VI
　　1
　　Piersonwentbacktohisstudy，andwrotetoGratian。
　　"Ifyoucangetleaveforafewdays，mydear，Iwantyouathome。I
　　amtroubledaboutNollie。Eversincethatdisasterhappenedtohershehasbeengettingpaler;andto—dayshefainted。Shewon’tseeadoctor，butperhapsyoucouldgethertoseeGeorge。Ifyoucomeup，hewillsurelybeabletorunuptousforadayortwo。Ifnot，youmusttakeherdowntohimatthesea。IhavejustseenthenewsofyoursecondcousinCharliePierson’sdeath;hewaskilledinoneofthelastattacksontheSomme;hewasnephewofmycousinLeilawhom，asyouknow，Noelseeseverydayatherhospital。BertramhastheD。S。O。Ihavebeenlesshard—pressedlately;LauderhasbeenhomeonleaveandhastakensomeServicesforme。Andnowthecolderweatherhascome，Iamfeelingmuchfresher。Tryyourbesttocome。
　　Iamseriouslyconcernedforourbelovedchild。
　　"Youraffectionatefather"EDWARDPIERSON。"
　　Gratianansweredthatshecouldgetweek—endleave，andwouldcomeonFriday。Hemetheratthestation，andtheydrovethencestraighttothehospital，topickupNoel。Leilacametotheminthewaiting—
　　room，andPierson，thinkingtheywouldtalkmorefreelyaboutNoel’shealthifheleftthem，alone，wentintotherecreationroom，andstoodwatchingagameofbagatellebetweentwoconvalescents。Whenhereturnedtothelittlesitting—roomtheywerestillstandingbythehearth，talkinginlowvoices。Gratianmustsurelyhavebeenstoopingoverthefire，forherfacewasred，almostswollen，andhereyeslookedasifshehadscorchedthem。
　　Leilasaidlightly:
　　"Well，Edward，aren’tthemendelightful？Whenarewegoingtoanotherconcerttogether？"
　　She，too，wasflushedandlookingalmostyoung。
　　"Ah！Ifwecoulddothethingswewantto。
　　"That’sverypretty，Edward;butyoushould，youknow——foratonic。"
　　Heshookhisheadandsmiled。
　　"You’reatemptress，Leila。WillyouletNollieknow，please，thatwecantakeherbackwithus？Canyouletheroffto—morrow？"
　　"Foraslongasyoulike;shewantsarest。I’vebeentalkingtoGratian。Weoughtn’ttohavelethergoonafterashocklikethat——myfault，I’mafraid。Ithoughtthatworkmightbebest。"
　　PiersonwasconsciousofGratianwalkingpasthimoutoftheroom。
　　HeheldouthishandtoLeila，andfollowed。Asmallnoiseoccurredbehindhimsuchasawomanmakeswhenshehasputafootthroughherownskirt，orhasotherpowerfulcausefordismay。ThenhesawNoelinthehall，andwasvaguelyawareofbeingthecentreofatriangleofwomenwhoseeyeswereplayingcatch—glance。Hisdaughterskissedeachother;andhebecameseatedbetweentheminthetaxi。Themostunobservantofmen，hepartedfromtheminthehallwithouthavingperceivedanythingexceptthattheywererathersilent;and，goingtohisstudy，hetookupaLifeofSirThomasMore。TherewasapassagethereinwhichheitchedtoshowGeorgeLaird，whowascomingupthatevening。
　　GratianandNoelhadmountedthestairswithlipstightset，andeyesaverted;bothwereverypale。WhentheyreachedthedoorofGratian’sroomtheroomwhichhadbeentheirmother’s——Noelwasforpassingon，butGratiancaughtherbythearm，andsaid:"Comein。"
　　Thefirewasburningbrightlyinthere，andthetwosistersstoodinfrontofit，oneoneachside，theirhandsclutchingthemantel—
　　shelf，staringattheflames。AtlastNoelputonehandinfrontofhereyes，andsaid:
　　"Iaskedhertotellyou。"
　　Gratianmadethemovementofonewhoisgrippedbytwostrongemotions，andlongstosurrendertooneortotheother。
