Tilliardfledintoahansom，cursinghimselfforhavingtriedtodothethingcheaply。Hornbloweralsosweptpastyellingderisively，withhisluggageneatlypiledabovehishead。"Let’sgetoutandwalk，"mutteredAnsell。ButRickiewassuccouringadistressedfemale——Mrs。Aberdeen。
　　"Oh，Mrs。Aberdeen，Ineversawyou:Iamsogladtoseeyou——I
　　amsoveryglad。"Mrs。Aberdeenwascold。Shedidnotlikebeingspokentooutsidethecollege，andwasalsodistraitaboutherbasket。Hithertonogenteeleyehadevenseeninsideit，butinthecollisionitslittlecalicoveilfelloff，andtherevasrevealed——nothing。Thebasketwasempty，andneverwouldholdanythingillegal。Allthesameshewasdistrait，and"Weshallmeetlater，sir，Idessy，"wasallthegreetingRickiegotfromher。
　　"NowwhatkindofalifehasMrs。Aberdeen？"heexclaimed，asheandAnsellpursuedtheStationRoad。"Herethesebedderscomeandmakeuscomfortable。Weoweanenormousamounttothem，theirwagesareabsurd，andweknownothingaboutthem。OfftheygotoBarnwell，andthentheirlivesarehidden。IjustknowthatMrs。
　　Aberdeenhasahusband，butthat’sall。Sheneverwilltalkabouthim。NowIdosowanttofillinherlife。Iseeone—halfofit。
　　What’stheotherhalf？Shemayhavearealjollyhouse，ingoodtaste，withalittlegardenandbooks，andpictures。Or，again，shemayn’t。Butinanycaseoneoughttoknow。Iknowshe’ddislikeit，butsheoughtn’ttodislike。Afterall，beddersaretoblameforthepresentlamentablestateofthings，justasmuchasgentlefolk。Sheoughttowantmetocome。Sheoughttointroducemetoherhusband。"
　　TheyhadreachedthecornerofHillsRoad。Ansellspokeforthefirsttime。Hesaid，"Ugh！"
　　"Drains？"
　　"Yes。Aspiritualcesspool。"
　　Rickielaughed。
　　"Iexpecteditfromyourletter。"
　　"Theoneyouneveranswered？"
　　"Ianswernoneofyourletters。Youarequitehopelessbynow。
　　Youcangotothebad。ButIrefusetoaccompanyyou。Irefusetobelievethateveryhumanbeingisamovingwonderofsupremeinterestandtragedyandbeauty——whichwaswhattheletterinquestionamountedto。You’llfindplentywhowillbelieveit。
　　It’saverypopularviewamongpeoplewhoaretooidletothink;
　　itsavesthemthetroubleofdetectingthebeautifulfromtheugly，theinterestingfromthedull，thetragicfromthemelodramatic。YouhadjustcomefromSawston，andwereapparentlycarriedawaybythefactthatMissPembrokehadtheusualamountofarmsandlegs。"
　　Rickiewassilent。Hehadtoldhisfriendhowhefelt，butnotwhathadhappened。Ansellcoulddiscussloveanddeathadmirably，butsomehowhewouldnotunderstandloversoradyingman，andinthelettertherehadbeenscantallusiontotheseconcretefacts。
　　WouldCambridgeunderstandthemeither？Hewatchedsomedonswhowerepeepingintoanexcavation，andthrowinguptheirhandswithhumorousgesturesofdespair。ThesemenwouldlecturenextweekonCatiline’sconspiracy，onLuther，onEvolution，onCatullus。
　　Theydealtwithsomuchandtheyhadexperiencedsolittle。WasitpossiblehewouldevercometothinkCambridgenarrow？InhisshortlifeRickiehadknowntwosuddendeaths，andthatisenoughtodisarrangeanyplacidoutlookontheworld。Heknewonceforallthatweareallofusbubblesonanextremelyroughsea。Intothisseahumanityhasbuilt，asitwere，somelittlebreakwaters——scientificknowledge，civilizedrestraint——sothatthebubblesdonotbreaksofrequentlvorsosoon。Buttheseahasnotaltered，anditwasonlyachancethathe，Ansell，Tilliard，andMrs。Aberdeenhadnotallbeenkilledinthetram。
