Tilliardfledintoahansom，cursinghimselfforhavingtriedtodothethingcheaply。Hornbloweralsosweptpastyellingderisively，withhisluggageneatlypiledabovehishead。\"Let’sgetoutandwalk，\"mutteredAnsell。ButRickiewassuccouringadistressedfemale——Mrs。Aberdeen。
\"Oh，Mrs。Aberdeen，Ineversawyou:Iamsogladtoseeyou——I
amsoveryglad。\"Mrs。Aberdeenwascold。Shedidnotlikebeingspokentooutsidethecollege，andwasalsodistraitaboutherbasket。Hithertonogenteeleyehadevenseeninsideit，butinthecollisionitslittlecalicoveilfelloff，andtherevasrevealed——nothing。Thebasketwasempty，andneverwouldholdanythingillegal。Allthesameshewasdistrait，and\"Weshallmeetlater，sir，Idessy，\"wasallthegreetingRickiegotfromher。
\"NowwhatkindofalifehasMrs。Aberdeen？\"heexclaimed，asheandAnsellpursuedtheStationRoad。\"Herethesebedderscomeandmakeuscomfortable。Weoweanenormousamounttothem，theirwagesareabsurd，andweknownothingaboutthem。OfftheygotoBarnwell，andthentheirlivesarehidden。IjustknowthatMrs。
Aberdeenhasahusband，butthat’sall。Sheneverwilltalkabouthim。NowIdosowanttofillinherlife。Iseeone—halfofit。
What’stheotherhalf？Shemayhavearealjollyhouse，ingoodtaste，withalittlegardenandbooks，andpictures。Or，again，shemayn’t。Butinanycaseoneoughttoknow。Iknowshe’ddislikeit，butsheoughtn’ttodislike。Afterall，beddersaretoblameforthepresentlamentablestateofthings，justasmuchasgentlefolk。Sheoughttowantmetocome。Sheoughttointroducemetoherhusband。\"
TheyhadreachedthecornerofHillsRoad。Ansellspokeforthefirsttime。Hesaid，\"Ugh！\"
\"Drains？\"
\"Yes。Aspiritualcesspool。\"
Rickielaughed。
\"Iexpecteditfromyourletter。\"
\"Theoneyouneveranswered？\"
\"Ianswernoneofyourletters。Youarequitehopelessbynow。
Youcangotothebad。ButIrefusetoaccompanyyou。Irefusetobelievethateveryhumanbeingisamovingwonderofsupremeinterestandtragedyandbeauty——whichwaswhattheletterinquestionamountedto。You’llfindplentywhowillbelieveit。
It’saverypopularviewamongpeoplewhoaretooidletothink;
itsavesthemthetroubleofdetectingthebeautifulfromtheugly，theinterestingfromthedull，thetragicfromthemelodramatic。YouhadjustcomefromSawston，andwereapparentlycarriedawaybythefactthatMissPembrokehadtheusualamountofarmsandlegs。\"
Rickiewassilent。Hehadtoldhisfriendhowhefelt，butnotwhathadhappened。Ansellcoulddiscussloveanddeathadmirably，butsomehowhewouldnotunderstandloversoradyingman，andinthelettertherehadbeenscantallusiontotheseconcretefacts。
WouldCambridgeunderstandthemeither？Hewatchedsomedonswhowerepeepingintoanexcavation，andthrowinguptheirhandswithhumorousgesturesofdespair。ThesemenwouldlecturenextweekonCatiline’sconspiracy，onLuther，onEvolution，onCatullus。
Theydealtwithsomuchandtheyhadexperiencedsolittle。WasitpossiblehewouldevercometothinkCambridgenarrow？InhisshortlifeRickiehadknowntwosuddendeaths，andthatisenoughtodisarrangeanyplacidoutlookontheworld。Heknewonceforallthatweareallofusbubblesonanextremelyroughsea。Intothisseahumanityhasbuilt，asitwere，somelittlebreakwaters——scientificknowledge，civilizedrestraint——sothatthebubblesdonotbreaksofrequentlvorsosoon。Buttheseahasnotaltered，anditwasonlyachancethathe，Ansell，Tilliard，andMrs。Aberdeenhadnotallbeenkilledinthetram。
