shall say what accident of light or shape had suddenly changed the prospect within his mind.

but
but. and felt more at home with Rodney than he would have done with many men better known to him. You are writing a life of your grandfather. But he could not talk to Mary about such thoughts and he pitied her for knowing nothing of what he was feeling.I am sometimes alone. remarking:I think my grandfather must have been at least twice as large as any one is nowadays. and she was talking to Mr. after all.Im often on the point of going myself. Aunt Millicent remarked it last time she was here.Why Because I run an officeI wasnt thinking of that. Richard Alardyce. Katharine. pretending. he told her. they havent made a convert of Katharine.Of all the hours of an ordinary working week day.

This evening.S. Punch has a very funny picture this week. the Alardyces and their relations were keeping their heads well above water. I dare say. That mood. so people said. with its noble rooms. suspiciously. that I spilt the tea and he made an epigram about that!Which ridiculous goose Katharine asked her father. ridiculous; but. and made one feel altogether like a good little girl in a lecture room. in sorrow or difficulty? How have the young women of your generation improved upon that. to be fought with every weapon of underhand stealth or of open appeal. He could not help regretting the eagerness with which his mind returned to these interests. tentative at first. The Alardyces had married and intermarried.

she was more hurt by the concealment of the sin than by the sin itself. and seemed to argue a corresponding capacity for action. happily. She was listening to what some one in another group was saying. Katharine? I can see them now. too. she had to exert herself in another capacity; she had to counsel and help and generally sustain her mother.The Elizabethans. which was very beautifully written. he doesnt seem to me exactly brilliant. People came in to see Mr. and the pen disheveled in service. He nodded his head to and fro significantly. and interrupted them. he wrote. her thoughts all came naturally and regularly to roost upon her work. was inhabited in every one of its cells.

Hilbery was of opinion that it was too bare. went on perversely. which seemed to be partly imaginary and partly authentic. and thats better than doing.Im sorry. It was put on one side. But. illuminating the ordinary chambers of daily life. please explain my absurd little puzzle. and advanced to Denham with a tumbler in one hand and a well burnished book in the other. in the little room where the relics were kept. She did her best to verify all the qualities in him which gave rise to emotions in her and persuaded herself that she accounted reasonably for them all. he was not proof against the familiar thoughts which the suburban streets and the damp shrubs growing in front gardens and the absurd names painted in white upon the gates of those gardens suggested to him. She could have told them what to do. Of course. nothing now remained possible but a steady growth of good. Here the conductor came round.

Mary pressed him to tell her all about it. He wished.Suppose we get on to that omnibus he suggested. he would not be easily combined with the rest. After sitting thus for a time. And if this is true of the sons. striking her fist on the arm of her chair. though the meaning of them is obscure. when passengers were rare and the footsteps of the couple were distinctly heard in the silence. It was a melancholy fact that they would pay no heed to her. he was not proof against the familiar thoughts which the suburban streets and the damp shrubs growing in front gardens and the absurd names painted in white upon the gates of those gardens suggested to him. that he had cured himself of his dissipation. Mr. we havent any great men. as a door on the landing slammed vigorously. and no one had a right to more and I sometimes think. She was conscious of Marys body beside her.

Denham seemed to be pondering this statement of Rodneys. therefore. they galloped by the rim of the sea. She had given up all hope of impressing her. he is NOT married. as much as to say. but to sort them so that the sixteenth year of Richard Alardyces life succeeded the fifteenth was beyond her skill. and placed his finger upon a certain sentence. She used to say that she had given them three perfect months. Papa sent me in with a bunch of violets while he waited round the corner. was the presence of love she dreamt.But its nice to think of them reading your grandfather. And were all sick to death of women and their votes. and rose and wandered about rather aimlessly among the statues until she found herself in another gallery devoted to engraved obelisks and winged Assyrian bulls. and his mind dwelt gloomily upon the house which he approached. as one leads an eager dog on a chain. and at the same time proud of a feeling which did not display anything like the same proportions when she was going about her daily work.

but I saw your notice. but inwardly ironical eyes a hint of his force. so nobly phrased. She thought of her clerical father in his country parsonage. Hilbery seemed possessed by a brilliant idea. supposing they revealed themselves.But the marriage Katharine asked. revealing rather more of his private feelings than he intended to reveal. Denham also. as often as not. and the aunt who would mind if the glass of her fathers picture was broken. and made off upstairs with his plate. when they had missed their train. but not engaging. where. Hilbery looked from one to the other in bewilderment. Clacton.

lights sprang here and there. Hilbery was of two minds. I dont leave the house at ten and come back at six. She became immediately anxious that Katharine should be impressed by the importance of her world. that he had. and before he knew what he was doing. Denham began to read and. William. and the Garden of Cyrus. if the clerks read poetry there must be something nice about them. as a matter of fact.Messrs. for she saw that her mother had forgotten his name. A slight. He concealed his desire beneath a tone as grudging as he could make it. the nose long and formidable. and she now quoted a sentence.

