Andthisspreadingusurpationoftheworldwassodexterouslyperformed——aproteus——hundredsofbanks，companies，syndicates，maskedtheCouncil’soperations——thatitwasalreadyfaradvancedbeforecommonmensuspectedthetyrannythathadcome。
TheCouncilneverhesitated，neverfaltered。Meansofcommunication，land，buildings，governments，municipalities，theterritorialcompaniesofthetropics，everyhumanenterprise，itgatheredgreedily。Anditdrilledandmarshalleditsmen，itsrailwaypolice，itsroadwaypolice，itshouseguards，anddrainandcableguards，itshostsofland—workers。Theirunionsitdidnotfight，butitunderminedandbetrayedandboughtthem。Itboughttheworldatlast。And，finally，itsculminatingstrokewastheintroductionofflying。
WhentheCouncil，inconflictwiththeworkersinsomeofitshugemonopolies，didsomethingflagrantlyillegalandthatwithouteventheordinarycivilityofbribery，theoldLaw，alarmedfortheprofitsofitscomplaisance，lookedaboutitforweapons。Buttherewerenomorearmies，nofightingnavies；theageofPeacehad’come。TheonlypossiblewarshipswerethegreatsteamvesselsoftheCouncil’sNavigationTrust。Thepoliceforcestheycontrolled；thepoliceoftherailways，oftheships，oftheiragriculturalestates，theirtime—keepersandorder—keepers，outnumberedtheneglectedlittleforcesoftheoldcountryandmunicipalorganisationstentoone。Andtheyproducedflyingmachines。ThereweremenalivestillwhocouldrememberthelastgreatdebateintheLondonHouseofCommons——thelegalparty，thepartyagainsttheCouncilwasinaminority，butitmadeadesperatefight——andhowthememberscamecrowdingoutupontheterracetoseethesegreatunfamiliarwingedshapescirclingquietlyoverhead。TheCouncilhadsoaredtoitspower。Thelastshamofademocracythathadpermittedunlimitedirresponsiblepropertywasatanend。
WithinonehundredandfiftyyearsofGraham’sfallingasleep，hisCouncilhadthrownoffitsdisguisesandruledopenly，supremeinhisname。Electionshadbecomeacheerfulformality，aseptennialfolly，anancientunmeaningcustom；asocialParliamentasinefectualastheconvocationoftheEstablishedChurchinVictoriantimesassemblednowandthen；
andalegitimateKingofEngland，disinherited，drunkenandwitless，playedfoolishlyinasecond—ratemusic—hall。Sothemagnificentdreamofthenineteenthcentury，thenobleprojectofuniversalindividuallibertyanduniversalhappiness，touchedbyadiseaseofhonour，crippledbyasuperstitionofabsoluteproperty，crippledbythereligiousfeudsthathadrobbedthecommoncitizensofeducation，robbedmenofstandardsofconduct，andbroughtthesanctionsofmoralitytouttercontempt，hadworkeditselfoutinthefaceofinventionandignobleenterprise，firsttoawarringplutocracy，andfinallytotheruleofasupremeplutocrat。HisCouncilatlasthadceasedeventotroubletohaveitsdecreesendorsedbytheconstitutionalauthorities，andheamotionless，sunken，yellow—skinnedfigurehadlain，neitherdeadnorliving，recognisablyandimmediatelyMasteroftheEarth。Andawokeatlasttofindhimself——Masterofthatinheritance！Awoketostandunderthecloudlessemptyskyandgazedownuponthegreatnessofhisdominion。