TheywaitedfortheothertrambytheRomanCatholicChurch，whosefloridbulkwasalreadyrecedingintotwilight。Itisthefirstbigbuildingthattheincomingvisitorsees。\"Oh，herecomethecolleges！\"criestheProtestantparent，andthenlearnsthatitwasbuiltbyaPapistwhomadeafortuneoutofmovableeyesfordolls。\"Builtoutofdoll’seyestocontainidols\"——that，atallevents，isthelegendandthejoke。Itwatchesovertheapostatecity，tallerbymanyayardthananythingwithin，andasserting，howeverwildly，thathereiseternity，stability，andbubblesunbreakableuponawindlesssea。
Acostlyhymntuneannouncedfiveo’clock，andinthedistancethemorelovablenoteofSt。Mary’scouldbeheard，speakingfromtheheartofthetown。Thenthetramarrived——theslowstuffytramthatplieseverytwentyminutesbetweentheunknownandthemarketplace——andtookthempastthedesecratedgroundsofDowning，pastAddenbrookesHospital，girtlikeaVenetianpalacewithamantlingcanal，pasttheFitzWilliam，toweringuponimmensesubstructionslikeanyRomantemple，rightuptothegatesofone’sowncollege，whichlookedlikenothingelseintheworld。
Theportersweregladtoseethem，butwishedithadbeenahansom。\"Ourluggage，\"explainedRickie，\"comesinthehotelomnibus，ifyouwouldkindlypayashillingformine。\"Ansellturnedasidetosomelargelightedwindows，theabodeofahospitabledon，andfromotherwindowstherefloatedfamiliarvoicesandthefamiliarmistakesinaBeethovensonata。Thecollege，thoughsmall，wascivilized，andproudofitscivilization。ItwasnotsufficientglorytobeaBluethere，noranadditionalglorytogetdrunk。ManyamaidenladywhohadreadthatCambridgemenweresaddogs，wassurprisedandperhapsalittledisappointedatthereasonablelifewhichgreetedher。
MissAppleblossominparticularhadhadatremendousshock。ThesightofyoungfellowsmakingteaanddrinkingwaterhadmadeherwonderwhetherthiswasCambridgeCollegeatall。\"Itisso，\"sheexclaimedafterwards。\"ItisjustasIsay;andwhat’smore，I
wouldn’thaveitotherwise;Stewartsaysit’saseasyaseasytogetintotheswim，andnotatallexpensive。\"Thedirectionoftheswimwasdeterminedalittlebythegeniusoftheplace——forplaceshaveagenius，thoughthelesswetalkaboutitthebetter——andagooddealbythetutorsandresidentfellows，whotreatedwithraredexteritytheproductsthatcameupyearlyfromthepublicschools。Theytaughttheperkyboythathewasnoteverything，andthelimpboythathemightbesomething。Theyevenwelcomedthoseboyswhowereneitherlimpnorperky，butodd——thoseboyswhohadneverbeenatapublicschoolatall，andsuchdonotfindawelcomeeverywhere。Andtheydideverythingwithease——onemightalmostsaywithnonchalance，sothattheboysnoticednothing，andreceivededucation，oftenforthefirsttimeintheirlives。
ButRickieturnedtononeofthesefriends，forjustthenhelovedhisroomsbetterthananyperson。Theywereallhereallypossessedintheworld，theonlyplacehecouldcallhisown。
Overthedoorwashisname，andthroughthepaint，likeagreyghost，hecouldstillreadthenameofhispredecessor。Withasighofjoyheenteredtheperishablehomethatwashisforacoupleofyears。Therewasabeautifulfire，andthekettleboiledatonce。Hemadeteaonthehearth—rugandatethebiscuitswhichMrs。AberdeenhadbroughtforhimupfromAnderson’s。\"Gentlemen，\"shesaid，\"mustlearntogiveandtake。\"
Hesighedagainandagain，likeonewhohadescapedfromdanger。
Withhisheadonthefenderandallhislimbsrelaxed，hefeltalmostassafeashefeltoncewhenhismotherkilledaghostinthepassagebycarryinghimthroughitinherarms。Therewasnoghostnow;hewasfrightenedatreality;hewasfrightenedatthesplendoursandhorrorsoftheworld。
