第11章

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。