　　"It’stoohorrible，"wasallshesaid。
　　Noelturnedtowardsthedoor。
　　"Stop，Nollie！"
　　Noelstoppedwithherhandonthedoorknob。"Idon’twanttobeforgivenandsympathisedwith。Ijustwanttobeletalone。"
　　"Howcanyoubeletalone？"
　　ThetideofmiserysurgedupinNoel，andshecriedoutpassionately:
　　"Ihatesympathyfrompeoplewhocan’tunderstand。Idon’twantanyone’s。Icanalwaysgoaway，andlosemyself。"
　　Thewords"can’tunderstand"gaveGratianashock。
　　"Icanunderstand，"shesaid。
　　"Youcan’t;youneversawhim。Youneversaw——"herlipsquiveredsothatshehadtostopandbitethem，tokeepbackarushoftears。
　　"Besidesyouwouldneverhavedoneityourself。"
　　Gratianwenttowardsher，butstopped，andsatdownonthebed。Itwastrue。Shewouldneverhavedoneitherself;itwasjustthatwhich，forallherlongingtohelphersister，icedherloveandsympathy。Howterrible，wretched，humiliating！Herownsister，heronlysister，inthepositionofallthosepoor，badlybroughtupgirls，whoforgotthemselves！Andherfather——theirfather！Tillthatmomentshehadhardlythoughtofhim，toopreoccupiedbytheshocktoherownpride。Theword:"Dad！"wasforcedfromher。
　　Noelshuddered。
　　"Thatboy！"saidGratiansuddenly;"Ican’tforgivehim。Ifyoudidn’tknow——hedid。Itwas——itwas——"ShestoppedatthesightofNoel’sface。
　　"Ididknow，"shesaid。"ItwasI。Hewasmyhusband，asmuchasyoursis。Ifyousayawordagainsthim，I’llneverspeaktoyouagain:I’mglad，andyouwouldbe，ifyouweregoingtohaveone。
　　What’sthedifference，exceptthatyou’vehadluck，andI——haven’t。"
　　Herlipsquiveredagain，andshewassilent。
　　Gratianstaredupather。ShehadalongingforGeorge——toknowwhathethoughtandfelt。
　　"DoyoumindifItellGeorge？"shesaid。
　　Noelshookherhead。，"No！notnow。Tellanybody。"AndsuddenlythemiserybehindthemaskofherfacewentstraighttoGratian’sheart。
　　Shegotupandputherarmsroundhersister。
　　"Nolliedear，don’tlooklikethat！"
　　Noelsufferedtheembracewithoutresponse，butwhenitwasover，wenttoherownroom。
　　Gratianstayed，sorry，soreandvexed，uncertain，anxious。Herpridewasdeeplywounded，herhearttorn;shewasangrywithherself。Whycouldn’tshehavebeenmoresympathetic？Andyet，nowthatNoelwasnolongerthere，sheagaincondemnedthedead。Whathehaddonewasunpardonable。Nolliewassuch——achild！Hehadcommittedsacrilege。
　　IfonlyGeorgewouldcome，andshecouldtalkitalloutwithhim！
　　She，whohadmarriedforloveandknownpassion，hadinsightenoughtofeelthatNoel’slovehadbeendeep——sofarasanything，ofcourse，couldbedeepinsuchachild。Gratianwasatthematureageoftwenty。Buttohaveforgottenherselflikethat！Andthisboy！
　　Ifshehadknownhim，thatfeelingmighthavebeenmitigatedbythepersonalelement，soimportanttoallhumanjudgment;butneverhavingseenhim，shethoughtofhisconductas"caddish。"Andsheknewthatthiswas，andwouldbe，thetroublebetweenherandhersister。Howevershemightdisguiseit，Noelwouldfeelthatjudgmentunderneath。
　　Shestrippedoffhernurse’sgarb，putonaneveningfrock，andfidgetedabouttheroom。Anythingratherthangodownandseeherfatheragainbeforeshemust。This，whichhadhappened，wasbeyondwordsterribleforhim;shedreadedthetalkwithhimaboutNoel’shealthwhichwouldhavetocome。Shecouldsaynothing，ofcourse，untilNoelwished;and，verytruthfulbynature，theidea，ofhavingtoactaliedistressedher。