　　TheywaitedfortheothertrambytheRomanCatholicChurch，whosefloridbulkwasalreadyrecedingintotwilight。Itisthefirstbigbuildingthattheincomingvisitorsees。"Oh，herecomethecolleges！"criestheProtestantparent，andthenlearnsthatitwasbuiltbyaPapistwhomadeafortuneoutofmovableeyesfordolls。"Builtoutofdoll’seyestocontainidols"——that，atallevents，isthelegendandthejoke。Itwatchesovertheapostatecity，tallerbymanyayardthananythingwithin，andasserting，howeverwildly，thathereiseternity，stability，andbubblesunbreakableuponawindlesssea。
　　Acostlyhymntuneannouncedfiveo’clock，andinthedistancethemorelovablenoteofSt。Mary’scouldbeheard，speakingfromtheheartofthetown。Thenthetramarrived——theslowstuffytramthatplieseverytwentyminutesbetweentheunknownandthemarketplace——andtookthempastthedesecratedgroundsofDowning，pastAddenbrookesHospital，girtlikeaVenetianpalacewithamantlingcanal，pasttheFitzWilliam，toweringuponimmensesubstructionslikeanyRomantemple，rightuptothegatesofone’sowncollege，whichlookedlikenothingelseintheworld。
　　Theportersweregladtoseethem，butwishedithadbeenahansom。"Ourluggage，"explainedRickie，"comesinthehotelomnibus，ifyouwouldkindlypayashillingformine。"Ansellturnedasidetosomelargelightedwindows，theabodeofahospitabledon，andfromotherwindowstherefloatedfamiliarvoicesandthefamiliarmistakesinaBeethovensonata。Thecollege，thoughsmall，wascivilized，andproudofitscivilization。ItwasnotsufficientglorytobeaBluethere，noranadditionalglorytogetdrunk。ManyamaidenladywhohadreadthatCambridgemenweresaddogs，wassurprisedandperhapsalittledisappointedatthereasonablelifewhichgreetedher。
　　MissAppleblossominparticularhadhadatremendousshock。ThesightofyoungfellowsmakingteaanddrinkingwaterhadmadeherwonderwhetherthiswasCambridgeCollegeatall。"Itisso，"sheexclaimedafterwards。"ItisjustasIsay;andwhat’smore，I
　　wouldn’thaveitotherwise;Stewartsaysit’saseasyaseasytogetintotheswim，andnotatallexpensive。"Thedirectionoftheswimwasdeterminedalittlebythegeniusoftheplace——forplaceshaveagenius，thoughthelesswetalkaboutitthebetter——andagooddealbythetutorsandresidentfellows，whotreatedwithraredexteritytheproductsthatcameupyearlyfromthepublicschools。Theytaughttheperkyboythathewasnoteverything，andthelimpboythathemightbesomething。Theyevenwelcomedthoseboyswhowereneitherlimpnorperky，butodd——thoseboyswhohadneverbeenatapublicschoolatall，andsuchdonotfindawelcomeeverywhere。Andtheydideverythingwithease——onemightalmostsaywithnonchalance，sothattheboysnoticednothing，andreceivededucation，oftenforthefirsttimeintheirlives。
　　ButRickieturnedtononeofthesefriends，forjustthenhelovedhisroomsbetterthananyperson。Theywereallhereallypossessedintheworld，theonlyplacehecouldcallhisown。
　　Overthedoorwashisname，andthroughthepaint，likeagreyghost，hecouldstillreadthenameofhispredecessor。Withasighofjoyheenteredtheperishablehomethatwashisforacoupleofyears。Therewasabeautifulfire，andthekettleboiledatonce。Hemadeteaonthehearth—rugandatethebiscuitswhichMrs。AberdeenhadbroughtforhimupfromAnderson’s。"Gentlemen，"shesaid，"mustlearntogiveandtake。"
　　Hesighedagainandagain，likeonewhohadescapedfromdanger。
　　Withhisheadonthefenderandallhislimbsrelaxed，hefeltalmostassafeashefeltoncewhenhismotherkilledaghostinthepassagebycarryinghimthroughitinherarms。Therewasnoghostnow;hewasfrightenedatreality;hewasfrightenedatthesplendoursandhorrorsoftheworld。
