TheywerenamedBastinandBickley。Bastin——BasilwashisChristianname——wasanuncouth，shock—headed，flat—footedpersonoflarge，ruggedframeandequallyruggedhonesty，withamindalmostincrediblysimple。Nothingsurprisedhimbecausehelackedthefacultyofsurprise。Hewaslikethatkindoffishwhichliesatthebottomoftheseaandtakeseverykindoffoodintoitsgreatmawwithoutdistinguishingitsflavour。Metaphoricallyspeaking，heavenlymannaanddecayedcabbagewerejustthesametoBastin。Hewasnotfastidiousandbothwerementalpabulum——ofasort——togetherwithwhateverlaybetweentheseextremes。Yethewasgood，sopainfullygoodthatonefeltthatwithoutexertiontohimselfhehadbookedafirst—classticketstraighttoHeaven；
　　indeedthathisguardianangelhadtieditroundhisneckatbirthlestheshouldloseit，alreadynumberedanddatedlikeanidentificationdisc。
　　IamboundtoaddthatBastinneverwentwrongbecauseheneverfelttheslightesttemptationtodoso。ThisIsupposeconstitutesrealvirtue，since，inviewofcertainBiblesayings，thepersonwhoistemptedandwouldliketoyieldtothetemptation，isequallyasinnerwiththepersonwhodoesyield。
　　Tobetrulygoodoneshouldbetoogoodtobetempted，ortooweaktomaketheeffortworththetempter’swhile——inshortnotdeservingofhispowderandshot。
　　IneedhardlyaddthatBastinwentintotheChurch；indeed，hecouldnothavegoneanywhereelse；itabsorbedhimnaturally，asdoubtlessHeavenwilldoinduecourse。OnlyIthinkitlikelythatuntiltheygettoknowhimhewillboretheangelssomuchthattheywillcontinuallymovehimuphigher。Alsoiftheyhaveanysusceptibilitiesleft，probablyhewilltreadupontheirtoes——anartinwhichIneverknewhisequal。However，IalwayslovedBastin，perhapsbecausenooneelsedid，afactofwhichheremainedtotallyunconscious，orperhapsbecauseofhisbrutalwayoftellingonewhatheconceivedtobethetruth，which，ashehadlessimaginationthanadormouse，generallyitwasnot。
　　Forifthetruthisajewel，itisonecolouredandveiledbymanydifferentlightsandatmospheres。
　　Itonlyremainstoaddthathewaslearnedinhistheologicalfashionandthatamonghisfurtherpeculiaritiesweretheslow，monotonousvoiceinwhichheutteredhisviewsinlongsentences，andhistotalindifferencetoadverseargumenthoweversoundandconvincing。
　　Myotherfriend，Bickley，wasapersonofaquitedifferentcharacter。LikeBastin，hewaslearned，buthistendenciesfacedanotherway。IfBastin’somnivorousthroatcouldswallowacamel，especiallyatheologicalcamel，Bickley’swouldstrainatthesmallestgnat，especiallyatheologicalgnat。Theverybestandmostuprightofmen，yethebelievedinnothingthathecouldnottaste，seeorhandle。Hewasconvinced，forinstance，thatmanisabrute—descendedaccidentandnomore，thatwhatwecallthesoulorthemindisproducedbyacertainactionofthegreymatterofthebrain；thateverythingapparentlyinexplicablehasaperfectlymundaneexplanation，ifonlyonecouldfindit；thatmiraclescertainlyneverdidhappen，andneverwill；thatallreligionsarethefruitofhumanhopesandfearsandthemostconvincingproofofhumanweakness；thatnotwithstandingourinfinitevariationswearethesubjectsofNature’ssinglelawandthevictimsofblind，blackandbrutalchance。
　　SuchwasBickleywithhisclever，well—cutfacethatalwaysremindedmeofacameo，andthoughtfulbrow；hisstrong，capablehandsandhisrathersteelymouth，themeresetofwhichsuggestedcontroversyofanuncompromisingkind。NaturallyastheChurchhadclaimedBastin，somedicineclaimedBickley。