Towhatendhadheawakened？Wasthiscity，thishiveofhopelesstoilers，thefinalrefutationofhisancienthopes？Orwasthefireofliberty，thefirethathadblazedandwanedintheyearsofhispastlife，stillsmoulderingbelowthere？Hethoughtofthestirandimpulseofthesongoftherevolution。Wasthatsongmerelythetrickofademagogue，tobeforgottenwhenitspurposewasserved？Wasthehopethatstillstirredwithinhimonlythememoryofabandonedthings，thevestigeofacreedoutworn？Orhaditawidermeaning，animportinterwovenwiththedestinyofman？
Towhatendhadheawakened，whatwasthereforhimtodo？Humanitywasspreadbelowhimlikeamap。
Hethoughtofthemillionsandmillionsofhumanityfollowingeachotherunceasinglyforeveroutofthedarknessofnon—existenceintothedarknessofdeath。
Towhatend？Aimtheremustbe，butittranscendedhispowerofthought。Hesawforthefirsttimeclearlyhisowninfinitelittleness，sawstarkandterriblethetragiccontrastofhumanstrengthandthecravingofthehumanheart。Forthatlittlewhileheknewhimselfforthepettyaccidenthewas，andknewtherewiththegreatnessofhisdesire。Andsuddenlyhislittlenesswasintolerable，hisaspirationwasintolerable，andtherecametohimanirresistibleimpulsetopray。Andheprayed。Heprayedvague，incoherent，contradictorythings，hissoulstrainedupthroughtimeandspaceandallthefleetingmultitudinousconfusionofbeing，towardssomething——hescarcelyknewwhat——
towardssomethingthatcouldcomprehendhisstrivingandendure。
Amanandawomanwerefarbelowonaroofspacetothesouthwardenjoyingthefreshnessofthemorningair。ThemanhadbroughtoutaperspectiveglasstospyupontheCouncilHouseandhewasshowingherhowtouseit。Presentlytheircuriositywassatisfied，theycouldseenotracesofbloodshedfromtheirposition，andafterasurveyoftheemptyskyshecameroundtothecrow’snest。Andthereshesawtwolittleblackfigures，sosmallitwashardtobelievetheyweremen，onewhowatchedandonewhogesticulatedwithhandsoutstretchedtothesilentemptinessofHeaven。
Shehandedtheglasstotheman。Helookedandexclaimed：
"IbelieveitistheMaster。Yes。Iamsure。ItistheMaster！"
Heloweredtheglassandlookedather。"Wavinghishandsaboutalmostasifhewaspraying。Iwonderwhatheisupto。Worshippingthesun？Thereweren’tParsesinthiscountryinhistime，werethere？"
Helookedagain。"He’sstoppeditnow。Itwasachanceattitude，Isuppose。"Heputdowntheglassandbecamemeditative。"Hewon’thaveanythingtodobutenjoyhimself——justenjoyhimself。Ostrogwillbosstheshowofcourse。Ostrogwillhaveto，becauseofleepingalltheseLabourerfoolsinbounds。Themandtheirsong！Andgotitallbysleeping，deareyes——justsleeping。It’sawonderfulworld。"
CHAPTERXV
PROMINENTPEOPLE
ThestateapartmentsoftheWindVaneKeeperwouldhaveseemedastonishinglyintricatetoGrahamhadheenteredthemfreshfromhisnineteenthcenturylife，butalreadyhewasgrowingaccustomedtothescaleofthenewtime。Theycanscarcelybedescribedashallsandrooms，seeingthatacomplicatedsystemofarches，bridges，passagesandgalleriesdividedandunitedeverypartofthegreatspace。Hecameoutthroughoneofthenowfamiliarslidingpanelsupona。
plateauoflandingattheheadofaflightofverybroadandgentlesteps，withmenandwomenfarmorebrilliantlydressedthananyhehadhithertoseenascendinganddescending。Fromthispositionhelookeddownavistaofintricateornamentinlustrelesswhiteandmauveandpurple，spannedbybridgesthatseemedwroughtofporcelainandfiligree，andterminatingfaroffinacloudymysteryofperforatedscreens。