　　AletterfromMissPembrokewasonthetable。Hedidnothurrytoopenit，forshe，andallthatshedid，wasoverwhelming。ShewroteliketheSibyl;hersorrowfulfacemovedoverthestarsandshatteredtheirharmonies;lastnighthesawherwiththeeyesofBlake，avirginwidow，tall，veiled，consecrated，withherhandsstretchedoutagainstaneverlastingwind。Whvshouldshewrite？
　　Herletterswerenotforthelikesofhim，nortobereadinroomslikehis。
　　"WearenotleavingSawston，"shewrote。"IsawhowselfishitwasofmetoriskspoilingHerbert’scareer。Ishallgetusedtoanyplace。Nowthatheisgone，nothingofthatsortcanmatter。
　　Everyonehasbeenmostkind，butyouhavecomfortedmemost，thoughyoudidnotmeanto。Icannotthinkhowyoudidit，orunderstoodsomuch。Istillthinkofyouasalittleboywithalameleg，——Iknowyouwillletmesaythis，——andyetwhenitcametothepointyouknewmorethanpeoplewhohavebeenalltheirliveswithsorrowanddeath。"
　　Rickieburntthisletter，whichheoughtnottohavedone，foritwasoneofthefewtributesMissPembrokeeverpaidtoimagination。Buthefeltthatitdidnotbelongtohim:wordssosincereshouldbeforGeraldalone。Thesmokerushedupthechimney，andheindulgedinavision。Hesawitreachtheouterairandbeatagainstthelowceilingofclouds。Thecloudsweretoostrongforit;butinthemwasonechink，revealingonestar，andthroughthisthesmokeescapedintothelightofstarsinnumerable。Then——butthenthevisionfailed，andthevoiceofsciencewhisperedthatallsmokeremainsonearthintheformofsmuts，andistroublesometoMrs。Aberdeen。
　　"Iamjollyunpractical，"hemused。"Andwhatisthepointofitwhenrealthingsaresowonderful？WhowantsvisionsinaworldthathasAgnesandGerald？"Heturnedontheelectriclightandpulledopenthetable—drawer。There，amongspoonsandcorksandstring，hefoundafragmentofalittlestorythathehadtriedtowritelastterm。Itwascalled"TheBayoftheFifteenIslets，"andtheactiontookplaceonSt。John’sEveoffthecoastofSicily。Apartyoftouristslandononeoftheislands。
　　Suddenlytheboatmenbecomeuneasy，andsaythattheislandisnotgenerallythere。Itisanextraone，andtheyhadbetterhaveteaononeoftheordinaries。"Pooh，volcanic！"saystheleadingtourist，andtheladiessayhowinteresting。Theislandbeginstorock，andsodothemindsofitsvisitors。Theystartandquarrelandjabber。Fingersburstupthroughthesand—blackfingersofseadevils。Theislandtilts。Thetouristsgomad。Butjustbeforethecatastropheoneman，integervitcescelerisquepurus，seesthetruth。Herearenodevils。Othermuscles，otherminds，arepullingtheislandtoitssubterraneanhome。Throughtheadvancingwallofwatersheseesnogrislyfaces，noghastlymedievallimbs，but——Butwhatnonsense！Whenrealthingsaresowonderful，whatisthepointofpretending？
　　AndsoRickiedeflectedhisenthusiasms。Hithertotheyhadplayedongodsandheroes，ontheinfiniteandtheimpossible，onvirtueandbeautyandstrength。Now，withasteadierradiance，theytransfiguredamanwhowasdeadandawomanwhowasstillalive。
　　VII
　　Love，sayorderlypeople，canbefallenintobytwomethods:（1）
　　throughthedesires，（2）throughtheimagination。AndiftheorderlypeopleareEnglish，theyaddthat（1）istheinferiormethod，andcharacteristicoftheSouth。Itisinferior。Yetthosewhopursueitatalleventsknowwhattheywant;theyarenotpuzzlingtothemselvesorludicroustoothers;theydonottakethewingsofthemorningandflyintotheuttermostpartsoftheseabeforewalkingtotheregistryoffice;theycannotbreedatragedyquitelikeRickie’s。
