her enough to be deeply distressed at +the agony under which she was labouring. +Even now, if it could have made her happy, +if it could have induced her to withdraw all she +had said, he would have taken her hand tenderly, +and melted away every cloud between +them. "Yesterday all was well, and to-day——" +He gave a gesture of blank bewilderment.</p> + +<p>"I have arrived at the conviction that we are +not suited for each other, that I am not the sort +of woman to make your life all that it should +be."</p> + +<p>"Oh, come," he said. "I am surprised to find +such morbid nonsense running in your head."</p> + +<p>She was taken aback at this resistance on his +part; and she rightly set it down to pure +fraternal consideration for her. She let herself +go now; best to give her explanation at full +length.</p> + +<p>"It is not a sudden impulse I have yielded to, +or a passing wave of depression," she urged, +trying to conjure up the ghost of a smile again. +"Believe me, I have seen the right path before +me only after the deepest consideration."</p> + +<p>He interrupted her with a gesture.</p> + +<p>"But what has come between us?" he insisted +again. "You do not say you have ceased to +love me."</p> + +<p>With a great effort she looked straight at +him. "Yes," she said with steady voice, and no + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span> +physical flinching. "I have ceased to love you. +I searched into my heart before it was too late, +and I found my affections had gone to another."</p> + +<p>A flash of understanding seemed to come to +him. "Mr. Shanner!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>She averted her eyes. "He was my friend +before I knew you," she pleaded, as if driven +to defence.</p> + +<p>"I see now you are perfectly serious," he +murmured, hurt at last, and firmly believing +her. "Does love come and go in women with +such momentary capriciousness?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," she said with a weird dreaminess. +"It comes and goes like the blossoming of a +flower in the sunlight—beautiful for the day +or two it lives. My love for you is dead. I +should not be happy with you, so why make the +pretence? I should not ask you to forgive me, +only I am not worth your remembrance for any +reason. Let us shake hands and part not too +bitterly."</p> + +<p>He stood silent, his head bowed. There was +no thought in his mind, only a sense of shame +and of poignant regret.</p> + +<p>"Believe me, it is for the best," she resumed, +trying to smile. "And be assured, the guilty +party alone shall be condemned, should the +world discuss us!" She held out her hand. He +took it and held it gently, in sign that he bore +her no ill-will.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span></p> +<h2>XXIX</h2> + +<p>In the first profound depression into which this +unforeseen occurrence had plunged him, Wyndham +remained totally indifferent to his freedom. +His thought in a feeble way reached out, recalling +her words, lingering on her crowning confession. +Suddenly he laughed out aloud. How +much greater the irony of his life than even he +had imagined! For the second time he and +Lady Betty had come together, only voluntarily +to part that they might not disturb the happiness +of this other life! How they had tortured +themselves; how Lady Betty had sought +deliberate martyrdom, staying near him only +long enough to school him to perfect loyalty to +Alice! "Whilst I was fretting my heart away," +his lips murmured, "lest I should wound her +with a chance word, she was vibrating again +towards her own kind, and was planning her +retreat. Surely the gods are pulling the strings +and making us poor puppets dance for their +amusement!"</p> + +<p>And then he thought of the Hampstead street +miles away, where he had passed so many years + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> +of his life in suffering and degradation; and the +sense of its distance helped him. Were he still +in the old studio, the sense of the Robinsons' +house within a stone's throw would have been +intolerable. He would hardly have dared to +set foot out of doors for fear of the painful +accident of stumbling up against one of the +family. He desired no further explanations and +apologies. He shuddered at the very idea. +Here at least he could take shelter silently +within his own pride.</p> + +<p>And the thought of his pride made him rise +up again, and pace to and fro vigorously. It +was beneath him to admit that that had been +wounded. But he came to a standstill, and the +blood rushed to his temples at the abrupt +remembrance that all the prosperity and success +that must still remain his had come to +him through the Robinsons. Were not the +humiliating evidences here before his eyes? +This charming house and studio, the successful +pictures hung in the galleries, the money at his +bankers, the promise of unlimited treasure yet +to flow into his coffers, the acclamation of the +world and his social lionising—how much of all +this would have been achieved without the +timely co-operation of the Robinsons? He +staggered in moral agony under the burden of +good they had heaped on him so lavishly.</p> + +<p>Nothing of course could be undone. Wisest +to acquiesce silently, and start forward afresh + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span> +from the point at which he stood. But since +it was now only the end of May, and the best +of the season was yet to follow, he felt that to +stay in London would be intolerable.