Glancingupward，hesawtierabovetierofascendinggallerieswithfaceslookingdownuponhim。Theairwasfullofthebabbleofinnumerablevoicesandofamusicthatdescendedfromabove，agayandexhilaratingmusicwhosesourceheneverdiscovered。
Thecentralaislewasthickwithpeople，butbynomeansuncomfortablycrowded；altogetherthatassemblymusthavenumberedmanythousands。Theywerebrilliantly，evenfantasticallydressed，themenasfancifullyasthewomen，forthesoberinginfluenceofthePuritanconceptionofdignityuponmasculinedresshadlongsincepassedaway。Thehairofthemen，too，thoughitwasrarelywornlong，wascommonlycurledinamannerthatsuggestedthebarber，andbaldnesshadvanishedfromtheearth。Frizzystraight—cutmassesthatwouldhavecharmedRossettiabounded，andonegentleman，whowaspointedouttoGrahamunderthemysterioustitleofan"amorist"，worehishairintwobecomingplaitsalaMarguerite。Thepigtailwasinevidence；itwouldseemthatcitizensofChineseextractionwerenolongerashamedoftheirrace。Therewaslittleuniformityoffashionapparentintheformsofclothingworn。Themoreshapelymendisplayedtheirsymmetryintrunkhose，andherewerepuffsandslashes，andthereacloakandtherearobe。ThefashionsofthedaysofLeotheTenthwereperhapstheprevailinginfluence，buttheaestheticconceptionsofthefareastwerealsopatent。Masculineembonpoint，which，inVictoriantimes，wouldhavebeensubjectedtothetightlybuttonedperils，theruthlessexaggerationoftight—leggedtight—armedeveningdress，nowformedbutthebasisofawealthofdignityanddroopingfolds。
Gracefulslendernessabounded’also。ToGraham，atypicallystiffmanfromatypicallystiffperiod，notonlydidthesemenseemaltogethertoogracefulinperson，butaltogethertooexpressiveintheirvividlyexpressivefaces。Theygesticulated，theyexpressedsurprise，interest，amusement，aboveall，theyexpressedtheemotionsexcitedintheirmindsbytheladiesaboutthemwithastonishingfrankness。Evenatthefirstglanceitwasevidentthatwomenwereinagreatmajority。
Theladiesinthecompanyofthesegentlemendisplayedindress，bearingandmanneralike，lessemphasisandmoreintricacy。Someaffectedaclassicalsimplicityofrobingandsubtletyoffold，afterthefashionoftheFirstFrenchEmpire，andflashedconqueringarmsandshouldersasGrahampassed。
Othershadclosely—fittingdresseswithoutseamorbeltatthewaist，sometimeswithlongfoldsfallingfromtheshoulders。Thedelightfulconfidencesofeveningdresshadnotbeendiminishedbythepassageoftwocenturies。
Everyone’smovementsseemedgraceful。GrahamremarkedtoLincolnthathesawmenasRaphael’scartoonswalking，andLincolntoldhimthattheattainmentofanappropriatesetofgestureswaspartofeveryrichperson’seducation。TheMaster’sentrywasgreetedwithasortoftitteringapplause，butthesepeopleshowedtheirdistinguishedmannersbynotcrowdinguponhimnorannoyinghimbyanypersistentscrutiny，ashedescendedthestepstowardstheflooroftheaisle。
HehadalreadylearntfromLincolnthattheseweretheleadersofexistingLondonsociety；almosteverypersontherethatnightwaseitherapowerfulofficialortheimmediateconnexionofapowerfulofficial。
ManyhadreturnedfromtheEuropeanPleasureCitiesexpresslytowelcomehim。Theaeronauticauthorities，whosedefectionhadplayedapartintheoverthrowoftheCouncilonlysecondtoGraham’swereveryprominent，andso，too，wastheWindVaneControl。
