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themselves of the common convenience； but they stood in the portico
of the house and saw the others roll away。 Miss Fancourt got into
a victoria with her father after she had shaken hands with our hero
and said； smiling in the frankest way in the world； 〃I MUST see you
more。 Mrs。 St。 George is so nice： she has promised to ask us both
to dinner together。〃 This lady and her husband took their places
in a perfectly…appointed brougham … she required a closed carriage
… and as our young man waved his hat to them in response to their
nods and flourishes he reflected that； taken together； they were an
honourable image of success； of the material rewards and the social
credit of literature。 Such things were not the full measure； but
he nevertheless felt a little proud for literature。
CHAPTER IV
Before a week had elapsed he met Miss Fancourt in Bond Street； at a
private view of the works of a young artist in 〃black…and…white〃
who had been so good as to invite him to the stuffy scene。 The
drawings were admirable； but the crowd in the one little room was
so dense that he felt himself up to his neck in a sack of wool。 A
fringe of people at the outer edge endeavoured by curving forward
their backs and presenting； below them； a still more convex surface
of resistance to the pressure of the mass； to preserve an interval
between their noses and the glazed mounts of the pictures； while
the central body； in the comparative gloom projected by a wide
horizontal screen hung under the skylight and allowing only a
margin for the day； remained upright dense and vague； lost in the
contemplation of its own ingredients。 This contemplation sat
especially in the sad eyes of certain female heads； surmounted with
hats of strange convolution and plumage； which rose on long necks
above the others。 One of the heads Paul perceived； was much the so
most beautiful of the collection； and his next discovery was that
it belonged to Miss Fancourt。 Its beauty was enhanced by the glad
smile she sent him across surrounding obstructions； a smile that
drew him to her as fast as he could make his way。 He had seen for
himself at Summersoft that the last thing her nature contained was
an affectation of indifference； yet even with this circumspection
he took a fresh satisfaction in her not having pretended to await
his arrival with composure。 She smiled as radiantly as if she
wished to make him hurry； and as soon as he came within earshot she
broke out in her voice of joy： 〃He's here … he's here … he's
coming back in a moment！〃
〃Ah your father？〃 Paul returned as she offered him her hand。
〃Oh dear no； this isn't in my poor father's line。 I mean Mr。 St。
George。 He has just left me to speak to some one … he's coming
back。 It's he who brought me … wasn't it charming？〃
〃Ah that gives him a pull over me … I couldn't have 'brought' you；
could I？〃
〃If you had been so kind as to propose it … why not you as well as
he？〃 the girl returned with a face that； expressing no cheap
coquetry； simply affirmed a happy fact。
〃Why he's a pere de famille。 They've privileges；〃 Paul explained。
And then quickly： 〃Will you go to see places with ME？〃 he asked。
〃Anything you like！〃 she smiled。 〃I know what you mean； that girls
have to have a lot of people … 〃 Then she broke off： 〃I don't
know； I'm free。 I've always been like that … I can go about with
any one。 I'm so glad to meet you；〃 she added with a sweet
distinctness that made those near her turn round。
〃Let me at least repay that speech by taking you out of this
squash；〃 her friend said。 〃Surely people aren't happy here！〃
〃No； they're awfully mornes； aren't they？ But I'm very happy
indeed and I promised Mr。 St。 George to remain in this spot till he
comes back。 He's going to take me away。 They send him invitations
for things of this sort … more than he wants。 It was so kind of
him to think of me。〃
〃They also send me invitations of this kind … more than I want。
And if thinking of YOU will do it … ！〃 Paul went on。
〃Oh I delight in them … everything that's life … everything that's
London！〃
〃They don't have private views in Asia； I suppose；〃 he laughed。
〃But what a pity that for this year； even in this gorged city；
they're pretty well over。〃
〃Well； next year will do； for I hope you believe we're going to be
