TheywerenamedBastinandBickley。Bastin——BasilwashisChristianname——wasanuncouth，shock—headed，flat—footedpersonoflarge，ruggedframeandequallyruggedhonesty，withamindalmostincrediblysimple。Nothingsurprisedhimbecausehelackedthefacultyofsurprise。Hewaslikethatkindoffishwhichliesatthebottomoftheseaandtakeseverykindoffoodintoitsgreatmawwithoutdistinguishingitsflavour。Metaphoricallyspeaking，heavenlymannaanddecayedcabbagewerejustthesametoBastin。Hewasnotfastidiousandbothwerementalpabulum——ofasort——togetherwithwhateverlaybetweentheseextremes。Yethewasgood，sopainfullygoodthatonefeltthatwithoutexertiontohimselfhehadbookedafirst—classticketstraighttoHeaven；
indeedthathisguardianangelhadtieditroundhisneckatbirthlestheshouldloseit，alreadynumberedanddatedlikeanidentificationdisc。
IamboundtoaddthatBastinneverwentwrongbecauseheneverfelttheslightesttemptationtodoso。ThisIsupposeconstitutesrealvirtue，since，inviewofcertainBiblesayings，thepersonwhoistemptedandwouldliketoyieldtothetemptation，isequallyasinnerwiththepersonwhodoesyield。
Tobetrulygoodoneshouldbetoogoodtobetempted，ortooweaktomaketheeffortworththetempter’swhile——inshortnotdeservingofhispowderandshot。
IneedhardlyaddthatBastinwentintotheChurch；indeed，hecouldnothavegoneanywhereelse；itabsorbedhimnaturally，asdoubtlessHeavenwilldoinduecourse。OnlyIthinkitlikelythatuntiltheygettoknowhimhewillboretheangelssomuchthattheywillcontinuallymovehimuphigher。Alsoiftheyhaveanysusceptibilitiesleft，probablyhewilltreadupontheirtoes——anartinwhichIneverknewhisequal。However，IalwayslovedBastin，perhapsbecausenooneelsedid，afactofwhichheremainedtotallyunconscious，orperhapsbecauseofhisbrutalwayoftellingonewhatheconceivedtobethetruth，which，ashehadlessimaginationthanadormouse，generallyitwasnot。
Forifthetruthisajewel，itisonecolouredandveiledbymanydifferentlightsandatmospheres。
Itonlyremainstoaddthathewaslearnedinhistheologicalfashionandthatamonghisfurtherpeculiaritiesweretheslow，monotonousvoiceinwhichheutteredhisviewsinlongsentences，andhistotalindifferencetoadverseargumenthoweversoundandconvincing。
Myotherfriend，Bickley，wasapersonofaquitedifferentcharacter。LikeBastin，hewaslearned，buthistendenciesfacedanotherway。IfBastin’somnivorousthroatcouldswallowacamel，especiallyatheologicalcamel，Bickley’swouldstrainatthesmallestgnat，especiallyatheologicalgnat。Theverybestandmostuprightofmen，yethebelievedinnothingthathecouldnottaste，seeorhandle。Hewasconvinced，forinstance，thatmanisabrute—descendedaccidentandnomore，thatwhatwecallthesoulorthemindisproducedbyacertainactionofthegreymatterofthebrain；thateverythingapparentlyinexplicablehasaperfectlymundaneexplanation，ifonlyonecouldfindit；thatmiraclescertainlyneverdidhappen，andneverwill；thatallreligionsarethefruitofhumanhopesandfearsandthemostconvincingproofofhumanweakness；thatnotwithstandingourinfinitevariationswearethesubjectsofNature’ssinglelawandthevictimsofblind，blackandbrutalchance。
SuchwasBickleywithhisclever，well—cutfacethatalwaysremindedmeofacameo，andthoughtfulbrow；hisstrong，capablehandsandhisrathersteelymouth，themeresetofwhichsuggestedcontroversyofanuncompromisingkind。NaturallyastheChurchhadclaimedBastin，somedicineclaimedBickley。
NowasithappenedthemanwhosucceededmyfatherasvicarofFulcombewasgivenabetterlivingandwentawayshortlyafterI
hadpurchasedtheplaceandwithittheadvowson。JustatthistimealsoIreceivedaletterwritteninthelarge，sprawlinghandofBastinfromwhomIhadnotheardforyears。Itwentstraighttothepoint，sayingthathe，Bastin，hadseeninaChurchpaperthatthelastincumbenthadresignedthelivingofFulcombewhichwasinmygift。HewouldthereforebeobligedifI