AletterfromMissPembrokewasonthetable。Hedidnothurrytoopenit，forshe，andallthatshedid，wasoverwhelming。ShewroteliketheSibyl;hersorrowfulfacemovedoverthestarsandshatteredtheirharmonies;lastnighthesawherwiththeeyesofBlake，avirginwidow，tall，veiled，consecrated，withherhandsstretchedoutagainstaneverlastingwind。Whvshouldshewrite？
Herletterswerenotforthelikesofhim，nortobereadinroomslikehis。
\"WearenotleavingSawston，\"shewrote。\"IsawhowselfishitwasofmetoriskspoilingHerbert’scareer。Ishallgetusedtoanyplace。Nowthatheisgone，nothingofthatsortcanmatter。
Everyonehasbeenmostkind，butyouhavecomfortedmemost，thoughyoudidnotmeanto。Icannotthinkhowyoudidit，orunderstoodsomuch。Istillthinkofyouasalittleboywithalameleg，——Iknowyouwillletmesaythis，——andyetwhenitcametothepointyouknewmorethanpeoplewhohavebeenalltheirliveswithsorrowanddeath。\"
Rickieburntthisletter，whichheoughtnottohavedone，foritwasoneofthefewtributesMissPembrokeeverpaidtoimagination。Buthefeltthatitdidnotbelongtohim:wordssosincereshouldbeforGeraldalone。Thesmokerushedupthechimney，andheindulgedinavision。Hesawitreachtheouterairandbeatagainstthelowceilingofclouds。Thecloudsweretoostrongforit;butinthemwasonechink，revealingonestar，andthroughthisthesmokeescapedintothelightofstarsinnumerable。Then——butthenthevisionfailed，andthevoiceofsciencewhisperedthatallsmokeremainsonearthintheformofsmuts，andistroublesometoMrs。Aberdeen。
\"Iamjollyunpractical，\"hemused。\"Andwhatisthepointofitwhenrealthingsaresowonderful？WhowantsvisionsinaworldthathasAgnesandGerald？\"Heturnedontheelectriclightandpulledopenthetable—drawer。There，amongspoonsandcorksandstring，hefoundafragmentofalittlestorythathehadtriedtowritelastterm。Itwascalled\"TheBayoftheFifteenIslets，\"andtheactiontookplaceonSt。John’sEveoffthecoastofSicily。Apartyoftouristslandononeoftheislands。
Suddenlytheboatmenbecomeuneasy，andsaythattheislandisnotgenerallythere。Itisanextraone，andtheyhadbetterhaveteaononeoftheordinaries。\"Pooh，volcanic！\"saystheleadingtourist，andtheladiessayhowinteresting。Theislandbeginstorock，andsodothemindsofitsvisitors。Theystartandquarrelandjabber。Fingersburstupthroughthesand—blackfingersofseadevils。Theislandtilts。Thetouristsgomad。Butjustbeforethecatastropheoneman，integervitcescelerisquepurus，seesthetruth。Herearenodevils。Othermuscles，otherminds，arepullingtheislandtoitssubterraneanhome。Throughtheadvancingwallofwatersheseesnogrislyfaces，noghastlymedievallimbs，but——Butwhatnonsense！Whenrealthingsaresowonderful，whatisthepointofpretending？
AndsoRickiedeflectedhisenthusiasms。Hithertotheyhadplayedongodsandheroes，ontheinfiniteandtheimpossible，onvirtueandbeautyandstrength。Now，withasteadierradiance，theytransfiguredamanwhowasdeadandawomanwhowasstillalive。
VII
Love，sayorderlypeople，canbefallenintobytwomethods:（1）
throughthedesires，（2）throughtheimagination。AndiftheorderlypeopleareEnglish，theyaddthat（1）istheinferiormethod，andcharacteristicoftheSouth。Itisinferior。Yetthosewhopursueitatalleventsknowwhattheywant;theyarenotpuzzlingtothemselvesorludicroustoothers;theydonottakethewingsofthemorningandflyintotheuttermostpartsoftheseabeforewalkingtotheregistryoffice;theycannotbreedatragedyquitelikeRickie’s。
