Hedidnotcatchcold，butwhilehewasouthismotherdied。Sheonlysurvivedherhusbandelevendays，acoincidencewhichwasrecordedontheirtombstone。
　　Such，insubstance，wasthestorywhichRickietoldhisfriendsastheystoodtogetherintheshelterofthedell。Thegreenbankattheentrancehidtheroadandtheworld，andnow，asinspring，theycouldseenothingbutsnow—whiterampartsandtheevergreenfoliageofthefirs。Onlyfromtimetotimewouldabeechleafflutterinfromthewoodsabove，tocommentonthewaningyear，andthewarmthandradianceofthesunwouldvanishbehindapassingcloud。
　　Aboutthegreatcoathedidnottellthem，forhecouldnothavespokenofitwithouttears。
　　III
　　Mr。Ansell，aprovincialdraperofmoderateprosperity，oughtbyrightstohavebeenclassednotwiththecow，butwiththosephenomenathatarenotreallythere。Buthisson，withpardonableillogicality，exceptedhim。Heneversuspectedthathisfathermightbethesubjectiveproductofadiseasedimagination。Fromhisearliestyearshehadtakenhimforgranted，asamostundeniableandlovablefact。Tobebornonethingandgrowupanother——Ansellhadaccomplishedthiswithoutweakeningoneofthetiesthatboundhimtohishome。Theroomsabovetheshopstillseemedascomfortable，thegardenbehinditasgracious，astheyhadseemedfifteenyearsbefore，whenhewouldsitbehindMissAppleblossom’scentralthrone，andshe，likesomeallegoricalfigure，wouldsendthechangeandreceiptedbillsspinningawayfromherinlittleboxwoodballs。Atfirsttheyoungmanhadattributedthesehappyrelationstohisowntact。
　　Butintimeheperceivedthatthetactwasallonthesideofhisfather。Mr。Ansellwasnotmerelyamanofsomeeducation;hehadwhatnoeducationcanbring——thepowerofdetectingwhatisimportant。Likemanyfathers，hehadsparednoexpenseoverhisboy，——hehadborrowedmoneytostarthimatarapaciousandfashionableprivateschool;hehadsenthimtotutors;hehadsenthimtoCambridge。Butheknewthatallthiswasnottheimportantthing。Theimportantthingwasfreedom。Theboymustusehiseducationashechose，andifhepaidhisfatherbackitwouldcertainlynotbeinhisowncoin。SowhenStewartsaid，"AtCambridge，canIreadfortheMoralScienceTripos？"Mr。Ansellhadonlyreplied，"Thisphilosophy——doyousaythatitliesbehindeverything？"
　　"Yes，Ithinkso。Ittriestodiscoverwhatisgoodandtrue。"
　　"Then，myboy，youhadbetterreadasmuchofitasyoucan。"
　　Andayearlater:"I’dliketotakeupthisphilosophyseriously，butIdon’tfeeljustified。"
　　"Whynot？"
　　"Becauseitbringsinnoreturn。IthinkI’magreatphilosopher，butthenallphilosophersthinkthat，thoughtheydon’tdaretosayso。But，howevergreatIam。Ishan’tearnmoney。PerhapsI
　　shan’teverbeabletokeepmyself。Ishan’tevengetagoodsocialposition。You’veonlytosayoneword，andI’llworkfortheCivilService。I’mgoodenoughtogetinhigh。"
　　Mr。Anselllikedmoneyandsocialposition。Butheknewthatthereisamoreimportantthing，andreplied，"Youmusttakeupthisphilosophyseriously，Ithink。"
　　"Anotherthing——therearethegirls。"
　　"ThereisenoughmoneynowtogetMaryandMaudasgoodhusbandsastheydeserve。"AndMaryandMaudtookthesameview。