wouldgiveittohimastheplacehewasatinYorkshiredidnotsuithiswife’shealth。
HereImaystatethatafterwardsIlearnedthatwhatdidnotsuitMrs。Bastinwastheorganist，whowaspretty。ShewasbynatureawomanwithatemperamentsoinsanelyjealousthatactuallyshemanagedtobesuspiciousofBastin，whomshehadcapturedinanunguardedmomentwhenhewasthinkingofsomethingelseandwhowouldassoonhavethoughtofevenlookingatanywomanashewouldofworshippingBaal。Asamatteroffactittookhimmonthstoknowonefemalefromanother。ExceptaspossibleprovidersofsubscriptionsandpropsofMothers’
Meetings，womenhadnointerestforhim。
Toreturn——withthatengaginghonestywhichIhavementioned——
Bastin’sletterwentontosetoutallhisowndisabilities，which，headded，wouldprobablyrenderhimunsuitablefortheplacehedesiredtofill。HewasaHighChurchman，afactwhichwouldcertainlyoffendmany；hehadnoclaimstobeingapreacheralthoughhewasextraordinarilywellacquaintedwiththewritingsoftheEarlyFathers。（Whatonearthhadthattodowiththequestion，Iwondered。）Ontheotherhandhehadgenerallybeenconsideredagoodvisitorandwasfondofwalking（hemeanttocallondistantparishioners，butdidnotsayso）。
Thenfollowedapageandahalfontheevilsoftheexistingsystemofthepresentationtolivingsbyprivatepersons，endingwiththesuggestionthatIhadprobablycommittedasininbuyingthisparticularadvowsoninordertoincreasemylocalauthority，thatis，ifIhadboughtit，apointonwhichhewasignorant。
Finallyheinformedmethatashehadtochristenasickbabyfivemilesawayonacertainmooranditwastoowetforhimtoridehisbicycle，hemuststop。Andhestopped。
Therewas，however，aP。S。totheletter，whichranasfollows：
\"Someonetoldmethatyouweredeadafewyearsago，andofcourseitmaybeanothermanofthesamenamewhoownsFulcombe。
Ifso，nodoubtthePostOfficewillsendbackthisletter。\"
Thatwashisonlyallusiontomyhumbleselfinallthosediffusepages。ItwasalongwhilesinceIhadreceivedanepistlewhichmademelaughsomuch，andofcourseIgavehimthelivingbyreturnofpost，andeveninformedhimthatIwouldincreaseitsstipendtoasumwhichIconsideredsuitabletotheposition。
AbouttendayslaterIreceivedanotherletterfromBastinwhich，asascrawlontheflapoftheenvelopeinformedme，hehadcarriedforaweekinhispocketandforgottentopost。
Exceptbyinferenceitreturnednothanksformyintendedbenefits。Whatitdidsay，however，wasthathethoughtitwrongofmetohavesettledamatterofsuchspiritualimportanceinsogreatahurry，thoughhehadobservedthatrichmenwerenearlyalwaysselfishwheretheirtimewasconcerned。Moreover，heconsideredthatIoughtfirsttohavemadeinquiriesastohispresentcharacterandattainments，etc。，etc。
TothisepistleIrepliedbytelegraphtotheeffectthatI
shouldassoonthinkofmakinginquiriesaboutthecharacterofanarchangel，orthatofoneofhisHighChurchsaints。Thistelegram，hetoldmeafterwards，heconsideredunseemlyandevenribald，especiallyasithadgivengreatoffencetothepostmaster，whowasoneofthesidesmeninhischurch。
ThusitcameaboutthatIappointedtheRev。BasilBastintothelivingofFulcombe，feelingsurethathewouldprovidemewithendlessamusementandactasamoraltonicanddiscipline。
AlsoIappreciatedtheman’sbluntcandour。Induecoursehearrived，andIconfessthatafterafewSundaysofexperienceI
begantohavedoubtsastothewisdomofmychoice，gladasIwastoseehimpersonally。Hissermonsatonceboredme，and，whentheydidnotsendmetosleep，excitedinmeadesirefordebate。
Howcouldhebesoprofoundlyacquaintedwithmysteriesbeforewhichtheworldhadstoodamazedforages？Wastherenothingtoohotortooheavyinthespiritualwayforhimtodismissinafewblunderingandcasualwords，ashemightanyordinaryincidentofevery—daylife，Iwondered？AlsohisideaofHighChurchobservanceswasnotmine，or，Iimagine，thatofanybodyelse。