　　Heis，ofcourse，absurdlyyoung——nottwenty—oneandhewillbeengagedtobemarriedattwenty—three。Hehasnoknowledgeoftheworld;forexample，hethinksthatifyoudonotwantmoneyyoucangiveittofriendswhodo。Hebelievesinhumanitybecauseheknowsadozendecentpeople。Hebelievesinwomenbecausehehaslovedhismother。Andhisfriendsareasyoungandasignorantashimself。Theyarefullofthewineoflife。Buttheyhavenottastedthecup——letuscallittheteacup——ofexperience，whichhasmademenofMr。Pembroke’stypewhattheyare。Oh，thatteacup！Tobetakenatprayers，atfriendship，atlove，tillwearequitesane，efficient，quiteexperienced，andquiteuselesstoGodorman。Wemustdrinkit，orweshalldie。Butweneednotdrinkitalways。Hereisourproblemandoursalvation。Therecomesamoment——Godknowswhen——atwhichwecansay，"Iwillexperiencenolonger。Iwillcreate。Iwillbeanexperience。"
　　Buttodothiswemustbebothacuteandheroic。Foritisnoteasy，afteracceptingsixcupsoftea，tothrowtheseventhinthefaceofthehostess。AndtoRickiethismomenthasnot，asyet，beenoffered。
　　Ansell，attheendofhisthirdyear，gotafirstintheMoralScienceTripos。Beingascholar，hekepthisroomsincollege，andatoncebegantoworkforaFellowship。RickiegotacreditablesecondintheClassicalTripos，PartI。，andretiredtosallowlodgingsinMillbane，carryingwithhimthedegreeofB。A。andasmallexhibition，whichwasquiteasmuchashedeserved。ForPartII。hereadGreekArchaeology，andgotasecond。AllthismeansthatAnsellwasmuchclevererthanRickie。
　　Asforthecow，shewasstillgoingstrong，thoughturningalittleacademicastheyearspassedoverher。
　　"Weareboundtogetnarrow，"sighedRickie。Heandhisfriendwerelyinginameadowduringtheirlastsummerterm。Inhisincurableloveforflowershehadplaitedtwogarlandsofbuttercupsandcow—parsley，andAnsell’sleanJewishfacewasframedinoneofthem。"Cambridgeiswonderful，but——butit’ssotiny。Youhavenoidea——atleast，Ithinkyouhavenoidea——howthegreatworldlooksdownonit。"
　　"Ireadthelettersinthepapers。"
　　"It’sabadlook—out。"
　　"How？"
　　"Cambridgehaslosttouchwiththetimes。"
　　"Wassheeverintendedtotouchthem？"
　　"Shesatisfies，"saidRickiemysteriously，"neithertheprofessions，northepublicschools，northegreatthinkingmassofmenandwomen。Thereisageneralfeelingthatherdayisover，andnaturallyonefeelsprettysick。"
　　"Doyoustillwriteshortstories？"
　　"BecauseyourEnglishhasgonetothedevil。YouthinkandtalkinJournalese。Defineagreatthinkingmass。"
　　Rickiesatupandadjustedhisfloralcrown。
　　"Estimatetheworthofageneralfeeling。"
　　Silence。
　　"Andthirdly，whereisthegreatworld？"
　　"Ohthat——！"
　　"Yes。That，"exclaimedAnsell，risingfromhiscouchinviolentexcitement。"Whereisit？Howdoyousetaboutfindingit？Howlongdoesittaketogetthere？Whatdoesitthink？Whatdoesitdo？Whatdoesitwant？Obligemewithspecimensofitsartandliterature。"Silence。"Tillyoudo，myopinionswillbeasfollows:Thereisnogreatworldatall，onlyalittleearth，foreverisolatedfromtherestofthelittlesolarsystem。Theearthisfulloftinysocieties，andCambridgeisoneofthem。Allthesocietiesarenarrow，butsomearegoodandsomearebad——justasonehouseisbeautifulinsideandanotherugly。Observethemetaphorofthehouses:Iamcomingbacktoit。Thegoodsocietiessay，`ItellyoutodothisbecauseIamCambridge。’
