第5章

Butherememberedagreeablyherwhiteshouldersandthatturnofherneckwhenshelookedatyouwiththosebiggreyeyesofhers。Onlyafive—dayacquaintanceship，buttheyhadcrowdedmuchintoitasonedidinastrangeland。Theepisodehadbeenagreenanddangerousspot，likeoneofthosebrightmossybitsofbogwhenyouweresnipe—

shooting，tosetfootonwhichwastoletyoudownuptotheneck，atleast。Well，therewasnoneofthatdangernow，forherhusbandwasdead—poorchap！Itwouldbenice，inthesedismaldays，whennobodyspentanytimewhateverexceptintheserviceofthecountry，toimprovehispowersofservicebyafewhours’recreationinhersociety。’Whathumbugsweare！’hethought:’Toreadthenewspapersandthespeechesyou’dbelieveeverybodythoughtofnothingbuthowtogetkilledforthesakeofthefuture。Drunkonverbiage！WhatheadsandmouthsweshallallhavewhenwewakeupsomefinemorningwithPeaceshininginatthewindow！Ah！Ifonlywecould;andenjoyourselvesagain！’Andhegazedatthemoon。Shewasdippingalready，reelingawayintothedawn。Watercartsandstreetsweepershadcomeoutintotheglimmer;sparrowstwitteredintheeaves。Thecitywasraisingastrangeunknownfacetothegreylight，shutteredanddesertedasBabylon。JimmyForttappedouthispipe，sighed，andgotintobed。

2

Comingoffdutyatthatverymoment，LeilaLynchdecidedtohaveherhour’swalkbeforeshewenthome。Shewasinchargeoftwowards，andasaruletookthedaywatches;butsomeslightupsethadgivenherthisextraspell。Shewas，therefore，atherworst，orperhapsatherbest，aftereighteenhoursinhospital。Hercheekswerepale，andabouthereyeswerelittlelines，normallyinhiding。Therewasinthisfaceapuzzlingblendofthesoftandhard，fortheeyes，theratherfulllips，andpalecheeks，werenaturallysoft;buttheywerehardenedbytheself—containmentwhichgrowsonwomenwhohavetofacelifeforthemselves，and，consciousofbeauty，intendtokeepit，inspiteofage。Herfigurewascontradictory，also;itssoftmodellingalittletoorigidifiedbystays。Inthisdesertofthedawnsheletherlongblueovercoatflaploose，andswungherhatonafinger，sothatherlight—brown，touched—uphairtookthemorningbreezewithfluffyfreedom。Thoughshecouldnotseeherself，sheappreciatedherappearance，swayingalonglikethat，pastlonelytreesandhouses。ApitytherewasnoonetoseeherinthatroundofRegent’sPark，whichtookherthebestpartofanhour，walkinginmeditation，enjoyingthecolourcomingbackintotheworld，asifespeciallyforher。

TherewascharacterinLeilaLynch，andshehadlivedaninterestinglifefromacertainpointofview。InhergirlhoodshehadflutteredtheheartsofmanybesidesCousinEdwardPierson，andateighteenhadmadeapassionatelovematchwithagood—lookingyoungIndiancivilian，namedFane。Theyhadlovedeachothertoastandstillintwelvemonths。Thenhadbegunfiveyearsofpetulance，boredom，andgrowingcynicism，withincreasingspellsofSimla，andvoyageshomeforherhealthwhichwasreallyharmedbytheheat。Allhadculminated，ofcourse，inanotherpassionforariflemancalledLynch。Divorcehadfollowed，remarriage，andthentheBoerWar，inwhichhehadbeenbadlywounded。Shehadgoneoutandnursedhimbacktohalfhisrobusthealth，and，attwenty—eight，takenuplifewithhimonanup—countryfarminCapeColony。Thismiddleperiodhadlastedtenyears，betweenthelonelyfarmandanoldDutchhouseatHighConstantia。Lynchwasnotabadfellow，but，likemostsoldiersoftheoldArmy，hadbeenquitecarefullydivestedofanaestheticsense。AnditwasLeila’smisfortunetohavemomentswhenaestheticsenseseemednecessary。Shehadstruggledtoovercomethisweakness，andthatotherweaknessofhers——alikingformen’sadmiration;buttherehadcertainlybeenintervalswhenshehadnotproperlysucceeded。HeracquaintancewithJimmyForthadoccurredduringoneoftheseintervals，andwhenhewentbacktoEnglandsoabruptly，shehadbeenfeelingverytenderlytowardshim。Shestillrememberedhimwithacertainpleasure。BeforeLynchdied，these"intervals"hadbeeninterruptedbyaspellofreturningwarmthfortheinvalidedmantowhomshehadjoinedherlifeundertheromanticconditionsofdivorce。Hehadfailed，ofcourse，asafarmer，andhisdeathleftherwithnothingbutherownsettledincomeofahundredandfiftypoundsayear。Facedbytheprospectofhavingalmosttomakeherliving，atthirty—eight，shefeltbutmomentarydismay——forshehadrealpluck。Likemanywhohaveplayedwithamateurtheatricals，shefanciedherselfasanactress;but，aftermucheffort，foundthatonlyhervoiceandtheperfectpreservationofherlegswereappreciatedbythediscerningmanagersandpublicofSouthAfrica;andforthreechequeredyearsshemadefaceagainstfortunewiththehelpofthem，underanassumedname。Whatshedid——keepingacertainbloomofrefinement，wasfarbetterthantheachievementsofmanymorerespectableladiesinhershoes。Atleastsheneverbemoanedher"reducedcircumstances，"andifherlifewasirregularandhadatleastthreeepisodes，itwasveryhuman。Shebravelytooktheroughwiththesmooth，neverlostthepowerofenjoyingherself，andgrewinsympathywiththehardshipsofothers。