ButIwillnotattempttosetitout。
Hispeculiarities，however，wereeasytoexcuseandentirelyswallowedupbytheinnategoodnessofhisnaturewhichsoonmadehimbelovedofeveryoneintheplace，foralthoughhethoughtthatprobablymostthingsweresins，Ineverknewhimtodiscoverasinwhichheconsideredtobebeyondthereachofforgiveness。
Bastinwasindeedamostcharitablemanandinhiswaywide—minded。
ThepersonwhomIcouldnottolerate，however，washiswife，who，tomyfancy，moreresembledavessel，averyunattractivevessel，fullofvinegarthanawoman。HernamewasSarahandshewassmall，plain，flat，sandy—hairedandodious，quiteobsessed，moreover，withherjealousiesoftheRev。Basil，atwhomitpleasedhertosupposethateverywomaninthecountrysideunderfiftywasthrowingherself。
HereIwillconfessthattothebestofmyabilityItookcarethattheydidinoutwardseeming，thatis，whenevershewaspresent，instructingthemtositasidewithhimindarkenedcorners，topresenthimwithflowers，andsoforth。Severalofthemeasilyfellintothehumourofthething，andIhaveseenhimdepartfromadinner—partyfollowedbythatgloweringSarah，withahandfulofrosebudsandviolets，tosaynothingofthetraditionalofferingsofslippers，embroideredmarkersandthelike。Well，itwasmyonlywayofcomingevenwithher，whichI
thinksheknew，forshehatedmepoisonously。
SomuchforBasilBastin。NowforBickley。HimIhadmetonseveraloccasionssinceourcollegedays，andafterIwassettledatthePrioryfromtimetotimeIaskedhimtostaywithme。Atlengthhecame，andIfoundoutthathewasnotatallcomfortableinhisLondonpracticewhichwasofanatureuncongenialtohim；further，thathedidnotgetonwithhispartners。Then，afterreflection，Imadeasuggestiontohim。I
pointedoutthat，owingtoitspopularityamongstseasidevisitors，theneighbourhoodofFulcombewasarisingone，andthatalthoughthereweredoctorsinit，therewasnoreallyfirst—classsurgeonformiles。
NowBickleywasafirst—classsurgeon，havingheldveryhighhospitalappointments，andindeedstillholdingthem。Why，I
asked，shouldhenotcomeandsetuphereonhisown？IwouldappointhimdoctortotheestateandalsogivehimchargeofacottagehospitalwhichIwasendowing，withlibertytobuildandarrangeitasheliked。Further，asIconsideredthatitwouldbeofgreatadvantagetometohaveamanofrealabilitywithinreach，IwouldguaranteeforthreeyearswhateverincomehewasearninginLondon。
Hethankedmewarmlyandintheendactedontheidea，withstartlingresultssofarashisprospectswereconcerned。Verysoonhisreallyremarkableskillbecameknownandhewasearningmoremoneythanasanunmarriedmanhecouldpossiblywant。
Indeed，scarcelyabigoperationtookplaceatanytownwithintwentymiles，andevenmuchfartheraway，atwhichhewasnotcalledintoassist。
Needlesstosayhisadventwasagreatboontome，forashelivedinahouseIlethimquitenearby，wheneverhehadaspareeveninghewoulddropintodinner，andfromourabsolutelyoppositestandpointswediscussedallthingshumananddivine。
ThusIwasenabledtosharpenmywitsuponthehardsteelofhisclearintellectwhichwasyet，inasense，solimited。
ImustaddthatIneverconvertedhimtomywayofthinkingandheneverconvertedmetohis，anymorethanheconvertedBastin，forwhom，queerlyenough，hehadaliking。Theypoundedawayateachother，Bickleyfrequentlygettingthebestofitintheargument，andwhenatlastBastinrosetogo，hegenerallymadethesameremark。Itwas：
\"Itreallyissad，mydearBickley，tofindamanofyourintellectsoutterlywrongheadedandmisguided。Ihaveconvictedyouoferroratleasthalfadozentimes，andnottoconfessitismerepigheadedness。Goodnight。IamsurethatSarahwillbesittingupforme。\"