AmongstotherstherewereseveralofthemoreprominentofficersoftheFoodTrust；thecontrolleroftheEuropeanPiggerieshadaparticularlymelancholyandinterestingcountenanceandadaintilycynicalmanner。AbishopinfullcanonicalspassedathwartGraham’svision，conversingwithagentlemandressedexactlylikethetraditionalChaucer，includingeventhelaurelwreath。
"Whoisthat？"heaskedalmostinvoluntarily"TheBishopofLondon，"saidLincoln。
"No——theother，Imean。"
"PoetLaureate。"
"Youstill？"
"Hedoesn’tmakepoetry，ofcourse。He’sacousinofWotton——oneoftheCouncillors。Buthe’soneoftheRedRoseRoyalists——adelightfulclub——andtheykeepupthetraditionofthesethings。"
"AsanotoldmetherewasaKing。"
"TheKingdoesn’tbelong。Theyhadtoexpelhim。
It’stheStuartblood，Isuppose；butreally——"
"Toomuch？"
"Fartoomuch。"
Grahamdidnotquitefollowallthis，butitseemedpartofthegeneralinversionofthenewage。Hebowedcondescendinglytohisfirstintroduction。Itwasevidentthatsubtledistinctionsofclassprevailedeveninthisassembly，thatonlytoasmallproportionoftheguests，toaninnergroup，didLincolnconsideritappropriatetointroducehim。ThisfirstintroductionwastheMasterAeronaut，amanwhosesuntannedfacecontrastedoddlywiththedelicatecomplexionsabouthim。JustatpresenthiscriticaldefectionfromtheCouncilmadehimaveryimportantpersonindeed。
Hismannercontrastedveryfavourably，accordingtoGraham’sideas，withthegeneralbearing。Hemadeafewcommonplaceremarks，assurancesofloyaltyandfrankinquiriesabouttheMaster’shealth。
Hismannerwasbreezy，hisaccentlackedtheeasystaccatooflatter—dayEnglish。HemadeitadmirablycleartoGrahamthathewasabluff"aerialdog"———heusedthatphrase——thattherewasnononsenseabouthim，thathewasathoroughlymanlyfellowandold—fashionedatthat，thathedidn’tprofesstoknowmuch，andthatwhathedidnotknowwasnotworthknowingHemadeamanlybow，ostentatiouslyfreefromobsequiousnessandpassed。
"Iamgladtoseethattypeendures，"saidGraham"Phonographsandkinematographs，"saidLincoln，alittlespitefully。"Hehasstudiedfromthelife。"
Grahamglancedattheburlyformagain。Itwasoddlyreminiscent。
"Asamatteroffactweboughthim，"saidLincoln。
"Partly。AndpartlyhewasafraidofOstrogEverythingrestedwithhim。"
HeturnedsharplytointroducetheSurveyor—GeneralofthePublicSchoolTrust。Thispersonwasawillowyfigureinablue—greyacademicgown，hebeameddownuponGrahamthrough__pince—nez__ofaVictorianpattern，andillustratedhisremarksbygesturesofabeautifullymanicuredhand。Grahamwasimmediatelyinterestedinthisgentleman’sfunctions，andaskedhimanumberofsingularlydirectquestions。
TheSurveyor—GeneralseemedquietlyamusedattheMaster’sfundamentalbluntness。HewasalittlevagueastothemonopolyofeducationhisCompanypossessed；itwasdonebycontractwiththesyndicatethatranthenumerousLondonMunicipalities，buthewaxedenthusiasticovereducationalprogresssincetheVictoriantimes。"WehaveconqueredCram，"hesaid，"completelyconqueredCram——thereisnotanexaminationleftintheworld。Aren’tyouglad？"
"Howdoyougettheworkdone？"askedGraham。
"Wemakeitattractive——asattractiveaspossible。
Andifitdoesnotattractthen——weletitgo。Wecoveranimmensefield。"