　　Shewentdownatlast，andfoundthembothinthedrawing—roomalready;Noelinafrillyeveningfrock，sittingbythefirewithherchinonherhand，whileherfatherwasreadingoutthewarnewsfromtheeveningpaper。Atsightofthatcool，dainty，girlishfigurebroodingoverthefire，andofherfather’swornface，thetragedyofthisbusinessthrustitselfonherwithredoubledforce。PoorDad！
　　PoorNollie！Awful！ThenNoelturned，andgavealittleshakeofherhead，andhereyessaid，almostasplainlyaslipscouldhavesaidit:’Silence！’Gratiannodded，andcameforwardtothefire。
　　Andsobeganoneofthosecalm，domesticevenings，whichcoversometimessuchdepthsofheartache。
　　2
　　Noelstayedupuntilherfatherwenttobed，thenwentupstairsatonce。Shehadevidentlydeterminedthattheyshouldnottalkabouther。Gratiansatonalone，waitingforherhusband！Itwasnearlymidnightwhenhecame，andshedidnottellhimthefamilynewstillnextmorning。Hereceiveditwithacuriouslittlegrunt。Gratiansawhiseyescontract，astheymighthave，perhaps，lookingatsomebadandcomplicatedwound，andthenstaresteadilyattheceiling。
　　Thoughtheyhadbeenmarriedoverayear，shedidnotyetknowwhathethoughtaboutmanythings，andshewaitedwithaqueersinkingatherheart。Thisskeletoninthefamilycupboardwasatestofhisaffectionforherself，atestofthequalityofthemanshehadmarried。Hedidnotspeakforalittle，andheranxietygrew。Thenhishandsoughthers，andgaveitahardsqueeze。
　　"PoorlittleNollie！ThisisacaseforMarkTapleyism。Butcheerup，Gracie！We’llgetherthroughsomehow。"
　　"Butfather！It’simpossibletokeepitfromhim，andimpossibletotellhim！OhGeorge！Ineverknewwhatfamilypridewastillnow。
　　It’sincredible。Thatwretchedboy！"
　　"’Demortuis。’Come，Gracie！Inthemidstofdeathweareinlife！
　　Nolliewasaplumblittleidiot。Butit’sthewar——thewar！Yourfathermustgetusedtoit;it’sararechanceforhisChristianity。"
　　"Dadwillbeassweetasanything——that’swhatmakesitsohorrible！"
　　GeorgeLairdredoubledhissqueeze。"Quiteright！Theold—fashionedfathercouldlethimselfgo。Butneedheknow？WecangetherawayfromLondon，andlateron，wemustmanagesomehow。Ifhedoeshear，wemustmakehimfeelthatNolliewas’doingherbit。’"
　　Gratianwithdrewherhand。"Don’t！"shesaidinamuffledvoice。
　　GeorgeLairdturnedandlookedather。Hewasgreatlyupsethimself，realisingperhapsmoretrulythanhisyoungwifetheviolenceofthisdisaster;hewasquitecapable，too，offeelinghowdeeplyshewasstirredandhurt;but，abornpragmatist，confrontinglifealwaysintheexperimentalspirit，hewasimpatientofthe:"Howawful！"
　　attitude。Andthisstreakofherfather’sascetictraditionalisminGratianalwaysrousedinhimawishtobreakitup。Ifshehadnotbeenhiswifehewouldhaveadmittedatoncethathemightjustaswelltryandalterthebone—formationofherhead，asbreakdownsuchafundamentaltraitofcharacter，but，beinghiswife，henaturallyconsideredalterationaspossibleasputtinganewstaircaseinahouse，orthrowingtworoomsintoone。And，takingherinhisarms，hesaid:"Iknow;butit’llallcomeright，ifweputagoodfaceonit。ShallItalktoNollie？"
　　Gratianassented，fromthedesiretobeabletosaytoherfather:
　　"Georgeisseeingher！"andsostaytheneedforadiscussion。Butthewholethingseemedtohermoreandmoreacalamitywhichnothingcouldlessenorsmoothaway。