Heis，ofcourse，absurdlyyoung——nottwenty—oneandhewillbeengagedtobemarriedattwenty—three。Hehasnoknowledgeoftheworld;forexample，hethinksthatifyoudonotwantmoneyyoucangiveittofriendswhodo。Hebelievesinhumanitybecauseheknowsadozendecentpeople。Hebelievesinwomenbecausehehaslovedhismother。Andhisfriendsareasyoungandasignorantashimself。Theyarefullofthewineoflife。Buttheyhavenottastedthecup——letuscallittheteacup——ofexperience，whichhasmademenofMr。Pembroke’stypewhattheyare。Oh，thatteacup！Tobetakenatprayers，atfriendship，atlove，tillwearequitesane，efficient，quiteexperienced，andquiteuselesstoGodorman。Wemustdrinkit，orweshalldie。Butweneednotdrinkitalways。Hereisourproblemandoursalvation。Therecomesamoment——Godknowswhen——atwhichwecansay，\"Iwillexperiencenolonger。Iwillcreate。Iwillbeanexperience。\"
Buttodothiswemustbebothacuteandheroic。Foritisnoteasy，afteracceptingsixcupsoftea，tothrowtheseventhinthefaceofthehostess。AndtoRickiethismomenthasnot，asyet，beenoffered。
Ansell，attheendofhisthirdyear，gotafirstintheMoralScienceTripos。Beingascholar，hekepthisroomsincollege，andatoncebegantoworkforaFellowship。RickiegotacreditablesecondintheClassicalTripos，PartI。，andretiredtosallowlodgingsinMillbane，carryingwithhimthedegreeofB。A。andasmallexhibition，whichwasquiteasmuchashedeserved。ForPartII。hereadGreekArchaeology，andgotasecond。AllthismeansthatAnsellwasmuchclevererthanRickie。
Asforthecow，shewasstillgoingstrong，thoughturningalittleacademicastheyearspassedoverher。
\"Weareboundtogetnarrow，\"sighedRickie。Heandhisfriendwerelyinginameadowduringtheirlastsummerterm。Inhisincurableloveforflowershehadplaitedtwogarlandsofbuttercupsandcow—parsley，andAnsell’sleanJewishfacewasframedinoneofthem。\"Cambridgeiswonderful，but——butit’ssotiny。Youhavenoidea——atleast，Ithinkyouhavenoidea——howthegreatworldlooksdownonit。\"
\"Ireadthelettersinthepapers。\"
\"It’sabadlook—out。\"
\"How？\"
\"Cambridgehaslosttouchwiththetimes。\"
\"Wassheeverintendedtotouchthem？\"
\"Shesatisfies，\"saidRickiemysteriously，\"neithertheprofessions，northepublicschools，northegreatthinkingmassofmenandwomen。Thereisageneralfeelingthatherdayisover，andnaturallyonefeelsprettysick。\"
\"Doyoustillwriteshortstories？\"
\"BecauseyourEnglishhasgonetothedevil。YouthinkandtalkinJournalese。Defineagreatthinkingmass。\"
Rickiesatupandadjustedhisfloralcrown。
\"Estimatetheworthofageneralfeeling。\"
Silence。
\"Andthirdly，whereisthegreatworld？\"
\"Ohthat——！\"
\"Yes。That，\"exclaimedAnsell，risingfromhiscouchinviolentexcitement。\"Whereisit？Howdoyousetaboutfindingit？Howlongdoesittaketogetthere？Whatdoesitthink？Whatdoesitdo？Whatdoesitwant？Obligemewithspecimensofitsartandliterature。\"Silence。\"Tillyoudo，myopinionswillbeasfollows:Thereisnogreatworldatall，onlyalittleearth，foreverisolatedfromtherestofthelittlesolarsystem。Theearthisfulloftinysocieties，andCambridgeisoneofthem。Allthesocietiesarenarrow，butsomearegoodandsomearebad——justasonehouseisbeautifulinsideandanotherugly。Observethemetaphorofthehouses:Iamcomingbacktoit。Thegoodsocietiessay，`ItellyoutodothisbecauseIamCambridge。’
