CHAPTER I It was a Sunday evening in October , and in common with , was pouring out tea .
Perhaps a fifth part of mind was thus occupied , and the remaining parts leapt over the little barrier of day which interposed between Monday morning and this rather subdued moment , and played with the things one does voluntarily and normally in the daylight .
But although was silent , was evidently of a situation which was familiar enough to , and inclined to let it take its way for the six hundredth time , perhaps , without bringing into play any of unoccupied faculties .
A single glance was enough to show that was so rich in the gifts which make tea-parties of successful , that scarcely needed any help from , provided that the tiresome business of teacups and bread and butter was discharged for .
Considering that had been seated round the tea-table for less than twenty minutes , the animation observable on faces , and the amount of sound were producing collectively , were very creditable to .
It suddenly came into ’s mind that if opened the door at this moment would think that were enjoying ; would think , “ What to come into ! ”
and instinctively laughed , and said something to increase the noise , for the credit of presumably , since had not been feeling exhilarated .
At the very same moment , rather to amusement , the door was flung open , and entered .
, as shook hands with , asked , in own mind , “ Now , do think ’re enjoying enormously ? ”
... “ , , ” said aloud , for saw that had forgotten name .
That fact was perceptible to also , and increased the awkwardness which inevitably attends the entrance of into .
At the same time , it seemed to as if a thousand softly padded doors had closed between and .
A fine mist , the etherealized essence of the fog , hung visibly in , all silver where the candles were grouped on , and ruddy again in the firelight .
With the omnibuses and cabs still running in head , and body still tingling with quick walk along and in and out of traffic and , seemed very remote and still ; and the faces of were mellowed , at some distance from each other , and had a bloom on owing to the fact that the air in was thickened by blue grains of mist .
had come in as , , reached the middle of a very long sentence .
kept this suspended while sat down , and deftly joined the severed parts by leaning towards and remarking : “ Now , what would do if were married to , and had to live in , ? ”
“ Surely could learn Persian , ” broke in .
“ Is there ? ”
“ has married and gone to live in , ” explained .
muttered something , which was indeed all that was required of , and went on where had left off .
Privately , cursed very sharply for having exchanged the freedom of for , where , among , certainly would not appear at best .
glanced round , and saw that , save for , were all over forty , the only consolation being that was , so that to-morrow one might be glad to have met .
“ Have ever been to ? ”
asked .
“ Never , ” replied .
“ Why do object to it , then ? ”
stirred tea , and seemed to speculate , so thought , upon the duty of filling ’s cup , but was really wondering how was going to keep in harmony with .
observed that was compressing teacup , so that there was danger lest the thin china might cave inwards .
could see that was nervous ; one would expect with face slightly reddened by the wind , and hair not altogether smooth , to be nervous in such a party .
Further , probably disliked this kind of thing , and had come out of curiosity , or because had invited -- anyhow , would not be easily combined with .
“ should think there would be to talk to in , ” replied at random .
had been observing for a moment or two , as are inclined to observe , and at this remark smiled , and made it the text for a little further speculation .
“ In spite of a slight tendency to exaggeration , decidedly hits the mark , ” said , and lying back in chair , with opaque contemplative eyes fixed on the ceiling , and the tips of fingers pressed together , depicted , first the horrors of , and then on , and then in which would live , and then and devoted to the more strenuous works of , and how appearance would change by degrees , and how would fly to , and how would have to lead about , as one leads an eager dog on a chain , past rows of , poor .
“ Oh , , ” exclaimed , as finished , “ had just written to say how envied !
was thinking of and .
Have ALL disappeared ?
told would find the nice things of without . ”
“ There is , ” said .
“ know there are , because read about in a book the other day , ” said .
“ am grieved and amazed at the ignorance of , ” remarked .
was , with a pair of oval , hazel eyes which were rather bright for time of life , and relieved the heaviness of face .
played constantly with a little green stone attached to watch-chain , thus displaying long and very sensitive fingers , and had a habit of moving head hither and thither very quickly without altering the position of large and rather corpulent body , so that seemed to be providing incessantly with food for amusement and reflection with the least possible expenditure of energy .
One might suppose that had passed the time of life when ambitions were personal , or that had gratified them as far as was likely to do , and now employed considerable acuteness rather to observe and reflect than to attain any result .
, so decided , while built up another rounded structure of words , had a likeness to each of , but these elements were rather oddly blended .
had the quick , impulsive movements of , the lips parting often to speak , and closing again ; and the dark oval eyes of brimming with light upon a basis of sadness , or , since was too young to have acquired a sorrowful point of view , one might say that the basis was not sadness so much as a spirit given to contemplation and self-control .
Judging by hair , coloring , and the shape of features , was striking , if not actually beautiful .
Decision and composure stamped , a combination of qualities that produced a very marked character , and one that was not calculated to put , at ease .
For the rest , was tall ; dress was of some quiet color , with old yellow-tinted lace for ornament , to which the spark of an ancient jewel gave its one red gleam .
noticed that , although silent , kept sufficient control of the situation to answer immediately appealed to for help , and yet it was obvious to that attended only with the surface skin of mind .
It struck that position at , among all , was not without its difficulties , and checked inclination to find , or attitude , generally antipathetic to .
The talk had passed over , after dealing with it very generously .
“ Would it be the Battle of or the Spanish Armada , ? ”
demanded .
“ , . ”
“ , of course !
How stupid of !
Another cup of tea , with a thin slice of lemon in it , and then , , please explain absurd little puzzle .
One ca n’t help believing , even if one meets in . ”
here interposed so far as was concerned , and talked a great deal of sense about ’ profession , and the changes which had seen in lifetime .
Indeed , properly fell to lot , owing to the fact that an article by upon some legal matter , published by in Review , had brought acquainted .
But when a moment later was announced , turned to , and found sitting silent , rejecting possible things to say , beside , who was silent too .
Being much about the same age and both under thirty , were prohibited from the use of a great many convenient phrases which launch conversation into smooth waters .
were further silenced by ’s rather malicious determination not to help , in whose upright and resolute bearing detected something hostile to surroundings , by any of the usual feminine amenities .
therefore sat silent , controlling desire to say something abrupt and explosive , which should shock into life .
But was immediately sensitive to any silence in , as of a dumb note in a sonorous scale , and leaning across the table observed , in the curiously tentative detached manner which always gave phrases the likeness of butterflies flaunting from to another , “ D’you know , , remind so much of ... .
Is it tie , , or hair , or the way sits in chair ?
Do tell , , are ?
, the other day , said to , ‘ Oh , no , do n’t read , . ’
What DO read , wonder ?
-- for ca n’t spend all time going up in and burrowing into . ”