　　GeorgeLairdhadplentyofcoolcourage，invaluableinmenwhohavetoinflictaswellastoalleviatepain，buthedidnotlikehismission"alittlebit"ashewouldhavesaid;andheproposedawalkbecausehedreadedascene。Noelacceptedforthesamereason。ShelikedGeorge，andwiththedisinteresteddetachmentofasister—in—
　　law，andtheshrewdnessofextremeyouth，knewhimperhapsbetterthandidhiswife。Shewassure，atallevents，ofbeingneithercondemnednorsympathisedwith。
　　Theymighthavegone，ofcourse，inanydirection，butchosetomakefortheCity。Suchdeepdecisionsaresubconscious。Theysought，nodoubt，adry，unemotionalregion;orperhapsonewhereGeorge，whowasinuniform，mightresthisarmfromtheautomatic—toygamewhichthemilitaryplay。TheyhadreachedCheapsidebeforehewasconscioustothefullofthebizarrenatureofthiswalkwithhisprettyyoungsister—in—lawamongallthebustling，black—coatedmobofmoney—makers。’Iwishthedevilwehadn’tcomeout！’hethought;
　　’itwouldhavebeeneasierindoors，afterall。’
　　Heclearedhisthroat，however，andsqueezingherarmgently，began:
　　"Gratian’stoldme，Nollie。Thegreatthingistokeepyourspiritup，andnotworry。"
　　"Isupposeyoucouldn’tcureme。"
　　Thewords，inthatdelicatespurningvoice，absolutelystaggeredGeorge;buthesaidquickly:
　　"Outofthequestion，Nollie;impossible！Whatareyouthinkingof？"
　　"Daddy。"
　　Thewords:"D——nDaddy！"rosetohisteeth;hebitthemoff，andsaid:"Blesshim！Weshallhavetoseetoallthat。Doyoureallywanttokeepitfromhim？Itmustbeonewayortheother;nouseconcealingit，ifit’stocomeoutlater。"
　　"No。"
　　Hestolealookather。Shewasgazingstraightbeforeher。Howdamnablyyoungshewas，howpretty！Alumpcameupinhisthroat。
　　"Ishouldn’tdoanythingyet，"hesaid;"tooearly。Lateron，ifyou’dlikemetotellhim。Butthat’sentirelyuptoyou，mydear;
　　heneedneverknow。"
　　"No。"
　　Hecouldnotfollowherthought。Thenshesaid:
　　"GratiancondemnsCyril。Don’tlether。Iwon’thavehimbadlythoughtof。Itwasmydoing。Iwantedtomakesureofhim。"
　　Georgeansweredstoutly:
　　"Gracie’supset，ofcourse，butshe’llsoonbeallright。Youmustn’tletitcomebetweenyou。Thethingyou’vegottokeepsteadilybeforeyouisthatlife’sahugewideadaptablething。Lookatallthesepeople！There’shardlyoneofthemwhohasn’tgotnow，orhasn’thad，somepersonaldifficultyortroublebeforethemasbigasyoursalmost;biggerperhaps。Andheretheyareaslivelyasfleas。That’swhatmakesthefascinationoflife——thejollyironyofitall。ItwoulddoyougoodtohaveaturninFrance，andseeyourselfinproportiontothewhole。"Hefeltherfingerssuddenlyslipunderhisarm，andwentonwithgreaterconfidence:
　　"Life’sgoingtobetheimportantthinginthefuture，Nollie;notcomfortandcloisteredvirtueandsecurity;butliving，andpressuretothesquareinch。Doyoutwig？Alltheoldhard—and—fasttraditionsanddragsonlifeareinthemelting—pot。Death’sboilingtheirbones，andthey’llmakeexcellentstockforthenewsoup。Whenyoupruneanddockthings，thesapflowsquicker。Regretsandrepiningsandrepressionsaregoingoutoffashion;weshallhavenotimeorusefortheminthefuture。You’regoingtomakelife——well，that’ssomethingtobethankfulfor，anyway。You’vekeptCyrilMorlandalive。And——well，youknow，we’veallbeenborn;someofusproperly，andsomeimproperly，andthereisn’taha’porthofdifferenceinthevalueofthearticle，orthetroubleofbringingitintotheworld。Thecheerieryouarethebetteryourchildwillbe，andthat’sallyou’vegottothinkabout。Youneedn’tbegintotroubleatallforanothercoupleofmonths，atleast;afterthat，justletusknowwhereyou’dliketogo，andI’llarrangeitsomehow。"