Thebadonessay，`ItellyoutodothatbecauseIamthegreatworld，notbecauseIam’Peckham，’or`Billingsgate，’or`ParkLane，’but`becauseIamthegreatworld。’Theylie。Andfoolslikeyoulistentothem，andbelievethattheyareathingwhichdoesnotexistandneverhasexisted，andconfuse’great，’whichhasnomeaningwhatever，with’good，’whichmeanssalvation。Lookatthisgreatwreath:it’llbedeadtomorrow。Lookatthatgoodflower:it’llcomeupagainnextyear。Nowfortheothermetaphor。TocomparetheworldtoCambridgeislikecomparingtheoutsidesofhouseswiththeinsideofahouse。Nointellectualeffortisneeded，nomoralresultisattained。Youonlyhavetosay，’Oh，whatadifference！’andthencomeindoorsagainandexhibityourbroadenedmind。\"
\"Inevershallcomeindoorsagain，\"saidRickie。\"That’sthewholepoint。\"Andhisvoicebegantoquiver。\"It’swellenoughforthosewho’llgetaFellowship，butinafewweeksIshallgodown。Inafewyearsit’llbeasifI’veneverbeenup。Itmattersverymuchtomewhattheworldislike。Ican’tansweryourquestionsaboutit;andthat’snolosstoyou，butsomuchtheworseforme。Andthenyou’vegotahouse——notametaphoricalone，butahousewithfatherandsisters。Ihaven’t，andnevershallhave。There’llneveragainbeahomeformelikeCambridge。
Ishallonlylookattheoutsideofhomes。Accordingtoyourmetaphor，Ishallliveinthestreet，anditmattersverymuchtomewhatIfindthere。\"
\"You’llliveinanotherhouserightenough，\"saidAnsell，ratheruneasily。\"Onlytakecareyoupickoutadecentone。Ican’tthinkwhyyouflopaboutsohelplessly，likeabitofseaweed。Infouryearsyou’vetakenasmuchrootasanyone。\"
\"Where？\"
\"Ishouldsayyou’vebeenfortunateinyourfriends。\"
\"Oh——that！\"Buthewasnotcynical——orcynicalinaverytenderway。Hewasthinkingoftheironyoffriendship——sostrongitis，andsofragile。Weflytogether，likestrawsinaneddy，topartintheopenstream。Naturehasnouseforus:shehascutherstuffdifferently。Dutifulsons，lovinghusbands，responsiblefathersthesearewhatshewants，andifwearefriendsitmustbeinoursparetime。AbramandSaraiweresorrowful，yettheirseedbecameassandofthesea，anddistractsthepoliticsofEuropeatthismoment。ButafewversesofpoetryisallthatsurvivesofDavidandJonathan。
\"Iwishwewerelabelled，\"saidRickie。HewishedthatalltheconfidenceandmutualknowledgethatisborninsuchaplaceasCambridgecouldbeorganized。Peoplewentdownintotheworldsaying，\"Weknowandlikeeachother;weshan’tforget。\"Buttheydidforget，formanissomadethathecannotrememberlongwithoutasymbol;hewishedtherewasasociety，akindoffriendshipoffice，wherethemarriageoftruemindscouldberegistered。
\"Whylabels？\"
\"Toknoweachotheragain。\"
\"Ihavetaughtyoupessimismsplendidly。\"Helookedathiswatch。
\"Whattime？\"
\"Nottwelve。\"
Rickiegotup。
\"Whygo？\"HestretchedouthishandandcaughtholdofRickie’sankle。
\"I’vegotthatMissPembroketolunch——thatgirlwhomyousaynever’sthere。\"
\"Thenwhygo？AllthisweekyouhavepretendedMissPembrokeawaitedyou。Wednesday——MissPembroketolunch。Thursday——MissPembroketotea。Nowagain——andyoudidn’teveninviteher。\"
\"ToCambridge，no。ButtheHallmanthey’restoppingwithhassomanyengagementsthatsheandherfriendcanoftencometome，I’mgladtosay。Idon’tthinkIevertoldyoumuch，butovertwoyearsagothemanshewasgoingtomarrywaskilledatfootball。
Shenearlydiedofgrief。ThisvisittoCambridgeisalmostthefirstamusementshehasfeltuptotaking。Oh，theygobacktomorrow！Givemebreakfasttomorrow。\"
\"Allright。\"
\"ButIshallseeyouthisevening。IshallberoundatyourpaperonSchopenhauer。Lemmego。\"