　　NowasithappenedthemanwhosucceededmyfatherasvicarofFulcombewasgivenabetterlivingandwentawayshortlyafterI
　　hadpurchasedtheplaceandwithittheadvowson。JustatthistimealsoIreceivedaletterwritteninthelarge，sprawlinghandofBastinfromwhomIhadnotheardforyears。Itwentstraighttothepoint，sayingthathe，Bastin，hadseeninaChurchpaperthatthelastincumbenthadresignedthelivingofFulcombewhichwasinmygift。HewouldthereforebeobligedifI
　　wouldgiveittohimastheplacehewasatinYorkshiredidnotsuithiswife’shealth。
　　HereImaystatethatafterwardsIlearnedthatwhatdidnotsuitMrs。Bastinwastheorganist，whowaspretty。ShewasbynatureawomanwithatemperamentsoinsanelyjealousthatactuallyshemanagedtobesuspiciousofBastin，whomshehadcapturedinanunguardedmomentwhenhewasthinkingofsomethingelseandwhowouldassoonhavethoughtofevenlookingatanywomanashewouldofworshippingBaal。Asamatteroffactittookhimmonthstoknowonefemalefromanother。ExceptaspossibleprovidersofsubscriptionsandpropsofMothers’
　　Meetings，womenhadnointerestforhim。
　　Toreturn——withthatengaginghonestywhichIhavementioned——
　　Bastin’sletterwentontosetoutallhisowndisabilities，which，headded，wouldprobablyrenderhimunsuitablefortheplacehedesiredtofill。HewasaHighChurchman，afactwhichwouldcertainlyoffendmany；hehadnoclaimstobeingapreacheralthoughhewasextraordinarilywellacquaintedwiththewritingsoftheEarlyFathers。（Whatonearthhadthattodowiththequestion，Iwondered。）Ontheotherhandhehadgenerallybeenconsideredagoodvisitorandwasfondofwalking（hemeanttocallondistantparishioners，butdidnotsayso）。
　　Thenfollowedapageandahalfontheevilsoftheexistingsystemofthepresentationtolivingsbyprivatepersons，endingwiththesuggestionthatIhadprobablycommittedasininbuyingthisparticularadvowsoninordertoincreasemylocalauthority，thatis，ifIhadboughtit，apointonwhichhewasignorant。
　　Finallyheinformedmethatashehadtochristenasickbabyfivemilesawayonacertainmooranditwastoowetforhimtoridehisbicycle，hemuststop。Andhestopped。
　　Therewas，however，aP。S。totheletter，whichranasfollows：
　　"Someonetoldmethatyouweredeadafewyearsago，andofcourseitmaybeanothermanofthesamenamewhoownsFulcombe。
　　Ifso，nodoubtthePostOfficewillsendbackthisletter。"
　　Thatwashisonlyallusiontomyhumbleselfinallthosediffusepages。ItwasalongwhilesinceIhadreceivedanepistlewhichmademelaughsomuch，andofcourseIgavehimthelivingbyreturnofpost，andeveninformedhimthatIwouldincreaseitsstipendtoasumwhichIconsideredsuitabletotheposition。
　　AbouttendayslaterIreceivedanotherletterfromBastinwhich，asascrawlontheflapoftheenvelopeinformedme，hehadcarriedforaweekinhispocketandforgottentopost。
　　Exceptbyinferenceitreturnednothanksformyintendedbenefits。Whatitdidsay，however，wasthathethoughtitwrongofmetohavesettledamatterofsuchspiritualimportanceinsogreatahurry，thoughhehadobservedthatrichmenwerenearlyalwaysselfishwheretheirtimewasconcerned。Moreover，heconsideredthatIoughtfirsttohavemadeinquiriesastohispresentcharacterandattainments，etc。，etc。
　　TothisepistleIrepliedbytelegraphtotheeffectthatI
　　shouldassoonthinkofmakinginquiriesaboutthecharacterofanarchangel，orthatofoneofhisHighChurchsaints。Thistelegram，hetoldmeafterwards，heconsideredunseemlyandevenribald，especiallyasithadgivengreatoffencetothepostmaster，whowasoneofthesidesmeninhischurch。