\"Sillyoldidiot！\"Bickleywouldsay，shakinghisfistafterhim。\"Theonlywaytogethimtoseethetruthwouldbetosawhisheadopenandpouritin。\"
Thenwewouldbothlaugh。
Suchweremytwomostintimatefriends，althoughIadmititwasratherliketheequatorcultivatingcloserelationshipswiththenorthandsouthpoles。CertainlyBastinwasasfarfromBickleyasthosepointsoftheearthareapart，whileI。asitwere，satequallydistantbetweenthetwo。However，wewereallveryhappytogether，sinceincertaincharacters，therearefewthingsthatbindmenmorecloselythanprofounddifferencesofopinion。
NowImustturntomymorepersonalaffairs。Afterall，itisimpossibleforamantosatisfyhissoul，ifhehasanythingofthesortabouthimwhichintheremotestdegreeanswerstothatdescription，withthehusksofwealth，luxuryandindolence，supplementedbyoccasionaltheologicalandotherargumentsbetweenhisfriends；Becomingprofoundlyconvincedofthistruth，Isearchedroundforsomethingtodoand，likeNoah’sdoveonthewasteofwaters，foundnothing。ThenIaskedBickleyandBastinfortheiropinionsastomybestfuturecourse。Bickleyprovedabarrendraw。HerubbedhisnoseandfeeblysuggestedthatImightgoinfor\"researchwork，\"which，ofcourse，onlyrepresentedhisownambitions。IaskedhimindignantlyhowIcoulddosuchathingwithoutanyscientificqualificationswhatever。Headmittedthedifficulty，butrepliedthatImightendowotherswhohadthequalifications。
\"Inshort，becomeamuchcowforsuckingscientists，\"I
replied，andbrokeofftheconversation。
Bastin’sideawas，first，thatIshouldteachinaSundaySchool；secondly，thatifthiscareerdidnotsatisfyallmyaspirations，Imightbeordainedandbecomeamissionary。
Onmyrejectionofthisbrilliantadvice，heremarkedthattheonlyotherthinghecouldthinkofwasthatIshouldgetmarriedandhavealargefamily，whichmightpossiblyadvantagethenationandultimatelyenrichtheKingdomofHeaven，thoughofsuchthingsnoonecouldbequitesure。Atanyrate，hewascertainthatatpresentIwasinpracticeneglectingmyduty，whateveritmightbe，andinfactoneofthosecumberersoftheearthwho，heobservedinthenewspaperhetookinandreadwhenhehadtime，were\"veryhappilynamed——theidlerich。\"
\"Whichremindsme，\"headded，\"thattheclothing—clubfinancesareinaperfectlyscandalouscondition；infact，itis？5indebt，anamountthatasthesquireoftheparishIconsideritincumbentonyoutomakegood，notasacharitybutasanobligation。\"
\"Lookhere，myfriend，\"Isaid，ignoringalltherest，\"willyouanswermeaplainquestion？Haveyoufoundmarriagesuchasuccessthatyouconsiderityourdutytorecommendittoothers？
Andifyouhave，whyhaveyounotgotthelargefamilyofwhichyouspeak？\"
\"Ofcoursenot，\"herepliedwithhisusualfrankness。\"Indeed，itisinmanywayssodisagreeablethatIamconvinceditmustberightandforthegoodofallconcerned。AsregardsthefamilyI
amsureIdonotknow，butSarahneverlikedbabies，whichperhapshassomethingtodowithit。\"
Thenhesighed，adding，\"Yousee，Arbuthnot，wehavetotakethingsaswefindtheminthisworldandhopeforabetter。\"
\"WhichisjustwhatIamtryingtodo，youunilluminatingolddonkey！\"Iexclaimed，andlefthimthereshakinghisheadovermattersingeneral，butIthinkprincipallyoverSarah。
Bytheway，Ithinkthatthevillagersrecognisedthisgoodlady’svinegarynature。Atleast，theyusedtocallher\"SourSal。\"
ChapterIII
NatalieNowwhatBastinhadsaidaboutmarriagestuckinmymindashisblunderingremarkshadawayofdoing，perhapsbecauseofthegrainofhonesttruthwithwhichtheywereoftenpermeated。
Probablyinmypositionitwasmoreorlessmydutytomarry。Butherecametherub；Ihadneverexperiencedanyleaningsthatway。
Iwasasmuchamanasothers，moresothanmanyare，perhaps，andIlikedwomen，butatthesametimetheyrepelledme。