</p> + +<p>The world seemed to swarm with people, all +intent on chattering about his affairs, on discussing +and misunderstanding this sensation in +the life of the lion of the season. A lovely titbit +for the social gossips to relish! He could +not possibly meet people, shake their hands, +answer their stupid questions, listen to the +hateful sympathy of the more intimate. He +must shut up the house and fly from London. +But where could he hide himself for the time?</p> + +<p>He resumed his pacing to and fro, sometimes +perambulating the studio to vary his movement. +So far he was under the influence of the first +excitement attendant on the rupture. Whatever +his astonishment at having been ousted in the +affections of a woman by a man whom he had +more or less despised, whose rivalry he had +brushed aside as easily as a cobweb; the bare +idea that a broken engagement should figure in +his life was so distasteful that it made the +wound to his mere vanity a secondary matter. +He could not at once extricate his mind from +the contemplation of these immediate bearings +of the event. His relation to Lady Betty, +indeed, was present to him, but he had not +yet turned the flood of his thought in that +direction.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> + In the reaction of feeling, however, when the +first sting and shock had somewhat lightened, it +was natural for his whole soul to turn to Lady +Betty longingly; not with the joyous impulse +of one unexpectedly free to claim his true +comrade, but like a bruised child to find relief +for his hurt. But how to reach her again he +did not know. So thorough had been their +sacrifice that he had even promised never to +write to her. Besides, letters would only follow +her if sent through a certain banker, whose +name she had withheld from him. And though +now he felt that circumstances absolved him +from the promise, he did not care that such a +letter as he must write, once he put pen to +paper, should go to her father's deserted +house, and thence be tossed about the world +in perhaps a futile pursuit, with the possible +fate of being read in a dead-letter office, and +finally returned to him. He would wait awhile. +Perhaps, if the gossip got abroad, it might by +some circuitous route arrive even as far as +Lady Betty's ears, and then no doubt she would +announce her whereabouts to him. The pressing +problem before him was to decide on his +own plans for the immediate present.</p> + +<p>How stale and tired he was! How terribly +he had toiled these past months, sustained by +he knew not what mysterious energy. It +seemed almost as if he had exerted a supernatural +strength, and the work he had accomplished + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> +might well have claimed double the +period. And now, something had suddenly +gone snap. He was finished; a mere hollow +shell of a man.</p> + +<p>His mind turned again towards other climes +and other skies. It seemed so long since he +had crossed the Channel; so many years indeed +that it was hateful to count them. It reminded +him too much of the big slice of his life, the +years of his prime, that had been so miserably +sterile.</p> + +<p>But his face brightened as his thought played +again amid the haunts of his early manhood. +Ah, those were happy times—the work in the +schools, the discussions in the café, the pleasant +camaraderie, the freedom to laugh, to feel +master of one's own soul. The brilliance and +green avenues of Paris beckoned him; his +blood beat pleasurably. And then of course +there was his portrait of Lady Betty in the +Salon. What better shrine for a pilgrimage!</p> + +<p>He would linger a little in Paris, then proceed +further South. He was not of the great crowd +that refuses to venture in those regions during +the summer. He knew well how to adapt himself +to the conditions, and the lands of the South +would be soon in their full glory. His imagination +dwelt on the prospect, and sunshine broke +in on his mood. Perhaps, too, there was the +hope, deep in his heart, that he might encounter +Lady Betty somewhere—by some charming + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> +train of events! Heigho for the orange trees, +for the old Italian palaces, the Venetian canals, +the coast-line of Salerno! He would make +a leisurely progression, working a little as +he went—just a few distinguished sketches, +odd impressions of light and beauty caught +on the wing! Late in the year when time had +done its work, when the wretched affair was +forgotten, and himself recovered from the +sordid experience, he might return to London. +But never here to this studio again!</p> + +<p>The prospect of departure stirred him! "Here +I cannot breathe another day!" he kept murmuring +to himself.</p> + +<p>Then why not start this very evening?</p> + +<p>He glanced at his watch; it was not yet +four. There would be time to dash round to a +local bank and provide himself with funds for +the start. But on investigation he found he +had enough to take him to Paris, so he could +devote the whole time to his preparations and +necessary correspondence.