　　ThusitcameaboutthatIappointedtheRev。BasilBastintothelivingofFulcombe，feelingsurethathewouldprovidemewithendlessamusementandactasamoraltonicanddiscipline。
　　AlsoIappreciatedtheman’sbluntcandour。Induecoursehearrived，andIconfessthatafterafewSundaysofexperienceI
　　begantohavedoubtsastothewisdomofmychoice，gladasIwastoseehimpersonally。Hissermonsatonceboredme，and，whentheydidnotsendmetosleep，excitedinmeadesirefordebate。
　　Howcouldhebesoprofoundlyacquaintedwithmysteriesbeforewhichtheworldhadstoodamazedforages？Wastherenothingtoohotortooheavyinthespiritualwayforhimtodismissinafewblunderingandcasualwords，ashemightanyordinaryincidentofevery—daylife，Iwondered？AlsohisideaofHighChurchobservanceswasnotmine，or，Iimagine，thatofanybodyelse。
　　ButIwillnotattempttosetitout。
　　Hispeculiarities，however，wereeasytoexcuseandentirelyswallowedupbytheinnategoodnessofhisnaturewhichsoonmadehimbelovedofeveryoneintheplace，foralthoughhethoughtthatprobablymostthingsweresins，Ineverknewhimtodiscoverasinwhichheconsideredtobebeyondthereachofforgiveness。
　　Bastinwasindeedamostcharitablemanandinhiswaywide—minded。
　　ThepersonwhomIcouldnottolerate，however，washiswife，who，tomyfancy，moreresembledavessel，averyunattractivevessel，fullofvinegarthanawoman。HernamewasSarahandshewassmall，plain，flat，sandy—hairedandodious，quiteobsessed，moreover，withherjealousiesoftheRev。Basil，atwhomitpleasedhertosupposethateverywomaninthecountrysideunderfiftywasthrowingherself。
　　HereIwillconfessthattothebestofmyabilityItookcarethattheydidinoutwardseeming，thatis，whenevershewaspresent，instructingthemtositasidewithhimindarkenedcorners，topresenthimwithflowers，andsoforth。Severalofthemeasilyfellintothehumourofthething，andIhaveseenhimdepartfromadinner—partyfollowedbythatgloweringSarah，withahandfulofrosebudsandviolets，tosaynothingofthetraditionalofferingsofslippers，embroideredmarkersandthelike。Well，itwasmyonlywayofcomingevenwithher，whichI
　　thinksheknew，forshehatedmepoisonously。
　　SomuchforBasilBastin。NowforBickley。HimIhadmetonseveraloccasionssinceourcollegedays，andafterIwassettledatthePrioryfromtimetotimeIaskedhimtostaywithme。Atlengthhecame，andIfoundoutthathewasnotatallcomfortableinhisLondonpracticewhichwasofanatureuncongenialtohim；further，thathedidnotgetonwithhispartners。Then，afterreflection，Imadeasuggestiontohim。I
　　pointedoutthat，owingtoitspopularityamongstseasidevisitors，theneighbourhoodofFulcombewasarisingone，andthatalthoughthereweredoctorsinit，therewasnoreallyfirst—classsurgeonformiles。
　　NowBickleywasafirst—classsurgeon，havingheldveryhighhospitalappointments，andindeedstillholdingthem。Why，I
　　asked，shouldhenotcomeandsetuphereonhisown？IwouldappointhimdoctortotheestateandalsogivehimchargeofacottagehospitalwhichIwasendowing，withlibertytobuildandarrangeitasheliked。Further，asIconsideredthatitwouldbeofgreatadvantagetometohaveamanofrealabilitywithinreach，IwouldguaranteeforthreeyearswhateverincomehewasearninginLondon。
　　Hethankedmewarmlyandintheendactedontheidea，withstartlingresultssofarashisprospectswereconcerned。Verysoonhisreallyremarkableskillbecameknownandhewasearningmoremoneythanasanunmarriedmanhecouldpossiblywant。
　　Indeed，scarcelyabigoperationtookplaceatanytownwithintwentymiles，andevenmuchfartheraway，atwhichhewasnotcalledintoassist。