　　ItwasinthisplebeianhouseholdthatRickiespentpartoftheChristmasvacation。Hisownhome，suchasitwas，waswiththeSilts，needycousinsofhisfather’s，andcombinedtoapeculiardegreetherestrictionsofhospitalitywiththediscomfortsofaboarding—house。SuchpleasureashehadoutsideCambridgewasinthehomesofhisfriends，anditwasaparticularjoyandhonourtovisitAnsell，who，thoughasfreefromsocialsnobbishnessasmostofuswillevermanagetobe，wasrathercarefulwhenhedroveuptothefacadeofhisshop。
　　"Ilikeournewlettering，"hesaidthoughtfully。Thewords"StewartAnsell"wererepeatedagainandagainalongtheHighStreet——curlygoldlettersthatseemedtofloatintanksofglazedchocolate。
　　"Rather！"saidRickie。ButhewonderedwhetheroneofthebondsthatkepttheAnsellfamilyunitedmightnotbetheircompleteabsenceoftaste——asurerbondbyfarthantheidentityofit。
　　Andhewonderedthisagainwhenhesatatteaoppositealongrowofcrayons——Stewartasababy，Stewartasasmallboywithlargefeet，Stewartasalargerboywithsmallerfeet，Maryreadingabookwhoseleaveswereasthickaseiderdowns。Andyetagaindidhewonderitwhenhewokewithagaspinthenighttofindaharpinluminouspaintthrobbingandgloweringathimfromtheadjacentwall。"Watchandpray"waswrittenontheharp，anduntilRickiehungatoweloverittheexhortationwaspartiallysuccessful。
　　Itwasaveryhappyvisit。MissAppleblosssom——whonowactedashousekeeper——hadmethimbefore，duringhernever—forgottenexpeditiontoCambridge，andheradmirationofUniversitylifewasasshrillandasgenuinenowasithadbeenthen。Thegirlsatfirstwerealittleaggressive，foronhisarrivalhehadbeentired，andMaudhadtakenitforhaughtiness，andsaidhewaslookingdownonthem。Butthispassed。Theydidnotfallinlovewithhim，norhewiththem，butamorningwasspentverypleasantlyinsnow—ballinginthebackgarden。AnsellwasratherdifferenttowhathewasinCambridge，buttoRickienotlessattractive。Andtherewasacuriouscharminthehumoftheshop，whichswelledintoaroarifoneopenedthepartitiondooronamarket—day。
　　"Listentoyourmoney！"saidRickie。"IwishIcouldhearmine。I
　　wishmymoneywasalive。"
　　"Idon’tunderstand。"
　　"Mine’sdeadmoney。It’scometomethroughaboutsixdeadpeople——silently。"
　　"Gettingalittlesmallerandalittlemorerespectableeachtime，onaccountofthedeath—duties。"
　　"Itneededtogetrespectable。"
　　"Why？Didyourpeople，too，oncekeepashop？"
　　"Oh，notasbadasthat！Theyonlyswindled。AboutahundredyearsagoanElliotdidsomethingshadyandfoundedthefortunesofourhouse。"
　　"Ineverknewanyonesorelentlesstohisancestors。Youmakeupforyoursoapinesstowardstheliving。"
　　"You’dberelentlessifyou’dheardtheSilts，asIhave，talkabout’afortune，smallperhaps，butunsoiledbytrade！’OfcourseAuntEmilyisratherdifferent。Oh，goodnessme！I’veforgottenmyaunt。Shelivesnotsofar。Ishallhavetocallonher。"
　　AccordinglyhewrotetoMrs。Failing，andsaidheshouldliketopayhisrespects。HetoldherabouttheAnsells，andsowordedtheletterthatshemightreasonablyhavesentaninvitationtohisfriend。
　　Sherepliedthatshewaslookingforwardtotheirtete—a—tete。