Butshebecamedeadlytired。Whenthewarbrokeout，rememberingthatshewasagoodnurse，shetookherrealnameagainandachangeofoccupation。Foronewholikedtopleasemen，andtobepleasedbythem，therewasacertainattractionaboutthatlifeinwar—time;andaftertwoyearsofitshecouldstillappreciatethewayherTommiesturnedtheirheadstolookatherwhenshepassedtheirbeds。Butinahardschoolshehadlearnedperfectself—control;andthoughthesourandpuritanicalperceivedherattraction，theyknewhertobeforty—three。Besides，thesoldierslikedher;andtherewaslittletroubleinherwards。Thewarmovedherinsimpleways;forshewaspatrioticinthedirectfashionofherclass。Herfatherhadbeenasailor，herhusbandsanofficialandasoldier;theissueforherwasuncomplicatedbyanyabstractmeditation。TheCountrybeforeeverything！Andthoughshehadtendedduringthosetwoyearssomanyyoungwreckedbodies，shehadtakenitasallintheaday’swork，lavishinghersympathyontheindividual，withoutmuchgeneralsenseofpityandwaste。Yes，shehadworkedreallyhard，had"doneherbit";butoflateshehadfeltrisingwithinhertheoldvaguecravingfor"life，"forpleasure，forsomethingmorethanthemerenegativeadmirationbestowedonherbyher"Tommies。"Thoseoldletters——tolookthemthroughthemhadbeenasuresignofthisvaguecraving——hadsharpenedtopoignancythefeelingthatlifewasslippingawayfromherwhileshewasstillcomely。ShehadbeenlongoutofEngland，andsohard—workedsinceshecamebackthattherewerenotmanythreadsshecouldpickupsuddenly。Twolettersoutofthatlittlebudgetofthepast，withafarcrybetweenthem，hadawakenedwithinhercertainsentimentallongings。

"DEARLADYOFTHESTARRYFLOWERS，"Exiturus（sic）tosaluto！Thetendercarriesyouthismessageofgood—bye。Simplyspeaking，IhateleavingSouthAfrica。Andofallmymemories，thelastwilllivethelongest。GrapeharvestatConstantia，andyousinging:’IfIcouldbethefallingdew:IfeveryouandyourhusbandcometoEngland，doletmeknow，thatImaytryandrepayalittlethehappiestfivedaysI’vespentouthere。

"Yourveryfaithfulservant，"TIMMYFORT。"

Sherememberedaverybrownface，atallslimfigure，andsomethinggallantaboutthewholeofhim。Whatwashelikeaftertenyears？

Grizzled，married，withalargefamily？Anodiousthing——Time！AndCousinEdward’slittleyellowletter。

Goodheavens！Twenty—sixyearsago——beforehewasaparson，ormarriedoranything！Suchagoodpartner，reallymusical;aqueer，dearfellow，devoted，absentminded，easilyshocked，yetwithflameburninginhimsomewhere。