　　Needlesstosayhisadventwasagreatboontome，forashelivedinahouseIlethimquitenearby，wheneverhehadaspareeveninghewoulddropintodinner，andfromourabsolutelyoppositestandpointswediscussedallthingshumananddivine。
　　ThusIwasenabledtosharpenmywitsuponthehardsteelofhisclearintellectwhichwasyet，inasense，solimited。
　　ImustaddthatIneverconvertedhimtomywayofthinkingandheneverconvertedmetohis，anymorethanheconvertedBastin，forwhom，queerlyenough，hehadaliking。Theypoundedawayateachother，Bickleyfrequentlygettingthebestofitintheargument，andwhenatlastBastinrosetogo，hegenerallymadethesameremark。Itwas：
　　"Itreallyissad，mydearBickley，tofindamanofyourintellectsoutterlywrongheadedandmisguided。Ihaveconvictedyouoferroratleasthalfadozentimes，andnottoconfessitismerepigheadedness。Goodnight。IamsurethatSarahwillbesittingupforme。"
　　"Sillyoldidiot！"Bickleywouldsay，shakinghisfistafterhim。"Theonlywaytogethimtoseethetruthwouldbetosawhisheadopenandpouritin。"
　　Thenwewouldbothlaugh。
　　Suchweremytwomostintimatefriends，althoughIadmititwasratherliketheequatorcultivatingcloserelationshipswiththenorthandsouthpoles。CertainlyBastinwasasfarfromBickleyasthosepointsoftheearthareapart，whileI。asitwere，satequallydistantbetweenthetwo。However，wewereallveryhappytogether，sinceincertaincharacters，therearefewthingsthatbindmenmorecloselythanprofounddifferencesofopinion。
　　NowImustturntomymorepersonalaffairs。Afterall，itisimpossibleforamantosatisfyhissoul，ifhehasanythingofthesortabouthimwhichintheremotestdegreeanswerstothatdescription，withthehusksofwealth，luxuryandindolence，supplementedbyoccasionaltheologicalandotherargumentsbetweenhisfriends；Becomingprofoundlyconvincedofthistruth，Isearchedroundforsomethingtodoand，likeNoah’sdoveonthewasteofwaters，foundnothing。ThenIaskedBickleyandBastinfortheiropinionsastomybestfuturecourse。Bickleyprovedabarrendraw。HerubbedhisnoseandfeeblysuggestedthatImightgoinfor"researchwork，"which，ofcourse，onlyrepresentedhisownambitions。IaskedhimindignantlyhowIcoulddosuchathingwithoutanyscientificqualificationswhatever。Headmittedthedifficulty，butrepliedthatImightendowotherswhohadthequalifications。
　　"Inshort，becomeamuchcowforsuckingscientists，"I
　　replied，andbrokeofftheconversation。
　　Bastin’sideawas，first，thatIshouldteachinaSundaySchool；secondly，thatifthiscareerdidnotsatisfyallmyaspirations，Imightbeordainedandbecomeamissionary。
　　Onmyrejectionofthisbrilliantadvice，heremarkedthattheonlyotherthinghecouldthinkofwasthatIshouldgetmarriedandhavealargefamily，whichmightpossiblyadvantagethenationandultimatelyenrichtheKingdomofHeaven，thoughofsuchthingsnoonecouldbequitesure。Atanyrate，hewascertainthatatpresentIwasinpracticeneglectingmyduty，whateveritmightbe，andinfactoneofthosecumberersoftheearthwho，heobservedinthenewspaperhetookinandreadwhenhehadtime，were"veryhappilynamed——theidlerich。"
　　"Whichremindsme，"headded，"thattheclothing—clubfinancesareinaperfectlyscandalouscondition；infact，itis？5indebt，anamountthatasthesquireoftheparishIconsideritincumbentonyoutomakegood，notasacharitybutasanobligation。"
　　"Lookhere，myfriend，"Isaid，ignoringalltherest，"willyouanswermeaplainquestion？Haveyoufoundmarriagesuchasuccessthatyouconsiderityourdutytorecommendittoothers？
　　Andifyouhave，whyhaveyounotgotthelargefamilyofwhichyouspeak？"