　　Shelookedroundathim，andunderthatyoung，clear，broodinggazehehadthesuddenuncomfortablefeelingofhavingspokenlikeacharlatan。Hadhereallytouchedtheheartofthematter？Whatgoodwerehisgeneralitiestothisyoung，fastidiouslynurturedgirl，broughtuptotellthetruth，byafathersoold—fashionedanddevoted，whomsheloved？ItwasGeorge’snature，too，todespisewords;andtheconditionsofhislifetheselasttwoyearshadgivenhimasortofhorrorofthosewhoactbytalking。Hefeltinclinedtosay:’Don’tpaytheslightestattentiontome;it’sallhumbug;
　　whatwillbewillbe，andthere’sanendofit:
　　Thenshesaidquietly:
　　"ShallItellDaddyornot？"
　　Hewantedtosay:"No，"butsomehowcouldn’t。Afterall，thestraightforwardcoursewasprobablythebest。Forthiswouldhavetobealifelongconcealment。Itwasimpossibletoconcealathingforever;soonerorlaterhewouldfindout。Butthedoctorroseupinhim，andhesaid:
　　"Don’tgotomeettrouble，Nollie;it’llbetimeenoughintwomonths。Thentellhim，orletme。"
　　Sheshookherhead。"No;Iwill，ifitistobedone。"
　　Heputhishandonhers，withinhisarm，andgaveitasqueeze。
　　"WhatshallIdotillthen？"sheasked。
　　"Takeaweek’scompleterest，andthengoonwhereyouare。"
　　Noelwassilentaminute，thensaid:"Yes;Iwill。"
　　Theyspokenomoreonthesubject，andGeorgeexertedhimselftotalkabouthospitalexperiences，andthatphenomenon，theBritishsoldier。
　　Butjustbeforetheyreachedhomehesaid:
　　"Lookhere，Nollie！Ifyou’renotashamedofyourself，noonewillbeashamedofyou。Ifyouputashesonyourownhead，yourfellow—
　　beingswill，assistyou;forofsuchistheircharity。"
　　And，receivinganotherofthoseclear，broodinglooks，heleftherwiththethought:’Alonelychild！’
　　VII
　　Noelwentbacktoherhospitalafteraweek’srest。Georgehaddonemoreforherthanhesuspected，forhissaying:"Life’sahugewideadaptablething！"hadstuckinhermind。Diditmatterwhathappenedtoher？Andsheusedtolookintothefacesofthepeopleshemet，andwonderwhatwasabsorbingthem。Whatsecretgriefsandjoysweretheycarryingaboutwiththem？Thelonelinessofherownlifenowforcedhertothisspeculationconcerningothers，forshewasextraordinarilylonely;GratianandGeorgewerebackatwork，herfathermustbekeptatbay;withLeilashefeltillatease，fortheconfessionhadhurtherpride;andfamilyfriendsandacquaintancesofallsortssheshunnedliketheplague。TheonlypersonshedidnotsucceedinavoidingwasJimmyFort，whocameinoneeveningafterdinner，bringingheralargebunchofhothouseviolets。Butthen，hedidnotseemtomatter——toonewanacquaintance，toodetached。
　　Somethinghesaidmadeherawarethathehadheardofherloss，andthatthevioletswereatokenofsympathy。Heseemedawfullykindthatevening，tellingher"talesofAraby，"andsayingnothingwhichwouldshockherfather。Itwaswonderfultobeamanandrollabouttheworldashehad，andseealllife，andqueerplaces，andpeople——Chinamen，andGauchos，andBoers，andMexicans。Itgaveherakindofthirst。Andshelikedtowatchhisbrown，humorousface;whichseemedmadeofdriedleather。Itgaveherthefeelingthatlifeandexperiencewereallthatmattered，doingandseeingthings;itmadeherowntroubleseemsmaller;lessimportant。Shesqueezedhishandwhenshesaidgoodnight:"Thankyouformyvioletsandforcoming;