　　Thebadonessay，`ItellyoutodothatbecauseIamthegreatworld，notbecauseIam’Peckham，’or`Billingsgate，’or`ParkLane，’but`becauseIamthegreatworld。’Theylie。Andfoolslikeyoulistentothem，andbelievethattheyareathingwhichdoesnotexistandneverhasexisted，andconfuse’great，’whichhasnomeaningwhatever，with’good，’whichmeanssalvation。Lookatthisgreatwreath:it’llbedeadtomorrow。Lookatthatgoodflower:it’llcomeupagainnextyear。Nowfortheothermetaphor。TocomparetheworldtoCambridgeislikecomparingtheoutsidesofhouseswiththeinsideofahouse。Nointellectualeffortisneeded，nomoralresultisattained。Youonlyhavetosay，’Oh，whatadifference！’andthencomeindoorsagainandexhibityourbroadenedmind。"
　　"Inevershallcomeindoorsagain，"saidRickie。"That’sthewholepoint。"Andhisvoicebegantoquiver。"It’swellenoughforthosewho’llgetaFellowship，butinafewweeksIshallgodown。Inafewyearsit’llbeasifI’veneverbeenup。Itmattersverymuchtomewhattheworldislike。Ican’tansweryourquestionsaboutit;andthat’snolosstoyou，butsomuchtheworseforme。Andthenyou’vegotahouse——notametaphoricalone，butahousewithfatherandsisters。Ihaven’t，andnevershallhave。There’llneveragainbeahomeformelikeCambridge。
　　Ishallonlylookattheoutsideofhomes。Accordingtoyourmetaphor，Ishallliveinthestreet，anditmattersverymuchtomewhatIfindthere。"
　　"You’llliveinanotherhouserightenough，"saidAnsell，ratheruneasily。"Onlytakecareyoupickoutadecentone。Ican’tthinkwhyyouflopaboutsohelplessly，likeabitofseaweed。Infouryearsyou’vetakenasmuchrootasanyone。"
　　"Where？"
　　"Ishouldsayyou’vebeenfortunateinyourfriends。"
　　"Oh——that！"Buthewasnotcynical——orcynicalinaverytenderway。Hewasthinkingoftheironyoffriendship——sostrongitis，andsofragile。Weflytogether，likestrawsinaneddy，topartintheopenstream。Naturehasnouseforus:shehascutherstuffdifferently。Dutifulsons，lovinghusbands，responsiblefathersthesearewhatshewants，andifwearefriendsitmustbeinoursparetime。AbramandSaraiweresorrowful，yettheirseedbecameassandofthesea，anddistractsthepoliticsofEuropeatthismoment。ButafewversesofpoetryisallthatsurvivesofDavidandJonathan。
　　"Iwishwewerelabelled，"saidRickie。HewishedthatalltheconfidenceandmutualknowledgethatisborninsuchaplaceasCambridgecouldbeorganized。Peoplewentdownintotheworldsaying，"Weknowandlikeeachother;weshan’tforget。"Buttheydidforget，formanissomadethathecannotrememberlongwithoutasymbol;hewishedtherewasasociety，akindoffriendshipoffice，wherethemarriageoftruemindscouldberegistered。
　　"Whylabels？"
　　"Toknoweachotheragain。"
　　"Ihavetaughtyoupessimismsplendidly。"Helookedathiswatch。
　　"Whattime？"
　　"Nottwelve。"
　　Rickiegotup。
　　"Whygo？"HestretchedouthishandandcaughtholdofRickie’sankle。
　　"I’vegotthatMissPembroketolunch——thatgirlwhomyousaynever’sthere。"
　　"Thenwhygo？AllthisweekyouhavepretendedMissPembrokeawaitedyou。Wednesday——MissPembroketolunch。Thursday——MissPembroketotea。Nowagain——andyoudidn’teveninviteher。"
　　"ToCambridge，no。ButtheHallmanthey’restoppingwithhassomanyengagementsthatsheandherfriendcanoftencometome，I’mgladtosay。Idon’tthinkIevertoldyoumuch，butovertwoyearsagothemanshewasgoingtomarrywaskilledatfootball。
　　Shenearlydiedofgrief。ThisvisittoCambridgeisalmostthefirstamusementshehasfeltuptotaking。Oh，theygobacktomorrow！Givemebreakfasttomorrow。"
　　"Allright。"
　　"ButIshallseeyouthisevening。IshallberoundatyourpaperonSchopenhauer。Lemmego。"