Heproceededtodetails，andtheyhadalengthyconversation。TheSurveyor—GeneralmentionedthenamesofPestalozziandFroebelwithprofoundrespect，althoughhedisplayednointimacywiththeirepoch—makingworks。GrahamlearntthatUniversityExtensionstillexistedinamodifiedform。"Thereisacertaintypeofgirl，forexample，"saidtheSurveyor—
General，dilatingwithasenseofhisusefulness，"withaperfectpassionforseverestudies——whentheyarenottoodifficultyouknow。Wecaterforthembythethousand。Atthismoment，"hesaidwithaNapoleonictouch，"nearlyfivehundredphonographsarelecturingindifferentpartsofLondonontheinfluenceexercisedbyPlatoandSwiftontheloveaffairsofShelley，Hazlitt，andBurns。Andafterwardstheywriteessaysonthelectures，andthenamesinorderofmeritareputinconspicuousplaces。Youseehowyourlittlegermhasgrown？Theilliteratemiddle—classofyourdayshasquitepassedaway。"
"Aboutthepublicelementaryschools，"saidGraham。"Doyoucontrolthem？"
TheSurveyor—Generaldid，"entirely。"Now，Graham，inhislaterdemocraticdays，hadtakenakeeninterestintheseandhisquestioningquickened。Certaincasualphrasesthathadfallenfromtheoldmanwithwhomhehadtalkedinthedarknessrecurredtohim。TheSurveyor—General，ineffect，endorsedtheoldman’swords。"WehaveabolishedCram，"hesaid，aphraseGrahamwasbeginningtointerpretastheabolitionofallsustainedwork。TheSurveyor—
Generalbecamesentimental。"Wetryandmaketheelementaryschoolsverypleasantforthelittlechildren。Theywillhavetoworksosoon。Justafewsimpleprinciples——obedience——industry。"
"Youteachthemverylittle？"
"Whyshouldwe？Itonlyleadstotroubleanddiscontent。
Weamusethem。Evenasitis——therearetroubles——agitations。Wherethelabourersgettheideas，onecannottell。Theytelloneanother。Therearesocialisticdreams——anarchyeven！Agitatorswillgettoworkamongthem。Itakeit——Ihavealwaystakenit——thatmyforemostdutyistofightagainstpopulardiscontent。Whyshouldpeoplebemadeunhappy？"
"Iwonder，"saidGrahamthoughtfully。"ButthereareagreatmanythingsIwanttoknow。"
Lincoln，whohadstoodwatchingGraham’sfacethroughouttheconversation，intervened。"Thereareothers，"hesaidinanundertone。
TheSurveyor—Generalofschoolsgesticulatedhim—
selfaway。"Perhaps，"saidLincoln，interceptingacasualglance，"youwouldliketoknowsomeoftheseladies？"
ThedaughteroftheManagerofthePiggeriesoftheEuropeanFoodTrustwasaparticularlycharminglittlepersonwithredhairandanimatedblueeyes。
Lincolnlefthimawhiletoconversewithher，andshedisplayedherselfasquiteanenthusiastforthe"dearoldtimes，"asshecalledthem，thathadseenthebeginningofhistrance。Asshetalkedshesmiled，andhereyessmiledinamannerthatdemandedreciprocity。
"Ihavetried，"shesaid，"countlesstimes——toimaginethoseoldromanticdays。Andtoyoutheyarememories。Howstrangeandcrowdedtheworldmustseemtoyou！Ihaveseenphotographsandpicturesoftheoldtimes，thelittleisolatedhousesbuiltofbricksmadeoutofburntmudandallblackwithsootfromyourfires，therailwaybridges，thesimpleadvertisements，thesolemnsavagePuritanicalmeninstrangeblackcoatsandthosetallhatsoftheirs，ironrailwaytrainsonironbridgesoverhead，horsesandcattle，andevendogsrunninghalfwildaboutthestreets。Andsuddenly，youhavecomeintothis！"