　　itwasawfullykindofyou！IwishIcouldhaveadventures！"Andheanswered:"Youwill，mydearfairyprincess！"Hesaiditqueerlyandverykindly。
　　FairyPrincess！Whatafunnythingtocallher！Ifhehadonlyknown！
　　Therewerenotmanyadventurestobehadinthoseregionswhereshewashedup。Notmuch"wideandadaptablelife"totakeherthoughtsoffherself。Butonherjourneystoandfromthehospitalshehadmorethanoneoddlittleexperience。Onemorningshenoticedapoorlydressedwomanwitharedandswollenface，flappingalongRegentStreetlikeawoundedbird，andbitingstrangelyatherhand。
　　Hearinghergroan，Noelaskedherwhatthematterwas。Thewomanheldoutthehand。"Oh！"shemoaned，"Iwasscrubbin’thefloorandIgotthisgreatneedlestuckthroughmy’and，andit’sbrokeoff，andIcan’tgetitout。Oh！Oh！"Shebitattheneedle—end，notquitevisible，butalmostwithinreachofteeth，andsuddenlywentverywhite。Indismay，Noelputanarmroundher，andturnedherintoafinechemist’sshop。Severalladieswereinthere，buyingperfumes，andtheylookedwithacerbityatthisdisordereddirtyfemaleenteringamongthem。Noelwentuptoamanbehindthecounter。"Pleasegivemesomethingquick，forthispoorwoman，I
　　thinkshe’sgoingtofaint。She’srunaneedlethroughherhand，andcan’tgetitout。"Themangaveher"somethingquick，"andNoelpushedpasttwoofthedamesbacktowherethewomanwassitting。
　　Shewasstillobstinatelybitingatherhand，andsuddenlyherchinflewup，andthere，betweenherteeth，wastheneedle。Shetookitfromthemwithherotherhand，stuckitproudlyinthefrontofherdress，andouttumbledthewords:"Oh！there——I’vegotit！"
　　Whenshehadswallowedthedraught，shelookedroundher，bewildered，andsaid:
　　"Thankyoukindly，miss！"andshuffledout。Noelpaidforthedraught，andfollowed;and，behindher，theshiningshopseemedtoexhaleaperfumedbreathofrelief。
　　"Youcan’tgobacktowork，"shesaidtothewoman。"Wheredoyoulive？"
　　"’Ornsey，miss。"
　　"Youmusttakea’busandgostraighthome，andputyourhandatonceintoweakCondy’sfluidandwater。It’sswelling。Here’sfiveshillings。"
　　"Yes，miss;thankyou，miss，I’msure。It’sverykindofyou。Itdoesachecruel。"
　　"Ifit’snotbetterthisafternoon，youmustgotoadoctor。
　　Promise！"
　　"Oh，dear，yes。’Ere’smy’bus。Thankyoukindly，miss。"
　　Noelsawherborneaway，stillsuckingatherdirtyswollenhand。
　　Shewalkedoninaglowofloveforthepoorwoman，andhatefortheladiesinthechemist’sshop，andforgotherowntroubletillshehadalmostreachedthehospital。
　　AnotherNovemberday，aSaturday，leavingearly，shewalkedtoHydePark。Theplane—treeswerejustattheheightoftheirspottedbeauty。Few——veryfew—yellowleavesstillhung;andtheslenderprettytreesseemedrejoicingintheirfreedomfromsummerfoliage。