　　"Don’tgo，"hesaididly。"It’smuchbetterforyoutotalktome。"
　　"Lemmego，Stewart。"
　　"It’samusingthatyou’resofeeble。You——simply——can’t——get——
　　away。
　　IwishIwantedtobullyyou。"
　　Rickielaughed，andsuddenlyoverbalancedintothegrass。
　　Ansell，withunusualplayfulness，heldhimprisoner。Theylaythereforfewminutes，talkingandraggingaimlessly。ThenRickieseizedhisopportunityandjerkedaway。
　　"Go，go！"yawnedtheother。Buthewasalittlevexed，forhewasayoungmanwithgreatcapacityforpleasure，anditpleasedhimthatmorningtobewithhisfriend。Thethoughtoftwoladieswaitinglunchdidnotdeterhim;stupidwomen，whyshouldn’ttheywait？Whyshouldtheyinterferewiththeirbetters？WithhisearonthegroundhelistenedtoRickie’sdepartingsteps，andthought，"Hewastesalotoftimekeepingengagements。Whywillhebepleasanttofools？"Andthenhethought，"Whyhasheturnedsounhappy？Itisn’tasithe’saphilosopher，ortriestosolvetheriddleofexistence。Andhe’sgotmoneyofhisown:"Thusthinking，hefellasleep。
　　MeanwhileRickiehurriedawayfromhim，andslackenedandstopped，andhurriedagain。HewasdueattheUnionintenminutes，buthecouldnotbringhimselfthere。HedarednotmeetMissPembroke:helovedher。
　　Thedevilmusthaveplannedit。Theyhadstartedsogloriously;
　　shehadbeenagoddessbothinjoyandsorrow。Shewasagoddessstill。Buthehaddethronedthegodwhomoncehehadglorifiedequally。Slowly，slowly，theimageofGeraldhadfaded。Thatwasthefirststep。Rickiehadthought，"Nomatter。Hewillbebrightagain。Justnowalltheradiancechancestobeinher。"Andonherhehadfixedhiseyes。Hethoughtofherawake。Heentertainedherwillinglyindreams。Hefoundherinpoetryandmusicandinthesunset。Shemadehimkindandstrong。Shemadehimclever。ThroughherhekeptCambridgeinitsproperplace，andlivedasacitizenofthegreatworld。Butonenighthedreamtthatshelayinhisarms。Thisdispleasedhim。HedeterminedtothinkalittleaboutGeraldinstead。Thenthefabriccollapsed。
　　ItwashardonRickiethustomeetthedevil。Hedidnotdeserveit，forhewascomparativelycivilized，andknewthattherewasnothingshamefulinlove。Buttolovethiswoman！Ifonlyithadbeenanyoneelse！Loveinreturn——thathecouldexpectfromnoone，beingtoouglyandtoounattractive。Buttheloveheofferedwouldnotthenhavebeenvile。TheinsulttoMissPembroke，whowasconsecrated，andwhomhehadconsecrated，whocouldstillseeGerald，andalwayswouldseehim，shiningonhiseverlastingthronethiswasthecrimefromthedevil，thecrimethatnopenancewouldeverpurge。Sheknewnothing。Sheneverwouldknow。
　　Butthecrimewasregisteredinheaven。
　　HehadbeentemptedtoconfideinAnsell。Buttowhatpurpose？Hewouldsay，"IloveMissPembroke。"andStewartwouldreply，"Youass。"Andthen。"I’mnevergoingtotellher。""Youass，"again。
　　Afterall，itwasnotapracticalquestion;Agneswouldneverhearofhisfall。Ifhisfriendhadbeen，asheexpressedit，"labelled";ifhehadbeenafather，orstillbetterabrother，onemighttellhimofthediscreditablepassion。Butwhyirritatehimfornoreason？Thinking"Iamalwaysanglingforsympathy;I
　　muststopmyself，"hehurriedonwardtotheUnion。
　　Hefoundhisguestshalfwayupthestairs，readingtheadvertisementsofcoachesfortheLongVacation。HeheardMrs。
　　Lewinsay，"Iwonderwhathe’llendbydoing。"Alittleoveractinghispart，heapologizednonchalantlyforhislateness。
