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look as if the satyrs had toyed with her hair； made him shrink not
as a man of starch and patent leather； but as a man potentially
himself a poet or even a faun。 The girl was really more candid
than her costume； and the best proof of it was her supposing her
liberal character suited by any uniform。 This was a fallacy； since
if she was draped as a pessimist he was sure she liked the taste of
life。 He thanked her for her appreciation … aware at the same time
that he didn't appear to thank her enough and that she might think
him ungracious。 He was afraid she would ask him to explain
something he had written； and he always winced at that … perhaps
too timidly … for to his own ear the explanation of a work of art
sounded fatuous。 But he liked her so much as to feel a confidence
that in the long run he should be able to show her he wasn't rudely
evasive。 Moreover she surely wasn't quick to take offence； wasn't
irritable； she could be trusted to wait。 So when he said to her；
〃Ah don't talk of anything I've done； don't talk of it HERE；
there's another man in the house who's the actuality！〃 … when he
uttered this short sincere protest it was with the sense that she
would see in the words neither mock humility nor the impatience of
a successful man bored with praise。
〃You mean Mr。 St。 George … isn't he delightful？〃
Paul Overt met her eyes； which had a cool morning…light that would
have half…broken his heart if he hadn't been so young。 〃Alas I
don't know him。 I only admire him at a distance。〃
〃Oh you must know him … he wants so to talk to you；〃 returned Miss
Fancourt； who evidently had the habit of saying the things that； by
her quick calculation； would give people pleasure。 Paul saw how
she would always calculate on everything's being simple between
others。
〃I shouldn't have supposed he knew anything about me；〃 he
professed。
〃He does then … everything。 And if he didn't I should be able to
tell him。〃
〃To tell him everything？〃 our friend smiled。
〃You talk just like the people in your book！〃 she answered。
〃Then they must all talk alike。〃
She thought a moment； not a bit disconcerted。 〃Well； it must be so
difficult。 Mr。 St。 George tells me it IS … terribly。 I've tried
too … and I find it so。 I've tried to write a novel。〃
〃Mr。 St。 George oughtn't to discourage you；〃 Paul went so far as to
say。
〃You do much more … when you wear that expression。〃
〃Well； after all； why try to be an artist？〃 the young man pursued。
〃It's so poor … so poor！〃
〃I don't know what you mean；〃 said Miss Fancourt； who looked grave。
〃I mean as compared with being a person of action … as living your
works。〃
〃But what's art but an intense life … if it be real？〃 she asked。
〃I think it's the only one … everything else is so clumsy！〃 Her
companion laughed； and she brought out with her charming serenity
what next struck her。 〃It's so interesting to meet so many
celebrated people。〃
〃So I should think … but surely it isn't new to you。〃
〃Why I've never seen any one … any one： living always in Asia。〃
The way she talked of Asia somehow enchanted him。 〃But doesn't
that continent swarm with great figures？ Haven't you administered
provinces in India and had captive rajahs and tributary princes
chained to your car？〃
It was as if she didn't care even SHOULD he amuse himself at her
cost。 〃I was with my father； after I left school to go out there。
It was delightful being with him … we're alone together in the
world； he and I … but there was none of the society I like best。
One never heard of a picture … never of a book； except bad ones。〃
〃Never of a picture？ Why； wasn't all life a picture？〃
She looked over the delightful place where they sat。 〃Nothing to
compare to this。 I adore England！〃 she cried。
It fairly stirred in him the sacred chord。 〃Ah of course I don't
deny that we must do something with her； poor old dear； yet。〃
〃She hasn't been touched； really；〃 said the girl。
〃Did Mr。 St。 George say that？〃
There was a small and； as he felt； harmless spark of irony in his
question； which； however； she answered very simply； not noticing
the insinuation。 〃Yes； he says England hasn't been touched … not
considering all there is；〃 she went on eagerly。 〃He's so
interesting about our country。 To listen to him makes one want so
to do something。〃