’DEARLEILA，"AfterourlastdanceIwentstraightoff’——Icouldn’tgoin。Iwentdowntotheriver，andwalkedalongthebank;itwasbeautiful，allgreyandhazy，andthetreeswhispered，andthecowslookedholy;andIwalkedalongandthoughtofyou。Andafarmertookmeforalunatic，inmydressclothes。DearLeila，youweresoprettylastnight，andIdidloveourdances。Ihopeyouarenottired，andthatIshallseeyousoonagain:

"Youraffectionatecousin，"EDWARDPIERSON。"

Andthenhehadgoneandbecomeaparson，andmarried，andbeenawidowerfifteenyears。Sherememberedthedeathofhiswife，justbeforesheleftforSouthAfrica，atthatperiodofdisgracewhenshehadsoshockedherfamilybyherdivorce。PoorEdward——quitethenicestofhercousins！Theonlyoneshewouldcaretoseeagain。Hewouldbeveryoldandterriblygoodandproper，bynowHerwheelofRegent’sParkwascomingfullcircle，andthesunwasupbehindthehouses，butstillnosoundoftrafficstirred。Shestoppedbeforeaflower—bedwherewassomeheliotrope，andtookalong，luxurioussniff:Shecouldnotresistpluckingasprig，too，andholdingittohernose。Asuddenwantoflovehadrunthrougheverynerveandfibreofher;sheshivered，standingtherewithhereyeshalfclosed，abovethepalevioletblossom。Then，notingbyherwrist—watchthatitwasfouro’clock，shehurriedon，togettoherbed，forshewouldhavetobeondutyagainatnoon。Oh！thewar！

Shewastired！Ifonlyitwereover，andonecouldlive！……

SomewherebyTwickenhamthemoonhadfloateddown;somewhereupfromKentishTownthesuncamesoaring;wheelsrolledagain，andthesevenmillionsleepersintheirmillionhouseswokefrommorningsleeptothatsamethought……

IX

EdwardPierson，dreamingoveraneggatbreakfast，openedaletterinahandwritingwhichhedidnotrecognise。

"V。A。D。Hospital，"MulberryRoad，St。John’sWoodN。W。

"DEARCOUSINEDWARD，"Doyourememberme，orhaveIgonetoofarintotheshadesofnight？

IwasLeilaPiersononceuponatime，andIoftenthinkofyouandwonderwhatyouarelikenow，andwhatyourgirlsarelike。Ihavebeenherenearlyayear，workingforourwounded，andforayearbeforethatwasnursinginSouthAfrica。Myhusbanddiedfiveyearsagooutthere。Thoughwehaven’tmetforIdarenotthinkhowlong，Ishouldawfullyliketoseeyouagain。Wouldyoucaretocomesomedayandlookovermyhospital？Ihavetwowardsunderme;ourmenareratherdears。

"Yourforgottenbutstillaffectionatecousin"LEILALYNCH。"

"P。S。Icameacrossalittleletteryouoncewroteme;itbroughtbackolddays。"

No！Hehadnotforgotten。Therewasareminderinthehouse。AndhelookedupatNoelsittingopposite。Howliketheeyeswere！Andhethought:’IwonderwhatLeilahasbecome。Onemustn’tbeuncharitable。Thatmanisdead;shehasbeennursingtwoyears。Shemustbegreatlychanged;Ishouldcertainlyliketoseeher。Iwillgo！’AgainhelookedatNoel。Onlyyesterdayshehadrenewedherrequesttobeallowedtobeginhertrainingasanurse。

"I’mgoingtoseeahospitalto—day，Nollie，"hesaid;"ifyoulike，I’llmakeenquiries。I’mafraidit’llmeanyouhavetobeginbywashingup。"

"Iknow;anything，solongasIdobegin。"

"Verywell;I’llseeaboutit。"Andhewentbacktohisegg。

Noel’svoicerousedhim。"Doyoufeelthewarmuch，Daddy？Doesithurtyouhere？"Shehadputherhandonherheart。"Perhapsitdoesn’t，becauseyoulivehalfinthenextworld，don’tyou？"

Thewords:"Godforbid，"sprangtoPierson’slips;hedidnotspeakthem，butputhisegg—spoondown，hurtandbewildered。Whatdidthechildmean？Notfeelthewar！Hesmiled。