　　"Youmustn’tgoroundbythetrains，"saidMr。Ansell。"ItmeanschangingatSalisbury。Bytheroadit’snogreatway。StewartshalldriveyouoverSalisburyPlain，andfetchyoutoo。"
　　"There’stoomuchsnow，"saidAnsell。
　　"Thenthegirlsshalltakeyouintheirsledge。"
　　"ThatIwill，"saidMaud，whowasnotunwillingtoseetheinsideofCadover。ButRickiewentroundbythetrains。
　　"Wehaveallmissedyou，"saidAnsell，whenhereturned。"Thereisageneralfeelingthatyouarenonuisance，andhadbetterstoptilltheendofthevac。"
　　Thishecouldnotdo。HewasboundforChristmastotheSilts——
　　"asaREALguest，"Mrs。Silthadwritten，underliningtheword"real"twice。AndafterChristmashemustgotothePembrokes。
　　"Thesearenoreasons。Theonlyrealreasonfordoingathingisbecauseyouwanttodoit。Ithinkthetalkabout’engagements’
　　iscant。"
　　"Ithinkperhapsitis，"saidRickie。Buthewent。Neverhadtheturkeybeensoathletic，ortheplum—puddingtiedintoitsclothsotightly。Yetheknewthatboththesesymbolsofhilarityhadcostmoney，anditwenttohisheartwhenMr。Siltsaidinahungryvoice，"Haveyouthoughtatallofwhatyouwanttobe？
　　No？Well，whyshouldyou？Youhavenoneedtobeanything。"Andatdessert:"IwonderwhoCadovergoesto？Iexpectmoneywillfollowmoney。Italwaysdoes。"ItwaswithaguiltyfeelingofreliefthatheleftforthePembrokes’。
　　ThePembrokeslivedinanadjacentsuburb，orrather"sububurb，"——thetractcalledSawston，celebratedforitspublicschool。Theirstyleoflife，however，wasnotparticularlysuburban。TheirhousewassmallanditsnamewasShelthorpe，butithadanairaboutitwhichsuggestedacertainamountofmoneyandacertainamountoftaste。Thereweredecentwater—coloursinthedrawing—room。Madonnasofacknowledgedmerithunguponthestairs。AreplicaoftheHermesofPraxiteles——ofcourseonlythebust——stoodinthehallwitharealpalmbehindit。Agnes，inherslap—dashway，wasagoodhousekeeper，andkepttheprettythingswelldusted。ItwasshewhoinsistedonthestripofbrownhollandthatleddiagonallyfromthefrontdoortothedoorofHerbert’sstudy:boys’grubbyfeetshouldnotgotreadingonherIndiansquare。Itwasshewhoalwayscleanedthepicture—framesandwashedthebustandtheleavesofthepalm。Inshort，ifahousecouldspeak——andsometimesitdoesspeakmoreclearlythanthepeoplewholiveinit——thehouseofthePembrokeswouldhavesaid，"Iamnotquitelikeotherhouses，yetIamperfectlycomfortable。Icontainworksofartandamicroscopeandbooks。
　　ButIdonotliveforanyofthesethingsorsufferthemtodisarrangeme。Iliveformyselfandforthegreaterhousesthatshallcomeafterme。Yetinmeneitherthecryofmoneynorthecryformoneyshalleverbeheard。"
　　Mr。Pembrokewasatthestation。Hedidbetterasahostthanasaguest，andwelcomedtheyoungmanwithrealfriendliness。
　　"Wewereallcoming，butGeraldhasstrainedhisankleslightly，andwantstokeepquiet，asheisplayingnextweekinamatch。
　　And，needlesstosay，thatexplainstheabsenceofmysister。"
　　"GeraldDawes？"
　　"Yes;he’swithus。I’msogladyou’llmeetagain。"
　　"SoamI，"saidRickiewithextremeawkwardness。"Doesherememberme？"
　　"Vividly。"
　　VividalsowasRickie’sremembranceofhim。
　　"Asplendidfellow，"assertedMr。Pembroke。