Myoldfastidiousnesscamein；tomytastetherewasalwayssomethingwrongaboutthem。Whiletheyattractedonepartofmynaturetheyrevoltedanotherpart，andonthewholeIpreferredtodowithouttheirintimatesociety，ratherthanworkviolencetothissecondandhigherpartofme。Moreover，quiteatthebeginningofmycareerIhadconcludedfromobservationthatamangetsonbetterinlifealone，ratherthanwithanothertodragathisside，orbywhomperhapshemustbedragged。Stilltruemarriage，suchasmostmenandsomewomenhavedreamedofintheiryouth，hadalwaysbeenoneofmyideals；indeeditwasonandaroundthisvisionthatIwrotethatfirstbookofminewhichwassosuccessful。SinceIknewthistobeunattainableinourimperfectconditions，however，notwithstandingBastin’sstrictures，againIdismissedthewholematterfrommymindasavainimagination。
AsanalternativeIreflecteduponaparliamentarycareerwhichIwasnottoooldtobegin，andeventoyedwithoneortwoopportunitiesthatofferedthemselves，asthesedotomenofwealthandadvancedviews。Theynevercametoanything，forintheendIdecidedthatPartypoliticsweresohatefulandsodishonest，thatIcouldnotbringmyselftoputmyneckbeneaththeiryoke。IwassurethatifItriedtodoso，IshouldfailmorecompletelythanIhaddoneattheBarandinLiterature。
Here，too，IamquitecertainthatIwasright。
TheupshotofitallwasthatIsoughtrefugeinthatlastexpedientofwearyEnglishmen，travel，notasaglobe—trotter，butleisurelyandwithaninquiringmind，learningmuchbutagainfinding，liketheancientwriterwhomIhavequotedalready，thatthereisnonewthingunderthesun；thatwithcertainvariationsitisthesamethingoverandoveragain。
No，Iwillmakeanexception，theEastdidinterestmeenormously。Thereitwas，atBenares，thatIcameintotouchwithcertainthinkerswhoopenedmyeyestoagreatdeal。Theyreleasedsomehiddenspringinmynaturewhichhithertohadalwaysbeenstrivingtobreakthroughthecrustofourconventionsandinheritedideas。IknownowthatwhatIwasseekingwasnothinglessthantheInfinite；thatIhad\"immortallongingsinme。\"Ilistenedtoalltheirsolemntalkofepochsandyearsmeasurelesstoman，andreflectedwithathrillthatafterallmanmighthavehispartineveryoneofthem。Yes，thatbirdofpassageasheseemedtobe，flyingoutofdarknessintodarkness，stillhemighthavespreadhiswingsinthelightofothersunsmillionsuponmillionsofyearsago，andmightstillspreadthem，grownradiantandglorious，millionsuponmillionsofyearshenceinatimeunborn。
IfonlyIcouldknowthetruth。WasLife（accordingtoBickley）
merelyashortactivityboundedbynothingnessbeforeandbehind；
or（accordingtoBastin）aconventionalgolden—harpedandhaloedimmortality，awordofwhichhedidnotintheleastunderstandthemeaning？
Orwasitsomethingquitedifferentfromeitherofthese，somethingvastandsplendidbeyondthereachofvision，somethingGod—sent，beginningandendingintheEternalAbsoluteandatlastpartakingofHisattributesandnatureandfromaeontoaeonshotthroughwithHislight？Andhowwasthetruthtobelearned？IaskedmyEasternfriends，andtheytalkedvaguelyoflongasceticpreparation，ofyearsuponyearsoflearning，fromwhomIcouldnotquitediscover。Iwassureitcouldnotbefromthem，becauseclearlytheydidnotknow；theyonlypassedonwhattheyhadheardelsewhere，whenorhowtheyeithercouldnotorwouldnotexplain。SoatlengthIgaveitup，havingsatisfiedmyselfthatallthiswasbutaneffortofOrientalimaginationcalledintolifebythesweetinfluencesoftheEasternstars。
Igaveitupandwentaway，thinkingthatIshouldforget。ButIdidnotforget。Iwasquickwithanewhope，oratanyratewithanewaspiration，andthatsecretchildofholydesiregrewandgrewwithinmysoul，tillatlengthitflasheduponmethatthissoulofminewasitselfthehiddenMasterfromwhichImustlearnmylesson。NowonderthatthoseEasternfriendscouldnotgivehisname，seeingthatwhatevertheyreallyknew，asdistinguishedfromwhattheyhadheard，anditwaslittleenough，eachofthemhadlearnedfromtheteachingofhisownsoul。