"IhopeI’mabletohelppeoplesometimes，Nollie，"andwasconsciousthathehadansweredhisownthoughts，notherwords。Hefinishedhisbreakfastquickly，andverysoonwentout。HecrossedtheSquare，andpassedEast，downtwocrowdedstreetstohischurch。Inthetrafficofthosestreets，allslipshodandconfused，hisblack—

clothedfigureandgraveface，withitsVandykbeard，hadacuriousremoteappearance，likeamovingremnantofapastcivilisation。Hewentinbythesidedoor。Onlyfivedayshehadbeenaway，buttheyhadbeensofullofemotionthattheemptyfamiliarbuildingseemedalmoststrangetohim。Hehadcomethereunconsciously，gropingforanchorageandguidanceinthissuddenchangeofrelationshipbetweenhimandhisdaughters。Hestoodbythepalebrazeneagle，staringintothechancel。Thechoirwerewantingnewhymn—books——hemustnotforgettoorderthem！Hiseyessoughtthestained—glasswindowhehadputintothememoryofhiswife。Thesun，toohightoslant，wasburnishingitsbase，tillitglowedofadeepsherrycolour。"Inthenextworld！"WhatstrangewordsofNoel’s！Hiseyescaughttheglimmeroftheorgan—pipes;and，mountingtotheloft，hebegantoplaysoftchordswanderingintoeachother。Hefinished，andstoodgazingdown。Thisspacewithinhighwalls，underhighvaultedroof，wherelightwastonedtoaperpetualtwilight，brokenhereandtherebyalittleglowofcolourfromglassandflowers，metal，anddarkwood，washishome，hischarge，hisrefuge。Nothingmoveddownthere，andyet——wasnotemptinessmysteriouslyliving，theclosed—inairimprintedinstrangesort，asthoughthedroneofmusicandvoicesinprayerandpraiseclungtherestill？Hadnotsanctityapresence？Outside，abarrel—organdroveitstunealong;awagonstaggeredonthepavedstreet，andthedrivershoutedtohishorses;

somedistantgunsboomedoutinpractice，andtherollingofwheelsonwheelsformedanetofsound。Butthoseinvadingnoisesweretransmutedtoameremurmuringinhere;onlythesilenceandthetwilightwererealtoPierson，standingthere，alittleblackfigureinagreatemptyspace。

Whenheleftthechurch，itwasstillratherearlytogotoLeila’shospital;and，havingorderedthenewhymn—books，hecalledinatthehouseofaparishionerwhosesonhadbeenkilledinFrance。Hefoundherinherkitchen;anoldishwomanwholivedbycharing。ShewipedaseatfortheVicar。

"Iwasjustmakin’meselfacupo’tea，sir。"

"Ah！Whatacomfortteais，Mrs。Soles！"Andhesatdown，sothatsheshouldfeel"athome。"

"Yes;itgivesme’eart—burn;Itakeeightortencupsaday，now。I

take’emstrong，too。Idon’tseemabletogetonwithoutit。I

’opetheyoungladiesarewell，sir？"

"Verywell，thankyou。MissNoelisgoingtobeginnursing，too。"

"Deary—me！She’sveryyoung;butalltheyounggellsaredoin’

somethingthesedays。I’vegotanieceinmunitions—makin’aprettypennysheis。I’vebeenmeanin’totellyou——Idon’tcometochurchnow;sincemysonwaskilled，Idon’tseemto’avethe’earttogoanywhere——’aven’tbeentoapicture—palacethesethreemonths。Anyexcitementstartsmecryin’。"

"Iknow;butyou’dfindrestinchurch。"

Mrs。Solesshookherhead，andthesmalltwistedbobofherdiscolouredhairwobbledvaguely。

"Ican’ttakeanyrecreation，"shesaid。"I’drathersit’ere，orbeatwork。Mysonwasarealsontome。Thistea’stheonlythingthatdoesmeanygood。Icanmakeyouafreshcupinaminute。"

"Thankyou，Mrs。Soles，butImustbegettingon。Wemustalllookforwardtomeetingourbelovedagain，inGod’smercy。AndoneofthesedayssoonIshallbeseeingyouinchurch，shan’tI。

Mrs。Solesshiftedherweightfromoneslipperedfoottotheother。

"Well！let’s’opeso，"shesaid。"ButIdunnowhenIshall’avethespirit。Goodday，sir，andthankyoukindlyforcalling，I’msure。"