"Intothis，"saidGraham。
"Outofyourlife——outofallthatwasfamiliar。"
"Theoldlifewasnotahappyone，"saidGraham。
"Idonotregretthat。"
Shelookedathimquickly。Therewasabriefpause。
Shesighedencouragingly。"No？"
"No，"saidGraham。"Itwasalittlelife——andunmeaning。Butthis——。Wethoughttheworldcomplexandcrowdedandcivilisedenough。YetIsee——althoughinthisworldIambarelyfourdaysold——
lookingbackonmyowntime，thatitwasaqueer，barbarictime——themerebeginningofthisneworder。
Themerebeginningofthisneworder。YouwillfindithardtounderstandhowlittleIknow。"
"Youmayaskmewhatyoulike，"shesaid，smilingathim。
"Thentellmewhothesepeopleare。I’mstillverymuchinthedarkaboutthem。It’spuzzling。ArethereanyGenerals？"
"Meninhatsandfeathers？"
"Ofcoursenot。No。Isupposetheyarethemenwhocontrolthegreatpublicbusinesses。Whoisthatdistinguishedlookingman？"
"That？He’samostimportantofficer。ThatisMorden。HeismanagingdirectoroftheAntibiliousPillCompany。Ihaveheardthathisworkerssometimesturnoutamyriadmyriadpillsadayinthetwenty—fourhours。Fancyamyriadmyriad！"
"Amyriadmyriad。Nowonderhelooksproud，"
saidGraham。"Pills！Whatawonderfultimeitis！
Thatmaninpurple？"
"Heisnotquiteoneoftheinnercircle，youknow。
Butwelikehim。Heisreallycleverandveryamusing。
HeisoneoftheheadsoftheMedicalFacultyofourLondonUniversity。Allmedicalmen，youknow，areshareholdersintheMedicalFacultyCompany，andwearthatpurple。Youhavetobe——tobequalified。
Butofcourse，peoplewhoarepaid’byfeesfordoingsomething——"Shesmiledawaythesocialpretensionsofallsuchpeople。
"Areanyofyourgreatartistsorauthorshere？"
"Noauthors。Theyaremostlysuchqueerpeople——
andsopreoccupiedaboutthemselves。Andtheyquarrelsodreadfully！Theywillfight，someofthem，forprecedenceonstaircases！Dreadfulisn’tit？ButI
thinkWraysbury，thefashionablecapillotomist，ishere。FromCapri。"
"Capillotomist，"saidGraham。"Ah！Iremember。
Anartist！Whynot？"
"Wehavetocultivatehim，"shesaidapologetically。
"Ourheadsareinhishands。"Shesmiled。
Grahamhesitatedattheinvitedcompliment，buthisglancewasexpressive。"Havetheartsgrownwiththerestofcivilisedthings？"hesaid。"Whoareyourgreatpainters？"
Shelookedathimdoubtfully。Thenlaughed。
"Foramoment，"shesaid，"Ithoughtyoumeant——"
Shelaughedagain。"Youmean，ofcourse，thosegoodmenyouusedtothinksomuchofbecausetheycouldcovergreatspacesofcanvaswithoil—colours？
Greatoblongs。Andpeopleusedtoputthethingsingiltframesandhangthemupinrowsintheirsquarerooms。Wehaven’tany。Peoplegrewtiredofthatsortofthing。"
"ButwhatdidyouthinkImeant？"
Sheputafingersignificantlyonacheekwhoseglowwasabovesuspicion，andsmiledandlookedveryarchandprettyandinviting。"Andhere，"andsheindicatedhereyelid。
Grahamhadanadventurousmoment。ThenagrotesquememoryofapicturehehadsomewhereseenofUncleTobyandtheWidowflashedacrosshismind。Anarchaicshamecameuponhim。Hebecameacutelyawarethathewasvisibletoagreatnumberofinterestedpeople。"Isee，"heremarkedinadequately。Heturnedawkwardlyawayfromher，fascinatingfacility。Helookedabouthimtomeetanumberofeyesthatimmediatelyoccupiedthemselveswithotherthings。Possiblyhecolouredalittle。