　　"It’salwaysthesame，"criedAgnes。"LasttimeheforgotIwascomingaltogether。"Sheworeafloweredmuslin——somethingindescribablyliquidandcool。Itremindedhimalittleofthoseswiftpiercingstreams，neitherbluenorgreen，thatgushoutofthedolomites。Herfacewasclearandbrown，likethefaceofamountaineer;herhairwassoplentifulthatitseemedbankedupaboveit;andherlittletoque，thoughitansweredthenoteofthedress，wasalmostludicrous，poisedonsomuchnaturalglory。
　　Whenshemoved，thesunlightflashedonherear—rings。
　　Heledthemuptotheluncheon—room。Bynowhewasconsciousofhislimitationsasahost，andneverattemptedtoentertainladiesinhislodgings。Moreover，theUnionseemedlessintimate。
　　IthadafaintflavourofaLondonclub;itmarkedtheundergraduate’snearestapproachtothegreatworld。Amiditswaitersandserviettesonefeltimpersonal，andabletoconcealtheprivateemotions。RickiefeltthatifMissPembrokeknewonethingabouthim，shekneweverything。Duringthisvisithetookhertonoplacethathegreatlyloved。
　　"Sitdown，ladies。Fallto。I’msorry。IwasouttowardsCotonwithadreadfulfriend。"
　　Mrs。Lewinpushedupherveil。ShewasatypicalMay—termchaperon，alwayspleasant，alwayshungry，andalwaystired。YearafteryearshecameuptoCambridgeinatightsilkdress，andyearafteryearshenearlydiedofit。Herfeethurt，herlimbswerecrampedinacanoe，blackspotsdancedbeforehereyesfromeatingtoomuchmayonnaise。Butstillshecame，ifnotasamotherasanaunt，ifnotasanauntasafriend。StillsheascendedtheroofofKing’s，stillshecountedtheballsofClare，stillshewasonthepointofgraspingtheorganizationoftheMayraces。"Andwhoisyourfriend？"sheasked。
　　"HisnameisAnsell。"
　　"Well，now，didIseehimtwoyearsago——asabedmakerinsomethingtheydidattheFootLights？Oh，howIroared。"
　　"Youdidn’tseeMr。AnsellattheFootLights，"saidAgnes，smiling。
　　"Howdoyouknow？"askedRickie。
　　"He’dscarcelybesofrivolous。"
　　"Doyourememberseeinghim？"
　　"Foramoment。"
　　Whatamemoryshehad！Andhowsplendidlyduringthatmomentshehadbehaved！
　　"Isn’themarvellouslyclever？"
　　"Ibelieveso。"
　　"Oh，givemecleverpeople！"criedMrs。Lewin。"TheyarekindnessitselfattheHall，butIassureyouIamdepressedattimes。Onecannottalkbump—rowingforever。"
　　"Ineverhearabouthim，Rickie;butisn’thereallyyourgreatestfriend？"
　　"Idon’tgoinforgreatestfriends。"
　　"Doyoumeanyoulikeusallequally？"
　　"Alldifferently，thoseofyouIlike。"
　　"Ah，you’vecaughtit！"criedMrs。Lewin。"Mr。Elliotgaveityoutherewell。"
　　Agneslaughed，and，herelbowsonthetable，regardedthemboththroughherfingers——ahabitofhers。Thenshesaid，"Can’tweseethegreatMr。Ansell？"
　　"Oh，let’s。Orwouldhefrightenme？"
　　"Hewouldfrightenyou，"saidRickie。"He’satrifleweird。"
　　"MygoodRickie，ifyouknewthedeathlydullnessofSawston——
　　everyonesayingtheproperthingatthepropertime，Isoproper，Herbertsoproper！Why，weirdnessistheonethingIlongfor！Doarrangesomething。"
　　"I’mafraidthere’snoopportunity。Ansellgoessomevastbicycleridethisafternoon;thiseveningyou’retiedupattheHall;andtomorrowyougo。"
　　"Butthere’sbreakfasttomorrow，"saidAgnes。"Lookhere，Rickie，bringMr。AnselltobreakfastwithusatBuoys。"
　　Mrs。Lewinsecondedtheinvitation。
　　"Badluckagain，"saidRickieboldly;"I’malreadyfixedupforbreakfast。I’lltellhimofyourverykindintention。"
　　"Let’shavehimalone，"murmuredAgnes。
　　"Mydeargirl，Ishoulddiethroughthefloor！Oh，it’llbeallrightaboutbreakfast。IratherthinkweshallgetaskedthiseveningbythatshymanwhohastheprettyroomsinTrinity。"
　　"Oh，verywell。Whereisityoubreakfast，Rickie？"