　　"Ofcoursenot，"herepliedwithhisusualfrankness。"Indeed，itisinmanywayssodisagreeablethatIamconvinceditmustberightandforthegoodofallconcerned。AsregardsthefamilyI
　　amsureIdonotknow，butSarahneverlikedbabies，whichperhapshassomethingtodowithit。"
　　Thenhesighed，adding，"Yousee，Arbuthnot，wehavetotakethingsaswefindtheminthisworldandhopeforabetter。"
　　"WhichisjustwhatIamtryingtodo，youunilluminatingolddonkey！"Iexclaimed，andlefthimthereshakinghisheadovermattersingeneral，butIthinkprincipallyoverSarah。
　　Bytheway，Ithinkthatthevillagersrecognisedthisgoodlady’svinegarynature。Atleast，theyusedtocallher"SourSal。"
　　ChapterIII
　　NatalieNowwhatBastinhadsaidaboutmarriagestuckinmymindashisblunderingremarkshadawayofdoing，perhapsbecauseofthegrainofhonesttruthwithwhichtheywereoftenpermeated。
　　Probablyinmypositionitwasmoreorlessmydutytomarry。Butherecametherub；Ihadneverexperiencedanyleaningsthatway。
　　Iwasasmuchamanasothers，moresothanmanyare，perhaps，andIlikedwomen，butatthesametimetheyrepelledme。
　　Myoldfastidiousnesscamein；tomytastetherewasalwayssomethingwrongaboutthem。Whiletheyattractedonepartofmynaturetheyrevoltedanotherpart，andonthewholeIpreferredtodowithouttheirintimatesociety，ratherthanworkviolencetothissecondandhigherpartofme。Moreover，quiteatthebeginningofmycareerIhadconcludedfromobservationthatamangetsonbetterinlifealone，ratherthanwithanothertodragathisside，orbywhomperhapshemustbedragged。Stilltruemarriage，suchasmostmenandsomewomenhavedreamedofintheiryouth，hadalwaysbeenoneofmyideals；indeeditwasonandaroundthisvisionthatIwrotethatfirstbookofminewhichwassosuccessful。SinceIknewthistobeunattainableinourimperfectconditions，however，notwithstandingBastin’sstrictures，againIdismissedthewholematterfrommymindasavainimagination。
　　AsanalternativeIreflecteduponaparliamentarycareerwhichIwasnottoooldtobegin，andeventoyedwithoneortwoopportunitiesthatofferedthemselves，asthesedotomenofwealthandadvancedviews。Theynevercametoanything，forintheendIdecidedthatPartypoliticsweresohatefulandsodishonest，thatIcouldnotbringmyselftoputmyneckbeneaththeiryoke。IwassurethatifItriedtodoso，IshouldfailmorecompletelythanIhaddoneattheBarandinLiterature。
　　Here，too，IamquitecertainthatIwasright。
　　TheupshotofitallwasthatIsoughtrefugeinthatlastexpedientofwearyEnglishmen，travel，notasaglobe—trotter，butleisurelyandwithaninquiringmind，learningmuchbutagainfinding，liketheancientwriterwhomIhavequotedalready，thatthereisnonewthingunderthesun；thatwithcertainvariationsitisthesamethingoverandoveragain。
　　No，Iwillmakeanexception，theEastdidinterestmeenormously。Thereitwas，atBenares，thatIcameintotouchwithcertainthinkerswhoopenedmyeyestoagreatdeal。Theyreleasedsomehiddenspringinmynaturewhichhithertohadalwaysbeenstrivingtobreakthroughthecrustofourconventionsandinheritedideas。IknownowthatwhatIwasseekingwasnothinglessthantheInfinite；thatIhad"immortallongingsinme。"Ilistenedtoalltheirsolemntalkofepochsandyearsmeasurelesstoman，andreflectedwithathrillthatafterallmanmighthavehispartineveryoneofthem。Yes，thatbirdofpassageasheseemedtobe，flyingoutofdarknessintodarkness，stillhemighthavespreadhiswingsinthelightofothersunsmillionsuponmillionsofyearsago，andmightstillspreadthem，grownradiantandglorious，millionsuponmillionsofyearshenceinatimeunborn。