　　"IhopethatAgnesiswell。"
　　"Thankyou，yes;sheiswell。AndIthinkyou’relookingmorelikeotherpeopleyourself。"
　　"I’vebeenhavingaverygoodtimewithafriend。"
　　"Indeed。That’sright。Whowasthat？"
　　Rickiehadayoungman’sreticence。Hegenerallyspokeof"afriend，""apersonIknow，""aplaceIwasat。"Whenthebookoflifeisopening，ourreadingsaresecret，andweareunwillingtogivechapterandverse。Mr。Pembroke，whowashalfwaythroughthevolume，andhadskippedorforgottentheearlierpages，couldnotunderstandRickie’shesitation，norwhywithsuchawkwardnessheshouldpronouncetheharmlessdissyllable"Ansell。"
　　"Ansell？Wasn’tthatthepleasantfellowwhoaskedustolunch？"
　　"No。ThatwasAnderson，whokeepsbelow。Youdidn’tseeAnsell。
　　TheoneswhocametobreakfastwereTilliardandHornblower。"
　　"Ofcourse。AndsincethenyouhavebeenwiththeSilts。Howarethey？"
　　"Verywell，thankyou。Theywanttoberememberedtoyou。"
　　ThePembrokeshadformerlylivedneartheElliots，andhadshowngreatkindnesstoRickiewhenhisparentsdied。Theywerethusratherinthepositionoffamilyfriends。
　　"Pleaserememberuswhenyouwrite。"Headded，almostroguishly，"TheSiltsarekindnessitself。Allthesame，itmustbejustalittle——dull，wethought，andwethoughtthatyoumightlikeachange。Andofcoursewearedelightedtohaveyoubesides。Thatgoeswithoutsaying。"
　　"It’sverygoodofyou，"saidRickie，whohadacceptedtheinvitationbecausehefeltheoughtto。
　　"Notabit。Andyoumustn’texpectustobeotherwisethanquietontheholidays。Thereisalibraryofasort，asyouknow，andyouwillfindGeraldasplendidfellow。"
　　"Willtheybemarriedsoon？"
　　"Ohno！"whisperedMr。Pembroke，shuttinghiseyes，asifRickiehadmadesometerriblefauxpas。"Itwillbeaverylongengagement。Hemustmakehiswayfirst。Ihaveseensuchendlessmiseryresultfrompeoplemarryingbeforetheyhavemadetheirway。"
　　"Yes。Thatisso，"saidRickiedespondently，thinkingoftheSilts。
　　"It’sasadunpalatabletruth，"saidMr。Pembroke，thinkingthatthedespondencymightbepersonal，"butonemustacceptit。MysisterandGerald，Iamthankfultosay，haveacceptedit，thoughnaturallyithasbeenalittlepill。"
　　Theircablurchedroundthecornerashespoke，andthetwopatientscameinsight。Agneswasleaningoverthecreosotedgarden—gate，andbehindhertherestoodayoungmanwhohadthefigureofaGreekathleteandthefaceofanEnglishone。Hewasfairandcleanshaven，andhiscolourlesshairwascutrathershort。Thesunwasinhiseyes，andthey，likehismouth，seemedscarcelymorethanslitsinhishealthyskin。Justwherehebegantobebeautifultheclothesstarted。Roundhisneckwentanup—and—downcollarandamauve—and—goldtie，andtherestofhislimbswerehiddenbyagreyloungesuit，carefullycreasedintherightplaces。
　　"Lovely！Lovely！"criedAgnes，bangingonthegate，"Yourtrainmusthavebeentotheminute。"
　　"Hullo！"saidtheathlete，andvomitedwiththegreetingacloudoftobacco—smoke。Itmusthavebeenimprisonedinhismouthsometime，fornopipewasvisible。
　　"Hullo！"returnedRickie，laughingviolently。Theyshookhands。
　　"Whereareyougoing，Rickie？"askedAgnes。"Youaren’tgrubby。