</p> + +<p>And no sooner was the decision arrived at +than he adjusted his outlook to it as an accomplished +fact. Without any further delay, he got +ready his trunk and dressing-case, and started +his packing in earnest.</p> + +<p>The train left at nine that evening. He had +five good hours to catch it. So he worked +deliberately and carefully, overlooking nothing +in the haste of departure. Lady Betty's wizard, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> +his most cherished possession, went down deep +into the trunk, and he did not forget his cheque-book +and his private papers. Otherwise, everything +was in such excellent order that his task +was comparatively simple. Whatever he lacked +for his journey he could count on purchasing in +Paris, where also he could renew his funds for +travelling.</p> + +<p>At last everything was ready, and he had +ample time for his correspondence. This was +speedily disposed of, since his letters were +mostly to cry "off" from invitations already +accepted. Only one was of a more intimate +character, and that was to his sister Mary. +But even that was brief and to the point. +"Dearest Mary," he wrote,—"I regret I have +rather disagreeable news for you, but I trust +you will not take too serious a view of it. Alice +asked me to release her to-day, and of course +I had no alternative but to accede to her wishes. +I cannot bear to stay in London just now, so I +leave this evening for a long stay abroad. +Forgive this brief note, forgive me also for not +coming to kiss you goodbye, but, as you may +guess, I am off on impulse, time is short, and +there were a few matters to arrange. Perhaps +you may be able to join me later when your +vacation comes, and then we shall have a happy +time together. I am all right, so please don't +worry about me. I shall write to you soon, and +keep you posted as to my adventures."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> + He took out the batch of letters to the post, +picking up a cab on his way back. In a few +minutes his traps were on the roof, and he was +being driven to the station.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>It was a serene summer night, and the +crossing was ideal. As he promenaded the +deck, and looked into the spacious darkness, and +let the breeze play free about his face, the sense +of strain and fatigue, all the broken feeling +that remained from the stress of his tussle with +the world, seemed to be swept away. His early +manhood, when he had gone to and fro as he +listed, began to stir in him again, and the +consciousness of mature power and ripe experience +which were now added to it awakened +an almost overweening sense of well-being and +confidence.</p> + +<p>The episode of his broken engagement already +began to look absurd rather than tragic in this +new spirited mood of his. The whole thing seemed +beneath his dignity. Of course, in some ways, +he would always look back upon it as a bitterly +unpleasant incident; but, in this life, you were +necessarily called upon to be a stoic in some +degree. The point was to choose the degree +yourself. In face of unpleasant things stoicism +was no doubt the wisest; but where good things +were concerned it was best to preserve all the +fresh feelings of the natural human being.</p> + +<p>The Robinsons were already receding into the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span> +mists of distance. Despite the reality and the +closeness of his connection with them, they were +taking their place among the shadows that +peopled the past. His own vision was turned +forward—ever forward!</p> + +<p>"Strange," he thought, "how things and +people cease to have any consequence, once you +have turned your back upon them!"</p> + +<p>The night passed like a dream. In the train +from Calais to Paris he dozed lightly, and woke +only at dawn. The sky was cloudless and wonderfully +blue, but the sun shone as yet coldly +over the landscape, and the fat fields sparkled +with dew. Save for the quiet herds of cattle, the +world was deserted. Immediately all his faculties +were pleasurably alert again. He noticed +with delight the hamlets and sleeping villages, +the still wayside stations where moustachioed +old women, who surely dated from the Revolution, +stood on guard with flags at the cross-ways. +At last they were running through the +environs of the capital, and Wyndham tasted +the sensation of entering the great city of light +and intellect as keenly as in his jubilant boyhood.</p> + +<p>The drive through Paris in the early morning +was exhilarating and enchanting. At that hour +the streets at first were surprisingly thronged, the +roadway sometimes blocked with a heavy traffic +of carts all converging to the Halles. But soon +they were passing through quieter neighbourhoods, +through stately avenues lined by vast + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span> +hotels with far-stretching lines of shuttered +windows. Wyndham surrendered himself to +the charm of steeping himself again in this +atmosphere, drawing freer breaths, subtly +attuned to it, aided by golden memories.</p> + +<p>The brisk buxom matron, who was already +at her post in the hotel bureau, recognised her +old client, and welcomed him with a cry of joy. +Her face beamed with pleasure as he shook +hands with her, and he had a joyous sense of +home-coming!</p> + +<p>"But one has not seen you for eternities," she +exclaimed. "We had thought that you had +quite abandoned us!"