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The Lesson of the Master
by Henry James
He had been told the ladies were at church； but this was corrected
by what he saw from the top of the steps … they descended from a
great height in two arms； with a circular sweep of the most
charming effect … at the threshold of the door which； from the long
bright gallery； overlooked the immense lawn。 Three gentlemen； on
the grass； at a distance； sat under the great trees； while the
fourth figure showed a crimson dress that told as a 〃bit of colour〃
amid the fresh rich green。 The servant had so far accompanied Paul
Overt as to introduce him to this view； after asking him if he
wished first to go to his room。 The young man declined that
privilege； conscious of no disrepair from so short and easy a
journey and always liking to take at once a general perceptive
possession of a new scene。 He stood there a little with his eyes
on the group and on the admirable picture； the wide grounds of an
old country…house near London … that only made it better … on a
splendid Sunday in June。 〃But that lady； who's SHE？〃 he said to
the servant before the man left him。
〃I think she's Mrs。 St。 George； sir。〃
〃Mrs。 St。 George； the wife of the distinguished … 〃 Then Paul
Overt checked himself； doubting if a footman would know。
〃Yes； sir … probably； sir；〃 said his guide； who appeared to wish to
intimate that a person staying at Summersoft would naturally be； if
only by alliance； distinguished。 His tone； however； made poor
Overt himself feel for the moment scantly so。
〃And the gentlemen？〃 Overt went on。
〃Well； sir； one of them's General Fancourt。〃
〃Ah yes； I know； thank you。〃 General Fancourt was distinguished；
there was no doubt of that； for something he had done； or perhaps
even hadn't done … the young man couldn't remember which … some
years before in India。 The servant went away； leaving the glass
doors open into the gallery； and Paul Overt remained at the head of
the wide double staircase； saying to himself that the place was
sweet and promised a pleasant visit； while he leaned on the
balustrade of fine old ironwork which； like all the other details；
was of the same period as the house。 It all went together and
spoke in one voice … a rich English voice of the early part of the
eighteenth century。 It might have been church…time on a summer's
day in the reign of Queen Anne； the stillness was too perfect to be
modern； the nearness counted so as distance； and there was
something so fresh and sound in the originality of the large smooth
house； the expanse of beautiful brickwork that showed for pink
rather than red and that had been kept clear of messy creepers by
the law under which a woman with a rare complexion disdains a veil。
When Paul Overt became aware that the people under the trees had
noticed him he turned back through the open doors into the great
gallery which was the pride of the place。 It marched across from
end to end and seemed … with its bright colours； its high panelled
windows； its faded flowered chintzes； its quickly…recognised
portraits and pictures； the blue…and…white china of its cabinets
and the attenuated festoons and rosettes of its ceiling … a
cheerful upholstered avenue into the other century。
Our friend was slightly nervous； that went with his character as a
student of fine prose； went with the artist's general disposition
to vibrate； and there was a particular thrill in the idea that
Henry St。 George might be a member of the party。 For the young
aspirant he had remained a high literary figure； in spite of the
lower range of production to which he had fallen after his first
three great successes； the comparative absence of quality in his
later work。 There had been moments when Paul Overt almost shed
tears for this； but now that he was near him … he had never met him
… he was conscious only of the fine original source and of his own
immense debt。 After he had taken a turn or two up and down the
gallery he came out again and descended the steps。 He was but
slenderly supplied with a certain social boldness … it was really a
weakness in him … so that； conscious of a want of acquaintance with
the four persons in the distance； he gave way to motions
recommended by their not committing him to a positive approach。
There was a fine English awkwardness in this … he felt that too as
he sauntered vaguely and obliquely across the lawn； taking an
independent line。 Fortunately there was an equally fine English
directness in the way one of the gentlemen presently rose and made
as if to 〃stalk〃 him； though with an air of conciliation and
reassurance。 To this demonstration Paul Overt instantly responded；
even if the gentleman were not his host。 He was tall； straight and
elderly and had； like the great house itself； a pink smiling face；
and into the bargain a white moustache。 Our young man met him
halfway while he laughed and said： 〃Er … Lady Watermouth told us
you were coming； she asked me just to look after you。〃 Paul Overt
thanked him； liking him on the spot； and turned round with him to
walk toward the others。 〃They've all gone to church … all except
us；〃 the stranger continued as they went； 〃we're just sitting here
… it's so jolly。〃 Overt pronounced it jolly indeed： it was such a
lovely place。 He mentioned that he was having the charming
impression for the first time。
〃Ah you've not been here before？〃 said his companion。 〃It's a nice
little place … not much to DO； you know〃。 Overt wondered what he
wanted to 〃do〃 … he felt that he himself was doing so much。 By the
time they came to where the others sat he had recognised his
initiator for a military man and … such was the turn of Overt's
imagination … had found him thus still more sympathetic。 He would
naturally have a need for action； for deeds at variance with the
pacific pastoral scene。 He was evidently so good…natured； however；
that he accepted the inglorious hour for what it was worth。 Paul
Overt shared it with him and with his companions for the next
twenty minutes； the latter looked at him and he looked at them
without knowing much who they were； while the talk went on without
much telling him even what it meant。 It seemed indeed to mean
nothing in particular； it wandered； with casual pointless pauses
and short terrestrial flights； amid names of persons and places …
names which； for our friend； had no great power of evocation。 It
was all sociable and slow； as was right and natural of a warm
Sunday morning。
His first attention was given to the question； privately
considered； of whether one of the two younger men would be Henry
St。 George。 He knew many of his distinguished contemporaries by
their photographs； but had never； as happened； seen a portrait of
the great misguided novelist。 One of the gentlemen was
unimaginable … he was too young； and the other scarcely looked
clever enough； with such mild undiscriminating eyes。 If those eyes
were St。 George's the problem； presented by the ill…matched parts
of his genius would be still more difficult of solution。 Besides；
the deportment of their proprietor was not； as regards the lady in
the red dress； such as could be natural； toward the wife of his
bosom； even to a writer accused by several critics of sacrificing
too much to manner。 Lastly Paul Overt had a vague sense that if
the gentleman with the expressionless eyes bore the name that had
set his heart beating faster （he also had contradictory
conventional whiskers … the young admirer of the celebrity had
never in a mental vision seen HIS face in so vulgar a frame） he
would have given him a sign of recognition or of friendliness；
would have heard of him a little； would know something about
〃Ginistrella；〃 would have an impression of how that fresh fiction
had caught the eye of real criticism。 Paul Overt had a dread of
being grossly proud； but even morbid modesty might view the
authorship of 〃Ginistrella〃 as constituting a degree of identity。
His soldierly friend became clear enough： he was 〃Fancourt；〃 but
was also 〃the General〃； and he mentioned to the new visitor in the
course of a few moments that he had but lately returned from twenty
years service abroad。
〃And now you remain in England？〃 the young man asked。
〃Oh yes； I've bought a small house in London。〃
〃And I hope you like it；〃 said Overt； looking at Mrs。 St。 George。
〃Well； a little house in Manchester Square … there's a limit to the
enthusiasm THAT inspires。〃
〃Oh I meant being at home again … being back in Piccadilly。〃
〃My daughter likes Piccadilly … that's the main thing。 She's very
fond of art and music and literature and all that kind of thing。
She missed it in India and she finds it in London； or she hopes
she'll find it。 Mr。 St。 George has promised to help her … he has
been awfully kind to her。 She has gone to church … she's fond of
that too