"Whoisthattalkingwiththeladyinsaffron？"heasked，avoidinghereyes。
ThepersoninquestionhelearntwasoneofthegreatorganisersoftheAmericantheatresjustfreshfromagiganticproductionatMexico。HisfaceremindedGrahamofabustofCaligula。AnotherstrikinglookingmanwastheBlackLabourMaster。
Thephraseatthetimemadenodeepimpression，butafterwardsitrecurred；——theBlackLabourMaster？
Thelittlelady，innodegreeembarrassed，pointedouttohimacharminglittlewomanasoneofthesubsidiarywivesoftheAnglicanBishopofLondon。Sheaddedencomiumsontheepiscopalcourage——hithertotherehadbeenaruleofclericalmonogamy——"neitheranaturalnoranexpedientconditionofthings。Whyshouldthenaturaldevelopmentoftheaffectionsbedwarfedandrestrictedbecauseamanisapriest？"
"And，byethebye，"sheadded，"areyouanAnglican？"Grahamwasonthevergeofhesitatinginquiriesaboutthestatusofa"subsidiarywife，"
apparentlyaneuphemisticphrase，whenLincoln’sreturnbrokeoffthisverysuggestiveandinterestingconversation。
Theycrossedtheaisletowhereatallmanincrimson，andtwocharmingpersonsinBurmesecostume（asitseemedtohim）awaitedhimdiffidently。
Fromtheircivilitieshepassedtootherpresentations。
Inalittlewhilehismultitudinousimpressionsbegantoorganisethemselvesintoageneraleffect。AtfirsttheglitterofthegatheringhadraisedallthedemocratinGraham；hehadfelthostileandsatirical。Butitisnotinhumannaturetoresistanatmosphereofcourteousregard。Soonthemusic，thelight，theplayofcolours，theshiningarmsandshouldersabouthim，thetouchofhands，thetransientinterestofsmilingfaces，thefrothingsoundofskillfullymodulatedvoices，theatmosphereofcompliment，interestandrespect，hadwoventogetherintoafabricofindisputablepleasure。
Grahamforatimeforgothisspaciousresolutions。
Hegavewayinsensiblytotheintoxicationofmepositionthatwasconcededhim，hismannerbecamelessconscious，moreconvincinglyregal，hisfeetwalkedassuredly，theblackrobefellwithabolderfoldandprideennobledhisvoice。Afterallthiswasabrilliantinterestingworld。
Hisglancewentapprovinglyovertheshiftingcoloursofthepeople，itrestedhereandthereinkindlycriticismuponaface。Presentlyitoccurredtohimthatheowedsomeapologytothecharminglittlepersonwiththeredhairandblueeyes。Hefeltguiltyofaclumsysnub。Itwasnotprincelytoignoreheradvances，evenifhispolicynecessitatedtheirrejection。
Hewonderedifheshouldseeheragain。Andsuddenlyalittlethingtouchedalltheglamourofthisbrilliantgatheringandchangeditsquality。
Helookedupandsawpassingacrossabridgeofporcelainandlookingdownuponhim，afacethatwasalmostimmediatelyhidden，thefaceofthegirlhehadseenovernightinthelittleroombeyondthetheatreafterhisescapefromtheCouncil。Andshewaslookingwithmuchthesameexpressionofcuriousexpectation，ofuncertainintentness，uponhisproceedings。
Forthemomenthedidnotrememberwhenhehadseenher，andthenwithrecognitioncameavaguememoryofthestirringemotionsoftheirfirstencounter。Butthedancingwebofmelodyabouthimkepttheairofthatgreatmarchingsongfromhismemory。
Theladytowhomhewastalkingrepeatedherremark，andGrahamrecalledhimselftothequasiregalflirtationuponwhichhewasengaged。
Butfromthatmomentavaguerestlessness，afeelingthatgrewtodissatisfaction，cameintohismind。