</p> + +<p>"The loss has been more mine than yours, +madame," he returned. "I should have +announced my arrival beforehand, if I had +not left London so suddenly."</p> + +<p>Presently he took possession of his room, and, +as it was not yet seven, he sank into an arm-chair +and dozed for a time. At nine he +awoke, washed, changed into more civilised +clothes, then strolled out cheerfully on to the +Boulevards, and had his morning coffee at a +little table in the open, with a budget of French +papers to look through, and the spectacle of the +passing world in the sunshine for his entertainment.</p> + +<p>He sat on for a long while in leisurely enjoyment, +then proceeded to stroll by way of the +Place de la Concorde (which looked vaster and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span> +finer than it had ever appeared to him) round +to the great Palace of Art off the Champs +Elysées. It had sprung up during these years +of his absence, and he wandered round +it delightedly, examining all the façades, +familiarising himself with all the points of +view.</p> + +<p>At last he entered through the nearest turnstile +and went straight to see how Lady Betty's +portrait was hung.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>But Wyndham did not linger in Paris as he +had intended. He had found Lady Betty +beautifully placed on the line, and had returned +to her daily, not to gaze at the painting, but +at the features of the woman he loved. And +then there surged in him a fever of impatience. +He had not the least hope of finding her here +in Paris—he took it for granted she had long +since seen the Salon, and he had the strangely +settled belief—he did not know why—that she +was not then in France at all. And somehow +he was unable to conceive of himself now save +as actively in search of her. All the first impulsion +towards holiday and repose that had +swept him headlong across the Channel had +mysteriously died away, to give place to this +haunting, this imperious, idea of a mission. He +must push on with it at once!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span> + He chose his route largely haphazard, yet +zigzagging through her favourite cities. His +heart thrilled with hope as he was borne again +through the outskirts, and Paris lay behind him. +In this dash through Europe, the happy chance +might perhaps befall him! He knew the quest +in that way was wholly irrational, but it had +its charm. He might pass within a stone's +throw of her a score of times, and yet remain +unconscious of the proximity. A billion to one +at least against him!</p> + +<p>Yet he pursued his journey feverishly; passing +through Belgium swiftly, thence to Dresden +by stages, then hurrying down to Munich, next +on to Vienna, and passing further southwards; +vibrating off the beaten path at every turn; +staying here a day, there a night, rarely anywhere +longer; guided by no principle, but +darting about at random, often doubling back +on his track, and yielding to every fantastic +impulse that rose in him.</p> + +<p>At Belgrade, where he found himself some +four weeks after leaving Paris (though the days, +packed with changing scenes and impressions, +had seemed to run into months), he had an inspiration, +and abruptly took the train straight +back again. Might not Lady Betty gravitate +once more to the portrait, before the Salon +closed its doors for the season? Even though +it was to be her own possession in the end, +she might well desire to pay it that tribute. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> +Had it not given them their brief companionship +in avowed affection? He would haunt +the Salon daily; he would wait and watch for +her. He journeyed all day, all night, and all +the next day, impelled by the same fever of +impatience, which now oppressed him tenfold. +He stepped out of the train in the evening amid +the bustle and lights of the terminus. He was +in Paris again! He breathed with relief as at +a goal accomplished.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span></p> +<h2>XXX</h2> + +<p>One blue summer morning, Wyndham, for +the twentieth time at least, entered the Salon +through his customary turnstile, and stood in +the great central court, under the crystal roof, +amid the gleaming display of statuary. There +was already a goodly number of people about; +not yet a crowd, but enough for the costumes +and hats of the fair sex to colour the whole +place like a flower-garden. He moved about +among them for awhile, his eye keen and +ready; then ascended the staircase, and entered +the nearest doorway. He spent an hour or two +in leisurely progression through the galleries, +long since familiar with all the pictures, and +staying only before the interesting ones, yet +with attention ever on the alert.