　　Whydon’tyoustop？Gerald，getthelargewicker—chair。Herberthasletters，butwecansitheretilllunch。It’slikespring。"
　　ThegardenofShelthorpewasnearlyallinfrontanunusualandpleasantarrangement。Thefrontgateandtheservants’entrancewerebothattheside，andintheremainingspacethegardenerhadcontrivedalittlelawnwhereonecouldsitconcealedfromtheroadbyafence，fromtheneighbourbyafence，fromthehousebyatree，andfromthepathbyabush。
　　"Thisisthelovers’bower，"observedAgnes，sittingdownonthebench。Rickiestoodbyhertillthechairarrived。
　　"Areyousmokingbeforelunch？"askedMr。Dawes。
　　"No，thankyou。Ihardlyeversmoke。"
　　"Novices。Aren’tyouatCambridgenow？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"What’syourcollege？"
　　Rickietoldhim。
　　"DoyouknowCarruthers？"
　　"Rather！"
　　"ImeanA。P。Carruthers，whogothissockerblue。"
　　"Rather！He’ssecretarytothecollegemusicalsociety。"
　　"A。P。Carruthers？"
　　"Yes。"
　　Mr。Dawesseemedoffended。Hetappedonhisteeth，andremarkedthattheweatherbadnobusinesstobesowarminwinter。
　　"ButitwasfiendishbeforeChristmas，"saidAgnes。
　　Hefrowned，andasked，"DoyouknowamancalledGerrish？"
　　"No。"
　　"Ah。"
　　"DoyouknowJames？"
　　"Neverheardofhim。"
　　"He’smyyeartoo。Hegotablueforhockeyhissecondterm。"
　　"Iknownothingaboutthe’Varsity。"
　　Rickiewincedattheabbreviation"’Varsity。"Itwasatthattimetheproperthingtospeakof"theUniversity。"
　　"Ihaven’tthetime，"pursuedMr。Dawes。
　　"No，no，"saidRickiepolitely。
　　"IhadthechanceofbeinganUndergrad，myself，and，byJove，I’mthankfulIdidn’t！"
　　"Why？"askedAgnes，fortherewasapause。
　　"Putsyoubackinyourprofession。Menwhogotherefirst，beforetheArmy，starthopelesslybehind。ThesamewiththeStockExchangeorPainting。Iknowmeninboth，andthey’venevercaughtupthetimetheylostinthe’Varsity——unless，ofcourse，youturnparson。"
　　"IloveCambridge，"saidshe。"Allthosegloriousbuildings，andeveryonesohappyandrunninginandoutofeachother’sroomsalldaylong。"
　　"ThatmightmakeanUndergradhappy，butIbegleavetostateitwouldn’tme。Ihaven’tfouryearstothrowawayforthesakeofbeingcalleda’VarsitymanandhobnobbingwithLords。"
　　Rickiewaspreparedtofindhisoldschoolfellowungrammaticalandbumptious，buthewasnotpreparedtofindhimpeevish。
　　Athletes，hebelieved，weresimple，straightforwardpeople，cruelandbrutalifyoulike，butneverpetty。Theyknockedyoudownandhurtyou，andthenwentontheirwayrejoicing。Forthis，Rickiethought，thereissomethingtobesaid:hehadescapedthesinofdespisingthephysicallystrong——asinagainstwhichthephysicallyweakmustguard。ButherewasDawesreturningagainandagaintothesubjectoftheUniversity，fulloftransparentjealousyandpettyspite，nagging，nagging，nagging，likeamaidenladywhohasnotbeeninvitedtoatea—party。Rickiewonderedwhether，afterall，Ansellandtheextremistsmightnotberight，andbodilybeautyandstrengthbesignsofthesoul’sdamnation。
　　HeglancedatAgnes。Shewaswritingdownsomeorderingsforthetradespeopleonapieceofpaper。Herhandsomefacewasintentonthework。ThebenchonwhichsheandGeraldweresittinghadnoback，butshesatasstraightasadart。He，thoughstrongenoughtositstraight，didnottakethetrouble。