　　IfonlyIcouldknowthetruth。WasLife（accordingtoBickley）
　　merelyashortactivityboundedbynothingnessbeforeandbehind；
　　or（accordingtoBastin）aconventionalgolden—harpedandhaloedimmortality，awordofwhichhedidnotintheleastunderstandthemeaning？
　　Orwasitsomethingquitedifferentfromeitherofthese，somethingvastandsplendidbeyondthereachofvision，somethingGod—sent，beginningandendingintheEternalAbsoluteandatlastpartakingofHisattributesandnatureandfromaeontoaeonshotthroughwithHislight？Andhowwasthetruthtobelearned？IaskedmyEasternfriends，andtheytalkedvaguelyoflongasceticpreparation，ofyearsuponyearsoflearning，fromwhomIcouldnotquitediscover。Iwassureitcouldnotbefromthem，becauseclearlytheydidnotknow；theyonlypassedonwhattheyhadheardelsewhere，whenorhowtheyeithercouldnotorwouldnotexplain。SoatlengthIgaveitup，havingsatisfiedmyselfthatallthiswasbutaneffortofOrientalimaginationcalledintolifebythesweetinfluencesoftheEasternstars。
　　Igaveitupandwentaway，thinkingthatIshouldforget。ButIdidnotforget。Iwasquickwithanewhope，oratanyratewithanewaspiration，andthatsecretchildofholydesiregrewandgrewwithinmysoul，tillatlengthitflasheduponmethatthissoulofminewasitselfthehiddenMasterfromwhichImustlearnmylesson。NowonderthatthoseEasternfriendscouldnotgivehisname，seeingthatwhatevertheyreallyknew，asdistinguishedfromwhattheyhadheard，anditwaslittleenough，eachofthemhadlearnedfromtheteachingofhisownsoul。
　　Thus，then，Itoobecameadreamerwithonlyonelonging，thelongingforwisdom，forthatspirittouchwhichshouldopenmyeyesandenablemetosee。
　　YetnowithappenedstrangelyenoughthatwhenIseemedwithinmyselftohavelittlefurtherinterestinthethingsoftheworld，andleastofallinwomen，I，whohadtakenanotherguesttodwellwithme，thosethingsoftheworldcamebacktomeandintheshapeofWomantheInevitable。Probablyitwassodecreedsinceisitnotwrittenthatnomancanlivetohimselfalone，orlosehimselfinwatchingandnurturingthegrowthofhisownsoul？
　　Ithappenedthus。IwenttoRomeonmywayhomefromIndia，andstayedthereawhile。OnthedayaftermyarrivalIwrotemynameinthebookofourMinistertoItalyatthattime，SirAlfredUpton，notbecauseIwishedhimtoaskmetodinner，butforthereasonthatIhadheardofhimasamanofarcheologicaltastesandthoughtthathemightenablemetoseethingswhichotherwiseIshouldnotsee。
　　AsitchancedheknewaboutmethroughsomeofmyDevonshireneighbourswhowerefriendsofhis，anddidaskmetodinneronthefollowingnight。Iacceptedandfoundmyselfoneofaconsiderableparty，someofthemdistinguishedEnglishpeoplewhoworeOrders，asiscustomarywhenonedineswiththerepresentativeofourSovereign。Seeingthese，andthisshowsthatinthebestofusvanityisonlylatent，forthefirsttimeinmylifeIwassorrythatIhadnoneandwasonlyplainMr。
　　Arbuthnotwho，asSirAlfredexplainedtomepolitely，mustgointodinnerlast，becausealltheresthadtitles，andwithoutevenaladyastherewasnotonetospare。
　　NorwasmylotbetteredwhenIgotthere，asIfoundmyselfseatedbetweenanItaliancountessandaRussianprince，neitherofwhomcouldtalkEnglish，while，alas，Iknewnoforeignlanguage，notevenFrenchinwhichtheyaddressedme，seemingsurprisedthatIdidnotunderstandthem。Iwashumiliatedatmyownignorance，althoughinfactIwasnotignorant，onlymyeducationhadbeenclassical。IndeedIwasagoodclassicandhadkeptupmyknowledgemoreorless，especiallysinceIbecameanidleman。InmyconfusionitoccurredtomethattheItaliancountessmightknowLatinfromwhichherownlanguagewasderived，andaddressedherinthattongue。Shestared，andSirAlfred，whowasnotfaroffandoverheardme（healsoknewLatin），burstintolaughterandproceededtoexplainthejokeinaloudvoice，firstinFrenchandtheninEnglish，totheassembledcompany，whoallbecameinfectedwithmerrimentandalsostaredatmeasacuriosity。