〃It would make ME want to；〃 said Paul Overt； feeling strongly； on
the instant； the suggestion of what she said and that of the
emotion with which she said it； and well aware of what an
incentive； on St。 George's lips； such a speech might be。
〃Oh you … as if you hadn't！ I should like so to hear you talk
together；〃 she added ardently。
〃That's very genial of you； but he'd have it all his own way。 I'm
prostrate before him。〃
She had an air of earnestness。 〃Do you think then he's so
perfect？〃
〃Far from it。 Some of his later books seem to me of a queerness …
！〃
〃Yes； yes … he knows that。〃
Paul Overt stared。 〃That they seem to me of a queerness … ！〃
〃Well yes； or at any rate that they're not what they should be。 He
told me he didn't esteem them。 He has told me such wonderful
things … he's so interesting。〃
There was a certain shock for Paul Overt in the knowledge that the
fine genius they were talking of had been reduced to so explicit a
confession and had made it； in his misery； to the first comer； for
though Miss Fancourt was charming what was she after all but an
immature girl encountered at a country…house？ Yet precisely this
was part of the sentiment he himself had just expressed： he would
make way completely for the poor peccable great man not because he
didn't read him clear； but altogether because he did。 His
consideration was half composed of tenderness for superficialities
which he was sure their perpetrator judged privately； judged more
ferociously than any one； and which represented some tragic
intellectual secret。 He would have his reasons for his psychology
e fleur de peau； and these reasons could only be cruel ones； such
as would make him dearer to those who already were fond of him。
〃You excite my envy。 I have my reserves； I discriminate … but I
love him；〃 Paul said in a moment。 〃And seeing him for the first
time this way is a great event for me。〃
〃How momentous … how magnificent！〃 cried the girl。 〃How delicious
to bring you together！〃
〃Your doing it … that makes it perfect；〃 our friend returned。
〃He's as eager as you；〃 she went on。 〃But it's so odd you
shouldn't have met。〃
〃It's not really so odd as it strikes you。 I've been out of
England so much … made repeated absences all these last years。〃
She took this in with interest。 〃And yet you write of it as well
as if you were always here。〃
〃It's just the being away perhaps。 At any rate the best bits； I
suspect； are those that were done in dreary places abroad。〃
〃And why were they dreary？〃
〃Because they were health…resorts … where my poor mother was
dying。〃
〃Your poor mother？〃 … she was all sweet wonder。
〃We went from place to place to help her to get better。 But she
never did。 To the deadly Riviera （I hate it！） to the high Alps； to
Algiers； and far away … a hideous journey … to Colorado。〃
〃And she isn't better？〃 Miss Fancourt went on。
〃She died a year ago。〃
〃Really？ … like mine！ Only that's years since。 Some day you must
tell me about your mother；〃 she added。
He could at first； on this； only gaze at her。 〃What right things
you say！ If you say them to St。 George I don't wonder he's in
bondage。〃
It pulled her up for a moment。 〃I don't know what you mean。 He
doesn't make speeches and professions at all … he isn't
ridiculous。〃
〃I'm afraid you consider then that I am。〃
〃No； I don't〃 … she spoke it rather shortly。 And then she added：
〃He understands … understands everything。〃
The young man was on the point of saying jocosely： 〃And I don't …
is that it？〃 But these words； in time； changed themselves to
others slightly less trivial： 〃Do you suppose he understands his
wife？〃
Miss Fancourt made no direct answer； but after a moment's
hesitation put it： 〃Isn't she charming？〃
〃Not in the least！〃
〃Here he comes。 Now you must know him；〃 she went on。 A small
group of visitors had gathered at the other end of the gallery and
had been there overtaken by Henry St。 George； who strolled in from
a neighbouring room。 He stood near them a moment； not falling into
the talk but taking up an old miniature from a table and vaguely
regarding it。 At the end of a minute he became aware of Miss
Fancourt and her companion in the distance； whereupon； laying down
his miniature； he approached them with the same procrastinating
air； his hands in his pockets and his eyes turned； right and left；
to the pictures。 Th