Piersonwalkedawaywithaveryfaintsmile。Poorqueeroldsoul！

——shewasnoolderthanhimself，buthethoughtofherasancient——cutofffromherson，likesomany——somany;andhowgoodandpatient！Themelodyofananthembeganrunninginhishead。Hisfingersmovedontheairbesidehim，andhestoodstill，waitingforanomnibustotakehimtoSt。John’sWood。Athousandpeoplewentbywhilehewaswaiting，buthedidnotnoticethem，thinkingofthatanthem，ofhisdaughters，andthemercyofGod;andonthetopofhis’bus，whenitcamealong，helookedlonelyandapart，thoughthemanbesidehimwassofatthattherewashardlyanyseatlefttositon。

GettingdownatLord’sCricket—ground，heaskedhiswayofaladyinanurse’sdress。

"Ifyou’llcomewithme，"shesaid，"I’mjustgoingthere。"

"Oh！DoyouhappentoknowaMrs。Lynchwhonurses"

"IamMrs。Lynch。Why，you’reEdwardPierson！"

Helookedintoherface，whichhehadnotyetobserved。

"Leila！"hesaid。

"Yes，Leila！Howawfullyniceofyoutocome，Edward！"

Theycontinuedtostand，searchingeachfortheother’syouth，tillshemurmured:

"Inspiteofyourbeard，Ishouldhaveknownyouanywhere！"Butshethought:’PoorEdward！Heisold，andmonk—like！’

AndPierson，inanswer，murmured:

"You’reverylittlechanged，Leila！Wehaven’t，seeneachothersincemyyoungestgirlwasborn。She’sjustalittlelikeyou。"Buthethought:’MyNollie！Somuchmoredewy;poorLeila！’

Theywalkedon，talkingofhisdaughters，tilltheyreachedthehospital。

"Ifyou’llwaithereaminute，I’lltakeyouovermywards。"

Shehadlefthiminabarehall，holdinghishatinonehandandtouchinghisgoldcrosswiththeother;butshesooncamehack，andalittlewarmthcreptabouthisheart。Howworksofmercysuitedwomen！Shelookedsodifferent，somuchsofter，beneaththewhitecoif，withawhiteapronoverthebluishfrock。

Atthechangeinhisface，alittlewarmthcreptaboutLeila，too，justwherethebibofherapronstopped;andhereyesslidroundathimwhiletheywenttowardswhathadoncebeenabilliard—room。

"Mymenaredears，"shesaid;"theylovetobetalkedto。"

Underaskylightsixbedsjuttedoutfromagreendistemperedwall，oppositetosixbedsjuttingoutfromanothergreendistemperedwall，andfromeachbedafacewasturnedtowardsthemyoungfaces，withbutlittleexpressioninthem。Anurse，atthefarend，lookedround，andwentonwithherwork。ThesightofthewardwasnomorenewtoPiersonthantoanyoneelseinthesedays。Itwassofamiliar，indeed，thatithadpracticallynosignificance。Hestoodbythefirstbed，andLeilastoodalongside。Themansmiledupwhenshespoke，anddidnotsmilewhenhespoke，andthatagainwasfamiliartohim。Theypassedfrombedtobed，withexactlythesameresult，tillshewascalledaway，andhesatdownbyayoungsoldierwithalong，verynarrowheadandface，andaheavilybandagedshoulder。Touchingthebandagereverently，Piersonsaid:

"Well，mydearfellow—stillbad？"

"Ah！"repliedthesoldier。"Shrapnelwound:It’scutthefleshproperly。"

"Butnotthespirit，Icansee！"

Theyoungsoldiergavehimaquaintlook，asmuchastosay:"Not’arfbad！"andagramophoneclosetothelastbedbegantoplay:

"GodblessDaddyatthewar！"

"Areyoufondofmusic？"

"Ilikeitwellenough。Passesthetime。"

"I’mafraidthetimehangsheavyinhospital。"

"Yes;ithangsabit’eavy;it’sjust’orspitallife。I’vebeenwoundedbefore，yousee。It’sbetterthanbein’outthere。IexpectI’lllosetheproperuseo’thisarm。Idon’tworry;I’llgetmydischarge。"

"You’vegotsomegoodnurseshere。"

"Yes;IlikeMrs。Lynch;she’stheladyIlike。"

"Mycousin。"

"Iseeyoucomeintogether。Iseeeverything’ere。Ithinkalot，too。Passesthetime。"

"Dotheyletyousmoke？"

"Oh，yes！Theyletussmoke。"

"Haveoneofmine？"

Theyoungsoldiersmiledforthefirsttime。"Thankyou;I’vegotplenty。"