friends always。 Here he comes！〃 Miss Fancourt continued before
Paul had time to respond。
He made out St。 George in the gaps of the crowd； and this perhaps
led to his hurrying a little to say： 〃I hope that doesn't mean I'm
to wait till next year to see you。〃
〃No； no … aren't we to meet at dinner on the twenty…fifth？〃 she
panted with an eagerness as happy as his own。
〃That's almost next year。 Is there no means of seeing you before？〃
She stared with all her brightness。 〃Do you mean you'd COME？〃
〃Like a shot； if you'll be so good as to ask me！〃
〃On Sunday then … this next Sunday？〃
〃What have I done that you should doubt it？〃 the young man asked
with delight。
Miss Fancourt turned instantly to St。 George； who had now joined
them； and announced triumphantly： 〃He's coming on Sunday … this
next Sunday！〃
〃Ah my day … my day too！〃 said the famous novelist； laughing； to
their companion。
〃Yes； but not yours only。 You shall meet in Manchester Square； you
shall talk … you shall be wonderful！〃
〃We don't meet often enough；〃 St。 George allowed； shaking hands
with his disciple。 〃Too many things … ah too many things！ But we
must make it up in the country in September。 You won't forget
you've promised me that？〃
〃Why he's coming on the twenty…fifth … you'll see him then；〃 said
the girl。
〃On the twenty…fifth？〃 St。 George asked vaguely。
〃We dine with you； I hope you haven't forgotten。 He's dining out
that day；〃 she added gaily to Paul。
〃Oh bless me； yes … that's charming！ And you're coming？ My wife
didn't tell me；〃 St。 George said to him。 〃Too many things … too
many things！〃 he repeated。
〃Too many people … too many people！〃 Paul exclaimed； giving ground
before the penetration of an elbow。
〃You oughtn't to say that。 They all read you。〃
〃Me？ I should like to see them！ Only two or three at most；〃 the
young man returned。
〃Did you ever hear anything like that？ He knows； haughtily； how
good he is！〃 St。 George declared； laughing to Miss Fancourt。 〃They
read ME； but that doesn't make me like them any better。 Come away
from them； come away！〃 And he led the way out of the exhibition。
〃He's going to take me to the Park；〃 Miss Fancourt observed to
Overt with elation as they passed along the corridor that led to
the street。
〃Ah does he go there？〃 Paul asked； taking the fact for a somewhat
unexpected illustration of St。 George's moeurs。
〃It's a beautiful day … there'll be a great crowd。 We're going to
look at the people； to look at types；〃 the girl went on。 〃We shall
sit under the trees； we shall walk by the Row。〃
〃I go once a year … on business；〃 said St。 George； who had
overheard Paul's question。
〃Or with a country cousin； didn't you tell me？ I'm the country
cousin！〃 she continued over her shoulder to Paul as their friend
drew her toward a hansom to which he had signalled。 The young man
watched them get in； he returned； as he stood there； the friendly
wave of the hand with which； ensconced in the vehicle beside her；
St。 George took leave of him。 He even lingered to see the vehicle
start away and lose itself in the confusion of Bond Street。 He
followed it with his eyes； it put to him embarrassing things。
〃She's not for ME！〃 the great novelist had said emphatically at
Summersoft； but his manner of conducting himself toward her
appeared not quite in harmony with such a conviction。 How could he
have behaved differently if she HAD been for him？ An indefinite
envy rose in Paul Overt's heart as he took his way on foot alone； a
feeling addressed alike strangely enough； to each of the occupants
of the hansom。 How much he should like to rattle about London with
such a girl！ How much he should like to go and look at 〃types〃
with St。 George！
The next Sunday at four o'clock he called in Manchester Square；
where his secret wish was gratified by his finding Miss Fancourt
alone。 She was in a large bright friendly occupied room； which was
painted red all over； draped with the quaint cheap florid stuffs
that are represented as coming from southern and eastern countries；
where they are fabled to serve as the counterpanes of the
peasantry； and bedecked with pottery of vivid hues； ranged on
casual shelves； and with many water…colour drawings from the hand
（as the visitor learned） of the young lady herself； commemorating
with a brave breadth the sunsets； the mountains； the temples and
palaces of India。 He sat an hour … more than an hour； two hours …