</p> + +<p>At last he had set foot in the particular room, +which was to him the shrine, the inner +sanctuary, of this Temple of the Arts. It was +already crowded here, and his first impression +was of a mass of silk hats and beflowered +millinery rather than of pictures. He hesitated +in the doorway an instant, then began the slow + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span> +tour of the room, pausing before every picture +in turn, so as to indulge in the pleasurable +make-believe of coming on Lady Betty again +suddenly. Gradually he worked his way along +and it was not till he had come again within +reach of his starting-point that his own +frame gleamed on his vision. He manoeuvred +through a bevy of ladies, and then found +himself side by side with a girlish figure in a +light flowered muslin costume and a pretty +hat trimmed with violets. He had stepped +quite close to her out of the crowd, by which +she had been entirely hidden; but, his eyes +drawn imperiously to the portrait of Lady +Betty, he was merely aware of his neighbour as +one of the crowd, and he did not even look at +her definitely. He saw just her gloved hand +holding her catalogue, and, in a vague way, he +wondered what she was thinking of the picture. +He felt rather than saw that his neighbour had +stepped back a little, as if naturally to make +way for him. Then some mysterious impulse +made him turn, and their eyes met. In all +those winter days that were past he had never +seen her so bright and gracious as she appeared +now, clad for the summer, and in this sparkling +universe. Never before had those violet +eyes shone with so perfect a light, as of the full +freshness of childhood. Yet her face was pallid +and awestruck as she gazed at him. But a wild +joy sang at his heart, and he felt his blood + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> +pulsing with a glad note that seemed to be at +one with the note that sang to him from +horizons of enchantment opening before him; +at one, too, with the note that sang to him out +of all this exquisite Paris!</p> + +<p>"I am free," he whispered. "Do you understand? +Free!"</p> + +<p>"Free?"</p> + +<p>He divined rather than heard the breathed +exclamation from the movement of her lips—read +the amazed questioning of her eyes.</p> + +<p>"I have not broken my promise to you!" +The crowd surged round them, struggling to see +his picture, ejaculating banal words of admiration. +"You do not doubt!" he whispered +tensely.</p> + +<p>The blood came back to her face at last. +"No! But the how?—the why?"</p> + +<p>"She sought her release!"</p> + +<p>"She suspected the truth!" She was pale +again.</p> + +<p>"We cheated ourselves. She cared for one of +her own kind. Our renunciation was an irony."</p> + +<p>Lady Betty bent her head. Her brow was +wrinkled for a moment in thought, and her +hand trembled visibly.</p> + +<p>"An irony—no," she said gently. "We were +true to ourselves—the future lies the fairer +before us."</p> + +<p>The press around them grew closer.</p> + +<p>"Mais c'est chic ça!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span> + "Un beau talent!"</p> + +<p>"C'est exquis!"</p> + +<p>She took his arm, as if seeking freer air, and +they moved through the throng that continued +its compliments, unsuspecting of the proximity +of either artist or subject. They stood at last +on the great balcony, and looked down on +the splendid court agleam with sculpture and +greenery.</p> + +<p>"I have searched Europe for you!" he said.</p> + +<p>"This great change in our lives—it is too +wonderful to grasp all at once," she murmured +musingly.</p> + +<p>"I do not see why we should not stroll round +to the Embassy now, and inquire," he suggested +stoutly.</p> + +<p>"Inquire about what?" she asked, her deep +absent look changing to bewilderment.</p> + +<p>"As to when they can marry us, of course!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I see," she said, with a quick smile; but +her glance was inward again.</p> + +<p>"You don't think me precipitate?" he asked +uneasily.</p> + +<p>"I am thinking of Alice," she returned. "I +could have sworn she was the soul of constancy."</p> + +<p> </p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">The End.</span></h4> + +<h5>UNWIN BROTHERS, LIMITED, THE GRAHAM PRESS, WOKING AND LONDON.</h5> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 334]<br />[Pg 335]</a></span></p> +<h3>LIST OF BOOKS PUBLISHED BY</h3> +<h1>BROWN, LANGHAM & CO.,</h1> +<h3>78 NEW BOND STREET, LONDON, W.</h3> + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span></p> +<h2>Life of the Right Hon Thomas Burt, M.P.</h2> +<h3>By AARON WATSON.</h3> + +<p class="center">With Portrait and Illustrations. 8vo. 15s. net.</p> + +<p>Mr. Burt's life is indissolubly bound up with the rise of the Labour +Movement in this country.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"Mr. Aaron Watson places at the beginning of his deeply interesting biography of +Mr. Thomas Burt the following tribute, paid to the veteran labour leader by Earl Grey: +'The finest gentleman I ever knew was a working miner in England, whose gentleness, +absolute fairness, instinctive horror of anything underhand or mean, or anything that +was not the strictest fair-play, gave him a character that enabled him to rise to the +position of Privy Councillor.' Never was eulogy better deserved.... Mr. Burt's host +of friends will be grateful to Mr. Aaron Watson for his excellent work."—<i>Daily News.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>The Automobilist Abroad.</h2> +<h3>By FRANCIS MILTOUN.</h3> + +<p class="center">Author of "Castles and Châteaux of Old Touraine," "Cathedrals of +Northern France," &c.</p> + +<p class="center">With Illustrations and Decorations by BLANCHE McMANUS, a number +being in full colour. 8vo. boxed. 10s. 6d. net.