Thenursecameby，andsmiledatPierson。

"He’soneofourblaseones;beeninbefore，haven’tyou，Simson？"

Piersonlookedattheyoungman，whoselong，narrowface;whereonesandy—lashedeyeliddroopedjustalittle，seemedarmouredwithasortoflimitedomniscience。Thegramophonehadwhirredandgruntedinto"SidiBrahim。"Thenursepassedon。

"’SeedyAbram，’"saidtheyoungsoldier。"TheFrenchiessingit;

theytakesituponeaftertheother，yeknow。"

"Ah！"murmuredPierson;"it’spretty。"Andhisfingersdrummedonthecounterpane，forthetunewasnewtohim。Somethingseemedtomoveintheyoungman’sface，asifablindhadbeendrawnupalittle。

"Idon’tmindFrance，"hesaidabruptly;"Idon’tmindtheshellsandthat;butIcan’tstickthemud。There’saloto’woundeddieinthemud;can’tgetup——smothered。"Hisunwoundedarmmadearestlessmovement。"Iwasnearlysmotheredmyself。Justmanagedtokeepmenoseup。"

Piersonshuddered。"ThankGodyoudid！"

"Yes;Ididn’tlikethat。ItoldMrs。LynchaboutthatonedaywhenIhadthefever。She’sanicelady;she’sseenalotofusboys:

Thatmud’snotright，youknow。"Andagainhisunwoundedarmmadethatrestlessmovement;whilethegramophonestruckup:"Theboysinbrown。"ThemovementofthearmaffectedPiersonhorribly;heroseand，touchingthebandagedshoulder，said:

"Good—bye;Ihopeyou’llsoonbequiterecovered。"

Theyoungsoldier’slipstwistedinthesemblanceofasmile;hisdroopedeyelidseemedtotryandraiseitself。

"Goodday，sir，"hesaid;"andthankyou。"

Piersonwentbacktothehall。Thesunlightfellinapooljustinsidetheopendoor，andanuncontrollableimpulsemadehimmoveintoit，sothatitwarmedhimuptothewaist。Themud！Howuglylifewas！LifeandDeath！Bothugly！Poorboys！Poorboys！

Avoicebehindhimsaid:

"Oh！Thereyouare，Edward！Wouldyouliketoseetheotherward，orshallIshowyouourkitchen？"

Piersontookherhandimpulsively。"You’redoinganoblework，Leila。Iwantedtoaskyou:CouldyouarrangeforNoeltocomeandgettrainedhere？Shewantstobeginatonce。Thefactis，aboysheisattractedtohasjustgoneouttotheFront。"

"Ah！"murmuredLeila，andhereyeslookedverysoft。"Poorchild！

Weshallbewantinganextrahandnextweek。I’llseeifshecouldcomenow。I’llspeaktoourMatron，andletyouknowto—night。"Shesqueezedhishandhard。

"DearEdward，I’msogladtoseeyouagain。You’rethefirstofourfamilyI’veseenforsixteenyears。Iwonderifyou’dbringNoeltohavesupperatmyflatto—night——Justnothingtoeat，youknow！It’satinyplace。There’saCaptainFortcoming;aniceman。"

Piersonaccepted，andashewalkedawayhethought:’DearLeila！

IbelieveitwasProvidence。Shewantssympathy。Shewantstofeelthepastisthepast。Howgoodwomenare！’

Andthesun，blazingsuddenlyoutofacloud，shoneonhisblackfigureandthelittlegoldcross，inthemiddleofPortlandPlace。

X

Men，eveniftheyarenotartistic，whohavebeeninstrangeplacesandknownmanynooksoftheworld，getthescenichabit，becomeopentopictorialsensation。ItwasasapictureorseriesofpicturesthatJimmyForteverafterwardsrememberedhisfirstsupperatLeila’s。Hehappenedtohavebeenalldayintheopen，motoringabouttohorsefarmsunderahotsun;andLeila’shockcuppossessedablandandsubtlestrength。Thescenicsensederivedtherefromhadacertainpoignancy，themoresobecausethetallchildwhomhemettheredidnotdrinkit，andherfatherseemedbuttowethislips，sothatLeilaandhehadalltherest。Ratherawonderfullittlesceneitmadeinhismind，verywarm，glowing，yetwithastrangedarksharpnesstoit，whichcameperhapsfromtheblackwalls。