　　"Whydon’ttheytalktoeachother？"thoughtRickie。
　　"Gerald，givethispapertothecook。"
　　"Icangiveittotheotherslavey，can’tI？"
　　"She’dbedressing。"
　　"Well，there’sHerbert。"
　　"He’sbusy。Oh，youknowwherethekitchenis。Takeittothecook。"
　　Hedisappearedslowlybehindthetree。
　　"Whatdoyouthinkofhim？"sheimmediatelyasked。Hemurmuredcivilly。
　　"Hashechangedsincehewasaschoolboy？"
　　"Inaway。"
　　"Dotellmeallabouthim。Whywon’tyou？"
　　ShemighthaveseenaflashofhorrorpassoverRickie’sface。
　　Thehorrordisappeared，for，thankGod，hewasnowaman，whomcivilizationprotects。ButheandGeraldhadmet，asitwere，behindthescenes，beforeourdecorousdramaopens，andtheretheelderboyhaddonethingstohim——absurdthings，notworthchroniclingseparately。Anapple—piebedisnothing;pinches，kicks，boxedears，twistedarms，pulledhair，ghostsatnight，inkybooks，befouledphotographs，amounttoverylittlebythemselves。Butletthembeunitedandcontinuous，andyouhaveahellthatnogrown—updevilcandevise。BetweenRickieandGeraldtherelayashadowthatdarkenslifemoreoftenthanwesuppose。
　　Thebullyandhisvictimneverquiteforgettheirfirstrelations。Theymeetinclubsandcountryhouses，andclaponeanotherontheback;butinboththememoryisgreenofamorestrenuousday，whentheywereboystogether。
　　Hetriedtosay，"Hewastherightkindofboy，andIwasthewrongkind。"ButCambridgewouldnotlethimsmooththesituationoverbyself—belittlement。Ifhehadbeenthewrongkindofboy，Geraldhadbeenaworsekind。Hemurmured，"Wearedifferent，very，"andMissPembroke，perhapssuspectingsomething，askednomore。ButshekepttothesubjectofMr。Dawes，humorouslydepreciatingherloveranddiscussinghimwithoutreverence。
　　Rickielaughed，butfeltuncomfortable。Whenpeoplewereengaged，hefeltthattheyshouldbeoutsidecriticism。Yetherehewascriticizing。Hecouldnothelpit。Hewasdraggedin。
　　"Ihopehisankleisbetter。"
　　"Neverwasbad。He’salwaysfussingoversomething。"
　　"Heplaysnextweekinamatch，IthinkHerbertsays。"
　　"Idaresayhedoes。"
　　"Shallwebegoing？"
　　"Praygoifyoulike。Ishallstopathome。I’vehadenoughofcoldfeet。"
　　Itwasallverycolourlessandodd。
　　Geraldreturned，saying，"Ican’tstandyourcook。What’sshewanttoaskmequestionsfor？Ican’tstandtalkingtoservants。
　　Isay，’IfIspeaktoyou，wellandgood’——andit’sanotherthingbesidesifshewerepretty。"
　　"Well，Ihopeouruglycookwillhavelunchreadyinaminute，"
　　saidAgnes。"We’refrightfullyunpunctualthismorning，andI
　　daren’tsayanything，becauseitwasthesameyesterday，andifI
　　complainagaintheymightleave。PoorRickiemustbestarved。"
　　"Why，theSiltsgavemeallthesesandwichesandI’venevereatenthem。Theyalwaysstuffone。"
　　"Andyouthoughtyou’dbetter，eh？"saidMr。Dawes，"incaseyouweren’tstuffedhere。"
　　MissPembroke，whohouse—keptsomewhateconomically，lookedannoyed。
　　ThevoiceofMr。Pembrokewasnowheardcallingfromthehouse，"Frederick！Frederick！Mydearboy，pardonme。ItwasanimportantletterabouttheChurchDefence，otherwise——。Comeinandseeyourroom。"