\"Don’tgo，\"hesaididly。\"It’smuchbetterforyoutotalktome。\"
\"Lemmego，Stewart。\"
\"It’samusingthatyou’resofeeble。You——simply——can’t——get——
away。
IwishIwantedtobullyyou。\"
Rickielaughed，andsuddenlyoverbalancedintothegrass。
Ansell，withunusualplayfulness，heldhimprisoner。Theylaythereforfewminutes，talkingandraggingaimlessly。ThenRickieseizedhisopportunityandjerkedaway。
\"Go，go！\"yawnedtheother。Buthewasalittlevexed，forhewasayoungmanwithgreatcapacityforpleasure，anditpleasedhimthatmorningtobewithhisfriend。Thethoughtoftwoladieswaitinglunchdidnotdeterhim;stupidwomen，whyshouldn’ttheywait？Whyshouldtheyinterferewiththeirbetters？WithhisearonthegroundhelistenedtoRickie’sdepartingsteps，andthought，\"Hewastesalotoftimekeepingengagements。Whywillhebepleasanttofools？\"Andthenhethought，\"Whyhasheturnedsounhappy？Itisn’tasithe’saphilosopher，ortriestosolvetheriddleofexistence。Andhe’sgotmoneyofhisown:\"Thusthinking，hefellasleep。
MeanwhileRickiehurriedawayfromhim，andslackenedandstopped，andhurriedagain。HewasdueattheUnionintenminutes，buthecouldnotbringhimselfthere。HedarednotmeetMissPembroke:helovedher。
Thedevilmusthaveplannedit。Theyhadstartedsogloriously;
shehadbeenagoddessbothinjoyandsorrow。Shewasagoddessstill。Buthehaddethronedthegodwhomoncehehadglorifiedequally。Slowly，slowly，theimageofGeraldhadfaded。Thatwasthefirststep。Rickiehadthought，\"Nomatter。Hewillbebrightagain。Justnowalltheradiancechancestobeinher。\"Andonherhehadfixedhiseyes。Hethoughtofherawake。Heentertainedherwillinglyindreams。Hefoundherinpoetryandmusicandinthesunset。Shemadehimkindandstrong。Shemadehimclever。ThroughherhekeptCambridgeinitsproperplace，andlivedasacitizenofthegreatworld。Butonenighthedreamtthatshelayinhisarms。Thisdispleasedhim。HedeterminedtothinkalittleaboutGeraldinstead。Thenthefabriccollapsed。
ItwashardonRickiethustomeetthedevil。Hedidnotdeserveit，forhewascomparativelycivilized，andknewthattherewasnothingshamefulinlove。Buttolovethiswoman！Ifonlyithadbeenanyoneelse！Loveinreturn——thathecouldexpectfromnoone，beingtoouglyandtoounattractive。Buttheloveheofferedwouldnotthenhavebeenvile。TheinsulttoMissPembroke，whowasconsecrated，andwhomhehadconsecrated，whocouldstillseeGerald，andalwayswouldseehim，shiningonhiseverlastingthronethiswasthecrimefromthedevil，thecrimethatnopenancewouldeverpurge。Sheknewnothing。Sheneverwouldknow。
Butthecrimewasregisteredinheaven。
HehadbeentemptedtoconfideinAnsell。Buttowhatpurpose？Hewouldsay，\"IloveMissPembroke。\"andStewartwouldreply，\"Youass。\"Andthen。\"I’mnevergoingtotellher。\"\"Youass，\"again。
Afterall，itwasnotapracticalquestion;Agneswouldneverhearofhisfall。Ifhisfriendhadbeen，asheexpressedit，\"labelled\";ifhehadbeenafather，orstillbetterabrother，onemighttellhimofthediscreditablepassion。Butwhyirritatehimfornoreason？Thinking\"Iamalwaysanglingforsympathy;I
muststopmyself，\"hehurriedonwardtotheUnion。
Hefoundhisguestshalfwayupthestairs，readingtheadvertisementsofcoachesfortheLongVacation。HeheardMrs。
Lewinsay，\"Iwonderwhathe’llendbydoing。\"Alittleoveractinghispart，heapologizednonchalantlyforhislateness。