Theflathadbelongedtoanartistwhowasatthewar。Itwasbutapocketdwellingonthethirdfloor。Thetwowindowsofthelittlesquaresitting—roomlookedoutonsometreesandachurch。ButLeila，whohateddiningbydaylight，hadsoondrawncurtainsofadeepblueoverthem。ThepicturewhichFortrememberedwasthis:A

littlefour—squaretableofdarkwood，withaChinesematofvividblueinthecentre，whereonstoodasilverlustrebowlofclovecarnations;somegreenishglasseswithhockcupinthem;onhisleft，Leilainalowlilacfrock，herneckandshouldersverywhite，herfacealittlepowdered，hereyeslarge，herlipssmiling;oppositehimablack—clothedpadrewithalittlegoldcross，overwhosethindarkishface，withitsgravepointedbeard，passedlittlegentlesmiles，butwhosedeepsunkgreyeyeswereburntandbright;onhisright，agirlinahighgreyfrock，almostwhite，justhollowedattheneck，withfullsleevestotheelbow，sothatherslimarmsescaped;hershortfairhairalittletumbled;herbiggreyeyesgrave;herfulllipsshapingwithastrangedaintinessroundeveryword——andtheynotmany;brilliantredshadesovergoldenlightsdottingtheblackwalls;abluedivan;alittleblackpianoflushwiththewall;adarkpolishedfloor;fourJapaneseprints;awhiteceiling。HewasconsciousthathisownkhakispoiledsomethingascuriousandrareassomeoldChinesetea—chest。Heevenrememberedwhattheyate;lobster;coldpigeonpie;asparagus;St。Ivelcheese;

raspberriesandcream。Hedidnotrememberhalfsowellwhattheytalkedof，exceptthathehimselftoldthemstoriesoftheBoerWar，inwhichhehadservedintheYeomanry，andwhilehewastellingthem，thegirl，likeachildlisteningtoafairy—tale，nevermovedhereyesfromhisface。Herememberedthataftersuppertheyallsmokedcigarettes，eventhetallchild，afterthepadrehadsaidtohermildly，"Mydear！"andshehadanswered:"Isimplymust，Daddy，justone。"HerememberedLeilabrewingTurkishcoffee——verygood，andhowbeautifulherwhitearmslooked，hoveringaboutthecups。Herememberedhermakingthepadresitdownatthepiano，andplaytothem。Andsheandthegirlonthedivantogether，sidebyside，astrangecontrast;withjustasstrangealikenesstoeachother。Healwaysrememberedhowfineandrarethatmusicsoundedinthelittleroom，floodinghimwithadreamybeatitude。Then——heremembered——

Leilasang，thepadrestanding—by;andthetallchildonthedivanbendingforwardoverherknees，withherchinonherhands。HerememberedrathervividlyhowLeilaturnedherneckandlookedup，nowatthepadre，nowathimself;and，allthrough，thedelightfulsenseofcolourandwarmth，asortofglamouroveralltheevening;

andthelingeringpressureofLeila’shandwhenhesaidgood—byeandtheywentaway，fortheyallwenttogether。Herememberedtalkingagreatdealtothepadreinthecab，aboutthepublicschooltheyhadbothbeenat，andthinking:’It’sagoodpadre——this！’HerememberedhowtheirtaxitookthemtoanoldSquarewhichhedidnotknow，wherethegardentreeslookeddenselyblackinthestarshine。Herememberedthatamanoutsidethehousehadengagedthepadreinearnesttalk，whilethetallchildandhimselfstoodintheopendoorway，wherethehallbeyondwasdark。Veryexactlyherememberedthelittleconversationwhichthentookplacebetweenthem，whiletheywaitedforherfather。

"Isitveryhorridinthetrenches，CaptainFort？"

"Yes，MissPierson;itisveryhorrid，asarule。"

"Isitdangerousallthetime？"

"Prettywell。"

"Doofficersrunmorerisksthanthemen？"

"Notunlessthere’sanattack。"

"Arethereattacksveryoften？"

Ithadseemedtohimsostrangelyprimitivealittlecatechism，thathehadsmiled。And，thoughitwassodark，shehadseenthatsmile，forherfacewentproudandcloseallofasudden。Hehadcursedhimself，andsaidgently:

"Haveyouabrotheroutthere？"

Sheshookherhead。

"Butsomeone？"

"Yes。"

Someone！Hehadheardthatanswerwithalittleshock。Thischild——