</p> + +<p>Mr. Miltoun's new book of travel "<i>en automobile</i>" is the record of +hundreds of miles of motoring through regions rich in beautiful views, in +strange costumes, and quaint peoples, whose pictured and narrated charms +form a volume of exceptional attractiveness.</p> + +<p>The trip is across seven frontiers, through the British Isles, France, +Belgium, Holland, and Germany, and contains much of historical sentiment +and romance that could only have been gleaned by leisurely travellers.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>England and America, 1763 to 1783.</h2> +<h3>The History of a Reaction.</h3> +<h3>By MARY A. M. MARKS.</h3> + +<p class="center">2 vols. Demy 8vo, gilt top. £1 10s. net.</p> + +<p>An important historical work dealing with the War of Independence.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>Letters of Christina Rossetti.<br /> + With Memoir and Introduction.</h2> +<h3>By W. M. ROSSETTI.</h3> + +<p class="center">Many interesting Portraits and Facsimiles. 8vo. 15s. net. <i>Shortly.</i></p> + +<p>Miss Rossetti had many correspondents among the distinguished artists +and literary personages of the day.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span></p> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>Diary of Dr. Polidori.</h2> +<h4>Edited, with Introduction and Notes by his nephew,</h4> +<h3>W. M. ROSSETTI.</h3> + +<p class="center">Illustrated. Crown 8vo. 6s. net. <i>Shortly.</i></p> + +<p>Dr. Polidori was travelling physician to Lord Byron during his tour in +Europe in 1816. His diary gives an account of this tour, in which Shelley +and many other interesting personages appear.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Second Edition.</span></h4> +<h2>Some Reminiscences.</h2> +<h3>By W. M. ROSSETTI.</h3> + +<p class="center">2 Vols. 8vo, cloth gilt, gilt top. 42s. net.</p> + +<p>This important work contains a full account of the early days of the +Rossetti family, with most interesting side-lights of the <span style="white-space:nowrap;">Pre-Raphaelite</span> +movement, and the literary and artistic career of Dante Gabriel +Rossetti. The volumes are illustrated with numerous reproductions, very +few of which have been published before. Mr. Rossetti's "Reminiscences" +are very complete, dating from his birth in London, 1829, down to the +present day. Most of the great names in the art and literature of this +epoch are to be met with in his pages. +</p> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>The Western Avernus</h2> +<h3>By MORLEY ROBERTS.</h3> + +<p class="center">Crown 8vo, cloth gilt. Price 3s. 6d.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"All who think of going to the far West of America or British Columbia, would do +well to read this book carefully before booking their passage."—<i>To-Day.</i></p> + +<p>"These powerful sketches of life in the Western States of America are written from +first-hand knowledge, and are memorable pictures of a period which has largely passed +away."—<i>Echo.</i></p> + +<p>"This story of his wanderings and hardships in Western America reads like a novel—even +like a novel by Mr. Roberts himself. As a picture of earlier days in British +Columbia, it should soon be invaluable."—<i>St. James's Gazette.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>Moons and Winds of Araby.</h2> +<h3>By ROMA WHITE.</h3> + +<p class="center">Crown 8vo, cloth gilt. 5s.</p> + +<p>Amusing sketches of official life in Egypt.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span></p> +<h2>Pranks in Provence.</h2> +<h3>By PERCY WADHAM, A.R.E.</h3> + +<p class="center">With coloured Cover-design by Cecil Aldin. Profusely Illustrated.<br /> +Square 8vo, gilt top. 5s.</p> + +<p>An amusing skit on modern books of travel.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>Si Mihi</h2> +<h3>By "Egomet."</h3> + +<p class="center">Crown 8vo. 3s. net.</p> + +<p>A volume of thoughtful, personal essays, by a new writer of very +considerable promise.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>Going Through the Mill.</h2> +<h3>By Mrs. GERALD PAGET.</h3> + +<p class="center">Crown 8vo, gilt top. 5s. net.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"It is impossible to deny the force of much which she avers. She throbs with +indignation, and her book raises many thoughts, unusual to mankind (in the narrow +sense), but none the less salutary. Possibly all will be remedied if women get the +vote; certainly the case could not more effectively be put. The beauty of the +language and the intense conviction which lies behind the polemic cannot be gainsaid. +In many respects Mrs. Paget contrives to say fresh things on old subjects, and certain +very awkward subjects are most delicately handled."—<i>Liverpool Post.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>Auction Bridge.</h2> +<h3>By VANE PENNELL.</h3> + +<p class="center">2s. 6d. net.</p> + +<p>A treatise on the new variation of bridge as now generally played.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"To any lover of bridge the new game will prove most fascinating, and intending +players cannot do better than study Mr. Vane Pennell's book."—<i>Western Mail.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span></p> +<h1>POETRY.</h1> +<h2>Nineveh and other Poems.</h2> +<h3>By GEORGE SYLVESTER VIERECK.</h3> + +<p class="center">Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt. 5s. net.