\"It’salwaysthesame，\"criedAgnes。\"LasttimeheforgotIwascomingaltogether。\"Sheworeafloweredmuslin——somethingindescribablyliquidandcool。Itremindedhimalittleofthoseswiftpiercingstreams，neitherbluenorgreen，thatgushoutofthedolomites。Herfacewasclearandbrown，likethefaceofamountaineer;herhairwassoplentifulthatitseemedbankedupaboveit;andherlittletoque，thoughitansweredthenoteofthedress，wasalmostludicrous，poisedonsomuchnaturalglory。
Whenshemoved，thesunlightflashedonherear—rings。
Heledthemuptotheluncheon—room。Bynowhewasconsciousofhislimitationsasahost，andneverattemptedtoentertainladiesinhislodgings。Moreover，theUnionseemedlessintimate。
IthadafaintflavourofaLondonclub;itmarkedtheundergraduate’snearestapproachtothegreatworld。Amiditswaitersandserviettesonefeltimpersonal，andabletoconcealtheprivateemotions。RickiefeltthatifMissPembrokeknewonethingabouthim，shekneweverything。Duringthisvisithetookhertonoplacethathegreatlyloved。
\"Sitdown，ladies。Fallto。I’msorry。IwasouttowardsCotonwithadreadfulfriend。\"
Mrs。Lewinpushedupherveil。ShewasatypicalMay—termchaperon，alwayspleasant，alwayshungry，andalwaystired。YearafteryearshecameuptoCambridgeinatightsilkdress，andyearafteryearshenearlydiedofit。Herfeethurt，herlimbswerecrampedinacanoe，blackspotsdancedbeforehereyesfromeatingtoomuchmayonnaise。Butstillshecame，ifnotasamotherasanaunt，ifnotasanauntasafriend。StillsheascendedtheroofofKing’s，stillshecountedtheballsofClare，stillshewasonthepointofgraspingtheorganizationoftheMayraces。\"Andwhoisyourfriend？\"sheasked。
\"HisnameisAnsell。\"
\"Well，now，didIseehimtwoyearsago——asabedmakerinsomethingtheydidattheFootLights？Oh，howIroared。\"
\"Youdidn’tseeMr。AnsellattheFootLights，\"saidAgnes，smiling。
\"Howdoyouknow？\"askedRickie。
\"He’dscarcelybesofrivolous。\"
\"Doyourememberseeinghim？\"
\"Foramoment。\"
Whatamemoryshehad！Andhowsplendidlyduringthatmomentshehadbehaved！
\"Isn’themarvellouslyclever？\"
\"Ibelieveso。\"
\"Oh，givemecleverpeople！\"criedMrs。Lewin。\"TheyarekindnessitselfattheHall，butIassureyouIamdepressedattimes。Onecannottalkbump—rowingforever。\"
\"Ineverhearabouthim，Rickie;butisn’thereallyyourgreatestfriend？\"
\"Idon’tgoinforgreatestfriends。\"
\"Doyoumeanyoulikeusallequally？\"
\"Alldifferently，thoseofyouIlike。\"
\"Ah，you’vecaughtit！\"criedMrs。Lewin。\"Mr。Elliotgaveityoutherewell。\"
Agneslaughed，and，herelbowsonthetable，regardedthemboththroughherfingers——ahabitofhers。Thenshesaid，\"Can’tweseethegreatMr。Ansell？\"
\"Oh，let’s。Orwouldhefrightenme？\"
\"Hewouldfrightenyou，\"saidRickie。\"He’satrifleweird。\"
\"MygoodRickie，ifyouknewthedeathlydullnessofSawston——
everyonesayingtheproperthingatthepropertime，Isoproper，Herbertsoproper！Why，weirdnessistheonethingIlongfor！Doarrangesomething。\"
\"I’mafraidthere’snoopportunity。Ansellgoessomevastbicycleridethisafternoon;thiseveningyou’retiedupattheHall;andtomorrowyougo。\"
\"Butthere’sbreakfasttomorrow，\"saidAgnes。\"Lookhere，Rickie，bringMr。AnselltobreakfastwithusatBuoys。\"
Mrs。Lewinsecondedtheinvitation。
\"Badluckagain，\"saidRickieboldly;\"I’malreadyfixedupforbreakfast。I’lltellhimofyourverykindintention。\"
\"Let’shavehimalone，\"murmuredAgnes。
\"Mydeargirl，Ishoulddiethroughthefloor！Oh，it’llbeallrightaboutbreakfast。IratherthinkweshallgetaskedthiseveningbythatshymanwhohastheprettyroomsinTrinity。\"
\"Oh，verywell。Whereisityoubreakfast，Rickie？\"