　　Hewasgladtoquitthelittlelawn。Hehadlearnttoomuchthere。Itwasdreadful:theydidnotloveeachother。
　　Moredreadfuleventhanthecaseofhisfatherandmother，forthey，untiltheymarried，hadgotonprettywell。Butthismanwasalreadyrudeandbrutalandcold:hewasstilltheschoolbullywhotwistedupthearmsoflittleboys，andranpinsintothematchapel，andstrucktheminthestomachwhentheywereswingingonthehorizontalbar。PoorAgnes;whyeverhadshedoneit？Oughtnotsomebodytointerfere？
　　Hehadforgottenhissandwiches，andwentbacktogetthem。
　　GeraldandAgneswerelockedineachother’sarms。
　　Heonlylookedforamoment，butthesightburntintohisbrain。
　　Theman’sgripwasthestronger。Hehaddrawnthewomanontohisknee，waspressingher，withallhisstrength，againsthim。
　　Alreadyherhandsslippedoffhim，andshewhispered，"Don’tyouhurt——"Herfacehadnoexpression。Itstaredattheintruderandneversawhim。Thenherloverkissedit，andimmediatelyitshonewithmysteriousbeauty，likesomestar。
　　Rickielimpedawaywithoutthesandwiches，crimsonandafraid。Hethought，"Dosuchthingsactuallyhappen？"andheseemedtobelookingdowncolouredvalleys。Brightertheyglowed，tillgodsofpureflamewereborninthem，andthenhewaslookingatpinnaclesofvirginsnow。WhileMr。Pembroketalked，theriotoffairimagesincreased。
　　Theyinvadedhisbeingandlitlampsatunsuspectedshrines。
　　Theirorchestracommencedinthatsuburbanhouse，wherehehadtostandasideforthemaidtocarryintheluncheon。Musicflowedpasthimlikeariver。Hestoodatthespringsofcreationandheardtheprimevalmonotony。Thenanobscureinstrumentgaveoutalittlephrase。
　　Therivercontinuedunheeding。ThephrasewasrepeatedandalistenermightknowitwasafragmentoftheTuneoftunes。
　　Noblerinstrumentsacceptedit，theclarionetprotected，thebrassencouraged，anditrosetothesurfacetothewhisperofviolins。InfullunisonwasLoveborn，flameoftheflame，flushingthedarkriverbeneathhimandthevirginsnowsabove。
　　Hiswingswereinfinite，hisyoutheternal;thesunwasajewelonhisfingerashepasseditinbenedictionovertheworld。
　　Creation，nolongermonotonous，acclaimedhim，inwideningmelody，inbrighterradiances。WasLoveacolumnoffire？Washeatorrentofsong？Washegreaterthaneither——thetouchofamanonawoman？
　　ItwasthemerestaccidentthatRickiehadnotbeendisgusted。
　　Butthishecouldnotknow。
　　Mr。Pembroke，whenhecalledthetwodawdlersintolunch，wasawareofahandonhisarmandavoicethatmurmured，"Don’t——
　　theymaybehappy。"
　　Hestared，andstruckthegong。Toitsmusictheyapproached，priestandhighpriestess。
　　"Rickie，canIgivethesesandwichestothebootboy？"saidtheone。"Hewouldlovethem。"
　　"Thegong！Bequick！Thegong！"
　　"Areyousmokingbeforelunch？"saidtheother。
　　Buttheyhadgotintoheaven，andnothingcouldgetthemoutofit。Othersmightthinkthemsurlyorprosaic。Heknew。Hecouldremembereverywordtheyspoke。Hewouldtreasureeverymotion，everyglanceofeither，andsointimetocome，whenthegatesofheavenhadshut，somefaintradiance，someechoofwisdommightremainwithhimoutside。