</p> + +<p>Mr. Viereck is a poet who will have to be reckoned with seriously. +The son of a German father and an American mother, he has "listened to +the music of two worlds." This volume is his introduction to English +readers.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<h1>FICTION.</h1> +<h2>An Engagement of Convenience.</h2> +<h3>By LOUIS ZANGWILL.</h3> + +<p class="center">6s.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"He is one of the forces to be counted with in contemporary literature.... Mr. +Louis Zangwill is bound to travel far."—<i>Weekly Sun.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>The Brotherhood of Wisdom.</h2> +<h3>By FRANCES J. ARMOUR.</h3> + +<p class="center">6s.</p> + +<p class="center">A Story dealing with the occult.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>Follow Up!</h2> +<h3>By ARCHIBALD D. FOX.</h3> + +<p class="center">6s.</p> + +<p class="center">A Story of Harrow School.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>Faith Unfaithful.</h2> +<h3>By FRED E. WYNNE.</h3> + +<p class="center">Author of "Fortune's Fool." 6s.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span></p> +<h2>A Mirror of Folly.</h2> +<h3>By HAROLD WINTLE.</h3> + +<p class="center">6s.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"A powerful tale of modern society."—<i>Spectator.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>The Barony of Brendon.</h2> +<h3>By E. H. LACON WATSON.</h3> + +<p class="center">6s.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"The plot is excellent and it is handled with delicacy."—<i>Daily News.</i></p> + +<p>"Cannot but add to his already considerable reputation."—<i>Daily Mail.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>Fortune's Fool.</h2> +<h3>By FRED E. WYNNE.</h3> + +<p class="center">6s.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"A remarkable achievement for a first book."—<i>Daily Graphic.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>The Nancy Manoeuvres.</h2> +<h3>By CHARLES GLEIG.</h3> + +<p class="center">6s.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"A very droll mixture of Fleet Street, Bohemia, and life on board a +man-of-war."—<i>Country Life.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>The Feast of Bacchus.</h2> + +<h3>By ERNEST G. HENHAM.</h3> + +<p class="center">6s.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>One or Two.</h2> +<h3>By THEO. DOUGLAS.</h3> + +<p class="center">6s.</p> + +<p>Two stories of the occult world that have met with considerable +success.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span></p> +<h2>The Builders.</h2> +<h3>By W. G. EMERSON.</h3> + +<p class="center">6s.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"There is no story of the West like it. There are no dull patches in it."—<i>Boston +Globe.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>Eve and the Wood God.</h2> +<h3>By HELEN MAXWELL.</h3> + +<p class="center">Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt. 6s.</p> + +<p>A new novel by the author of that very successful book, "<span class="smcap">A Daughter +of Thor.</span>"</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"She writes admirably, and in 'Eve and the Wood God' she has given us a book that +can be read with pleasure—a remark that is not always applicable to novels of present-day +life."—<i>Black and White.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">New Edition.</span></h4> +<h2>The Gaiety of Fatma.</h2> +<h3>By KATHLEEN WATSON.</h3> + +<p class="center">Author of "Litanies of Life." Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt. 6s.</p> + +<p>This is a novel in quite an unusual vein. Fatma is a maiden of Arabian +and French descent, who is married, during his last illness, to an English +nobleman wintering in Algeria. The bulk of the book is taken up with +her introduction to English Society, and the sensation she creates therein.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">New Edition.</span></h4> +<h2>It Happened in Japan.</h2> +<h3>By the BARONESS ALBERT d'ANETHAN.</h3> + +<p class="center">With coloured Frontispiece. Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt. 6s.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>The Voyage of the Arrow.</h2> +<h3>By T. JENKINS HAINS.</h3> + +<p class="center">Author of "The Windjammers," &c. With 6 Illustrations by H. C. +EDWARDS. Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt, 6s.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"It stirs the pulse like a close ride to hounds or a stiff finish to a well-fought race."-<i>Standard.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span></p> +<h2>The Sunset Trail.</h2> +<h3>By A. H. LEWIS.</h3> + +<p class="center">Author of "The President," and "Wolfville Days." Illustrated. 6s.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"The smell of the open air haunts every page. One could hardly say more for such +a volume than that it is worthy of comparison with Bret Harte at his best, and that +can be said without hesitation."—<i>Daily Express.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>The Making of a Man.</h2> +<h3>By E. H. LACON WATSON.</h3> + +<p class="center">Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt. 6s.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"All may read it for the sake of the light and genial touch displayed in the treatment +of life. Comedy is here plentifully provided and is of the best."