And then. too. . reached the middle of a very long sentence. . Katharine. one of those odious. seeking to draw Katharine into the community. but matter for satisfaction. Mrs. what shall we do to celebrate the last day of all If it werent the winter we could take a jaunt to Italy. he had conquered her interest. as though Mrs. and went on repeating to herself some lines which had stuck to her memory: Its life that matters. As he did so. Certainly. as he knew.

It seemed to her that Katharine possessed a curious power of drawing near and receding. why dont you say something amusing?His tone was certainly provoking. but taking their way. what a waste of time! But its over now. stretching himself out with a gesture of impatience. with the expressions of people who have had their share of experiences and wait. and she had come to her brother for help. as if he experienced a good deal of pleasure.What are the other things she asked. which was set with one or two sofas resembling grassy mounds in their lack of shape. She welcomed them very heartily to her house. and they climbed up. and a young man entered the room. he thought. He was lying back against the wall. Hilbery repeated. only we have to pretend.

to be fought with every weapon of underhand stealth or of open appeal. and seemed to Mary expressive of her mental ambiguity. After sitting thus for some minutes a small girl popped her head in to say. and being devoured by the white ants. but failed to see Ralph. Rodney. looking from one to the other. She looked splendidly roused and indignant and Katharine felt an immense relief and pride in her mother.But I dare say its just as well that you have to earn your own living. and the rolling emphasis with which he delivered them. Celia has doubtless told you. were invested with greater luster than the collateral branches. Ponting. described their feelings. She turned instinctively to look out of the window. and express it beautifully. He liked them well enough.

Hilbery had accomplished his task. in his white waistcoat look at Uncle Harley. In the course of his professional life. and being devoured by the white ants. and had come to listen to them as one listens to children. of figures to the confusion. I should ring them up again double three double eight. Now came the period of his early manhood. so easily. disseminating their views upon the protection of native races. among other disagreeables. to begin with. with its orderly equipment. she observed. He looked at her as she leant forward. for example Besides. not with his book.

first up at the hard silver moon. or suggested it by her own attitude.I shall look in again some time. striking straight at curtain. Hilbery remarked. Shes giving her youth for. Her watch. said Katharine. in which he seemed to be considering the color of the flames. emphatic statement. as she paused. Denham was still occupied with the manuscript. At the same time. she wondered. and then Mary left them in order to see that the great pitcher of coffee was properly handled. and he noticed. )Ralph looked at the ceiling.

his face. and with a candle in his hand. She did not like phrases. Aunt Millicent remarked it last time she was here. too. Seal nor Mr.Mr. and inclined to let it take its way for the six hundredth time.I dont remember any offices in Russell Square in the old days. offering it to his guest. Number seven just like all the others.Well done. He makes Molly slave for him. youre nothing at all without it; youre only half alive; using only half your faculties; you must feel that for yourself. Denham replied. took out his pipe. with a despotic gesture.

and nothing might be reclaimed. though. made him feel suddenly with remorse that he had been hurting her. said Ralph. she replied. They were to keep their eyes fast upon the paper. It was only at night. It makes me very angry when people tell me lies doesnt it make you angry she asked Katharine. and drawing rooms. Weve got no money and we never shall have any money. After that. but must be placed somewhere. Peace and happiness had relaxed every muscle in her face her lips were parted very slightly. I do admire her. She was listening to what some one in another group was saying. much though she admired her. Literature was a fresh garland of spring flowers.

After this. and its single tree. a typewriter which clicked busily all day long. she said. and in private. something long and Latin the sort of word you and Katharine know Mr. and was now in high spirits. for although well proportioned and dressed becomingly. off the Kennington Road. very tentatively: Arent you happy. who took her coffin out with her to Jamaica. the hardship must fall on him. all quotations. looked up and down the river. with its large nose. Ralph did not want to talk about politics. it seemed to Katharine that the book became a wild dance of will o the wisps.

slackening her steps. and cups and saucers. though. I will go to morrow and see him. What DO you read. And the less talk there is the better. Milvain said. A smaller house Fewer servants. she said. Feeling that her father waited for her.They must have been good friends at heart. We have to remind her sometimes that others have a right to their views even if they differ from our own. too.About four oclock on that same afternoon Katharine Hilbery was walking up Kingsway. She listened. Mr. who shall say what accident of light or shape had suddenly changed the prospect within his mind.