　　Alltheirdelicateboughsandtwigswereshakinganddancinginthewind;andtheirrain—washedleopard—likebodieshadalitheun—Englishgaiety。Noelpasseddowntheirline，andseatedherselfonabench。Closeby，anartistwaspainting。Hiseaselwasonlysomethreeyardsawayfromher，andshecouldseethepicture;avistaoftheParkLanehousesthrough，thegayplane—treescreen。Hewasatallman，aboutforty，evidentlyforeign，withathin，long，oval，beardlessface，highbrow，largegreyeyeswhichlookedasifhesufferedfromheadachesandlivedmuchwithinhimself。Hecastmanyglancesather，and，pursuantofhernewinterestin"life"shewatchedhimdiscreetly;alittlestartledhowever，when，takingoffhisbroad—brimmedsquashhat，hesaidinabrokenaccent:
　　"ForgivemethelibertyItake，mademoiselle，butwouldyousoverykindlyallowmetomakeasketchofyousittingthere？Iworkveryquick。Ibegyouwillletme。IamBelgian，andhavenomanners，yousee。"Andhesmiled。
　　"Ifyoulike，"saidNoel。
　　"Ithankyouverymuch:"
　　Heshiftedhiseasel，andbegantodraw。Shefeltflattered，andalittlefluttered。Hewassopale，andhadacurious，half—fedlook，whichmovedher。
　　"HaveyoubeenlonginEngland？"shesaidpresently。
　　"Eversincethefirstmonthsofthewar。"
　　"Doyoulikeit？"
　　"Iwasveryhomesickatfirst。ButIliveinmypictures;therearewonderfulthingsinLondon。"
　　"Whydidyouwanttosketchme？"
　　Thepaintersmiledagain。"Mademoiselle，youthissomysterious。
　　ThoseyoungtreesIhavebeenpaintingmeansomuchmorethantheoldbigtrees。Youreyesareseeingthingsthathavenotyethappened。
　　ThereisFateinthem，andalookofdefendingusothersfromseeingit。Wehavenotsuchfacesinmycountry;wearesimpler;wedonotdefendourexpressions。TheEnglishareverymysterious。Wearelikechildrentothem。Yetinsomewaysyouarelikechildrentous。
　　Youarenotpeopleoftheworldatall。YouEnglishhavebeengoodtous，butyoudonotlikeus。"
　　"AndIsupposeyoudonotlikeus，either？"
　　Hesmiledagain，andshenoticedhowwhitehisteethwere。
　　"Well，notverymuch。TheEnglishdothingsfromduty，buttheirheartstheykeeptothemselves。AndtheirArt——well，thatisreallyamusing！"
　　"Idon’tknowmuchaboutArt，"Noelmurmured。
　　"Itistheworldtome，"saidthepainter，andwassilent，drawingwithincreasedpaceandpassion。
　　"Itissodifficulttogetsubjects，"heremarkedabruptly。"I
　　cannotaffordtopaymodels，andtheyarenotfondofmepaintingoutofdoors。IfIhadalwaysasubjectlikeyou！You——youhaveagrief，haveyounot？"
　　Atthatstartlinglittlequestion，Noellookedup，frowning。
　　"Everybodyhas，now。"
　　Thepaintergraspedhischin;hiseyeshadsuddenlybecometragical。
　　"Yes，"hesaid，"everybody。Tragedyisdailybread。Ihavelostmyfamily;theyareinBelgium。HowtheyliveIdonotknow。"
　　"I’msorry;verysorry，too，ifwearen’tnicetoyou，here。Weoughttobe。"
　　Heshruggedhisshoulders。"Whatwouldyouhave？Wearedifferent。
　　Thatisunpardonable。Anartistisalwayslonely，too;hehasaskinfewerthanotherpeople，andheseesthingsthattheydonot。Peopledonotlikeyoutobedifferent。Ifeverinyourlifeyouactdifferentlyfromothers，youwillfinditso，mademoiselle。"
　　Noelfeltherselfflushing。Washereadinghersecret？Hiseyeshadsuchapeculiar，secondsightedlook。
　　"Haveyounearlyfinished？"sheasked。
　　"No，mademoiselle;Icouldgoonforhours;butIdonotwishtokeepyou。Itiscoldforyou，sittingthere。"
　　Noelgotup。"MayIlook？"
　　"Certainly。"
　　Shedidnotquiterecogniseherself——whodoes？——butshesawafacewhichaffectedheroddly，ofagirllookingatsomethingwhichwas，andyetwasnot，infrontofher。
　　"MynameisLavendie，"thepaintersaid;"mywifeandIlivehere，"