—<i>Daily Graphic.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>Christopher Deane.</h2> +<h3>By E. H. LACON WATSON.</h3> + +<p class="center">A New and Cheaper Edition of this Story of Winchester and Cambridge.<br /> +With Frontispiece. 3s. 6d.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"A review of 'Christopher Deane' must necessarily harp upon the two notes +'charming' and 'wholesome,' because there is no part of this straightforward story of +how two manly boys grew up to be Englishmen of the best public school and University +type which does not deserve one or both of these adjectives."—<i>Week's Survey.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>Playmates; or, Studies in Child Life.</h2> +<h3>By Rev. H. MAYNARD SMITH, M.A.</h3> + +<p class="center">Author of "In Playtime" and "Church Teaching at Home."<br /> +Crown 8vo, cloth, extra, 2s. 6d. net.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"We conclude our too brief notice of the volume by saying that the child-lover will +revel in it, whilst it may well turn the child-hater from the error of his ways. As we +read, we were startled by coming upon a short paper on Charles Lamb, whose mantle, +by the way, it seems to us, has fallen, in no slight degree, upon Mr. Maynard Smith; nor +can we repress the thought that if the great essayist had had the privilege of reading +these pages, he would never have perpetrated the atrocity, with which tradition charges +him, of toasting the memory of Herod the Great."—<i>Church Family Newspaper.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">New and Cheap Edition.</span></h4> +<h2>Reflections of a Householder.</h2> +<h3>By E. H. LACON WATSON.</h3> + +<p class="center">With Cover Design in Colour. 1s. net.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span></p> +<h2>Benedictine.</h2> +<h3>By E. H. LACON WATSON.</h3> + +<p class="center">With Cover Design in Colour. 1s. net.<br /> +Cheap editions of Mr. Watson's sketches and light essays.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"It is a compliment to the much-maligned tribe of the general reader that a second +edition has been called for of Mr. E. H. Lacon Watson's genial sketches of married life, +which he calls 'Benedictine.' In their new and revised edition (Brown, Langham & Co., +1s. net) they make a sober-looking, tasteful volume, which is wonderfully cheap when +we consider the humour and literary quality of the writing."—<i>Pall Mall Gazette.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>Hints to Young Authors.</h2> +<h3>By E. H. LACON WATSON.</h3> + +<p class="center">Crown 8vo. Cloth extra, gilt top. 2s. net.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"We unhesitatingly recommend young authors to accept the advice tendered as that +of one who knows what he is writing about."—<i>St. James's Gazette.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Third Edition.</span></h4> +<h2>Litanies of Life.</h2> +<h3>By KATHLEEN WATSON.</h3> + +<p class="center">Cloth extra, gilt top. 2s. 6d. <a name="net" id="net"></a>net.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"A little book containing five short stories, but every one of them is worth reading, +and the note of all sounds sweet and free. The reader will lay down the book, as I did, +with a feeling of profound sympathy and gratitude to the writer."—Mr. <span class="smcap">W. T. Stead.</span></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>Three Little Gardeners.</h2> +<h3>By L. AGNES TALBOT.</h3> + +<p class="center">With Illustrations by GERTRUDE BRADLEY. Cover Design in +Colour. 2s. 6d. net.</p> + +<p>A charming book for children who wish to learn how to manage a +small garden.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"This book should be given to every little girl or boy who has a garden, and who is +anxious to do things properly."—<i>Examiner.</i></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">The Handy Volume Edition of</span></h4> + +<h2>Nathaniel Hawthorne's Romances.</h2> + +<p class="center">14 vols. 12mo. Cloth, gilt top, 1s. 6d. net.<br /> +Lambskin, 2s. 6d. net, each.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<h4>London: BROWN, LANGHAM & Co., Ltd., 78, New Bond Street, W.</h4> + +<hr /> +<div class="tn"> +<h4>Transcriber's Note</h4> +<ul class="corrections"> +<li>Punctuation has been normalized.</li> +<li>Page <a href="#unobtrusive">106</a>, "unobstrusive" changed to "unobtrusive". (her unobtrusive +walking-costume)</li> +<li>Page <a href="#anything">277</a>, "any thing" changed to "anything". (was there anything +more ridiculous)</li> +<li>Page <a href="#net">347</a>, "ne" changed to "net". (2s. 6d. net)</li> +<li>Chapter numbers at end of book have been corrected so as to be +sequential. (Chapter XXVIII, XXIX, and XXX</li> +</ul> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's An Engagement of Convenience, by Louis Zangwill + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ENGAGEMENT OF CONVENIENCE *** + +***** This file should be named 33747-h.htm or 33747-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/7/4/33747/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Pat McCoy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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