　　ThenitwasthatforthefirsttimeIsawNatalie，forowingtoamistakeofmydriverIhadarrivedratherlateandhadnotbeenintroducedtoher。Asherfather’sonlydaughter，hermotherbeingdead，shewasseatedattheendofthetablebehindafan—likearrangementofwhiteMadonnalilies，andshehadbentforwardand，liketheothers，waslookingatme，butinsuchafashionthatherheadfromthatdistanceseemedasthoughitweresurroundedandcrownedwithlilies。Indeedthegreatestartcouldnothaveproducedamorebeautifuleffectwhichwas，however，reallyoneofnakedaccident。
　　AnangellookingdownuponearththroughtheliliesofHeaven——thatwastheratherabsurdthoughtwhichflashedintomymind。Ididnotquiterealiseherfaceatfirstexceptthatitseemedtobebothdarkandfair；asafactherwavinghairwhichgrewratherlowuponherforehead，wasdark，andherlarge，softeyesweregrey。Ididnotknow，andtothismomentIdonotknowifshewasreallybeautiful，butcertainlythelightthatshonethroughthoseeyesofhersandseemedtobereflecteduponherdelicatefeatures，wasbeautyitself。Itwaslikethatglowingthroughathinvaseofthepurestalabasterwithinwhichalampisplaced，andIfeltthiseffecttoarisefromnochance，likethatofthelily—setting，but，asitwere，fromthelampofthespiritwithin。
　　Oureyesmet，andIsupposethatshesawthewonderandadmirationinmine。Atanyrateheramusedsmilefaded，leavingthefaceratherserious，thoughstillsweetlyserious，andatingeofcolourcreptoveritasthefirsthueofdawncreepsintoapearlysky。ThenshewithdrewherselfbehindthescreenofliliesandfortherestofthatdinnerwhichIthoughtwasnevercomingtoanend，practicallyIsawhernomore。OnlyInotedasshepassedoutthatalthoughnottall，shewasroundedandgracefulinshapeandthatherhandswerepeculiarlydelicate。
　　Afterwardsinthedrawing—roomherfather，withwhomIhadtalkedatthetable，introducedmetoher，saying：
　　"Mydaughteristherealarchaeologist，Mr。Arbuthnot，andI
　　thinkifyouaskher，shemaybeabletohelpyou。"
　　Thenhebustledawaytospeaktosomeofhisimportantguests，fromwhomIthinkhewasseekingpoliticalinformation。
　　"Myfatherexaggerates，"shesaidinasoftandverysympatheticvoice，"butperhaps"——andshemotionedmetoaseatatherside。
　　ThenwetalkedoftheplacesandthingsthatImoreparticularlydesiredtoseeand，well，theendofitwasthatI
　　wentbacktomyhotelinlovewithNatalie；andassheafterwardsconfessed，shewenttobedinlovewithme。
　　Itwasacuriousbusiness，morelikemeetingaveryoldfriendfromwhomonehadbeenseparatedbycircumstancesforascoreofyearsorsothananythingelse。Wewere，sotospeak，intimatefromthefirst；weknewallabouteachother，althoughhereandtherewassomethingnew，somethingdifferentwhichwecouldnotremember，linesofthought，veinsofmemorywhichwedidnotpossessincommon。OnonepointIamabsolutelyclear：itwasnotsolelytheeverydayandancientappealofwomantomanandmantowomanwhichdrewustogether，thoughdoubtlessthishaditspartinourattachmentasunderourhumanconditionsitmustdo，seeingthatitisNature’sbaittoensurethecontinuanceoftherace。Itwassomethingmore，somethingquitebeyondthatelementaryimpulse。