Thus，then，Itoobecameadreamerwithonlyonelonging，thelongingforwisdom，forthatspirittouchwhichshouldopenmyeyesandenablemetosee。
YetnowithappenedstrangelyenoughthatwhenIseemedwithinmyselftohavelittlefurtherinterestinthethingsoftheworld，andleastofallinwomen，I，whohadtakenanotherguesttodwellwithme，thosethingsoftheworldcamebacktomeandintheshapeofWomantheInevitable。Probablyitwassodecreedsinceisitnotwrittenthatnomancanlivetohimselfalone，orlosehimselfinwatchingandnurturingthegrowthofhisownsoul？
Ithappenedthus。IwenttoRomeonmywayhomefromIndia，andstayedthereawhile。OnthedayaftermyarrivalIwrotemynameinthebookofourMinistertoItalyatthattime，SirAlfredUpton，notbecauseIwishedhimtoaskmetodinner，butforthereasonthatIhadheardofhimasamanofarcheologicaltastesandthoughtthathemightenablemetoseethingswhichotherwiseIshouldnotsee。
AsitchancedheknewaboutmethroughsomeofmyDevonshireneighbourswhowerefriendsofhis，anddidaskmetodinneronthefollowingnight。Iacceptedandfoundmyselfoneofaconsiderableparty，someofthemdistinguishedEnglishpeoplewhoworeOrders，asiscustomarywhenonedineswiththerepresentativeofourSovereign。Seeingthese，andthisshowsthatinthebestofusvanityisonlylatent，forthefirsttimeinmylifeIwassorrythatIhadnoneandwasonlyplainMr。
Arbuthnotwho，asSirAlfredexplainedtomepolitely，mustgointodinnerlast，becausealltheresthadtitles，andwithoutevenaladyastherewasnotonetospare。
NorwasmylotbetteredwhenIgotthere，asIfoundmyselfseatedbetweenanItaliancountessandaRussianprince，neitherofwhomcouldtalkEnglish，while，alas，Iknewnoforeignlanguage，notevenFrenchinwhichtheyaddressedme，seemingsurprisedthatIdidnotunderstandthem。Iwashumiliatedatmyownignorance，althoughinfactIwasnotignorant，onlymyeducationhadbeenclassical。IndeedIwasagoodclassicandhadkeptupmyknowledgemoreorless，especiallysinceIbecameanidleman。InmyconfusionitoccurredtomethattheItaliancountessmightknowLatinfromwhichherownlanguagewasderived，andaddressedherinthattongue。Shestared，andSirAlfred，whowasnotfaroffandoverheardme（healsoknewLatin），burstintolaughterandproceededtoexplainthejokeinaloudvoice，firstinFrenchandtheninEnglish，totheassembledcompany，whoallbecameinfectedwithmerrimentandalsostaredatmeasacuriosity。
ThenitwasthatforthefirsttimeIsawNatalie，forowingtoamistakeofmydriverIhadarrivedratherlateandhadnotbeenintroducedtoher。Asherfather’sonlydaughter，hermotherbeingdead，shewasseatedattheendofthetablebehindafan—likearrangementofwhiteMadonnalilies，andshehadbentforwardand，liketheothers，waslookingatme，butinsuchafashionthatherheadfromthatdistanceseemedasthoughitweresurroundedandcrownedwithlilies。Indeedthegreatestartcouldnothaveproducedamorebeautifuleffectwhichwas，however，reallyoneofnakedaccident。
AnangellookingdownuponearththroughtheliliesofHeaven——thatwastheratherabsurdthoughtwhichflashedintomymind。Ididnotquiterealiseherfaceatfirstexceptthatitseemedtobebothdarkandfair；asafactherwavinghairwhichgrewratherlowuponherforehead，wasdark，andherlarge，softeyesweregrey。Ididnotknow，andtothismomentIdonotknowifshewasreallybeautiful，butcertainlythelightthatshonethroughthoseeyesofhersandseemedtobereflecteduponherdelicatefeatures，wasbeautyitself。Itwaslikethatglowingthroughathinvaseofthepurestalabasterwithinwhichalampisplaced，andIfeltthiseffecttoarisefromnochance，likethatofthelily—setting，but，asitwere，fromthelampofthespiritwithin。
Oureyesmet，andIsupposethatshesawthewonderandadmirationinmine。Atanyrateheramusedsmilefaded，leavingthefaceratherserious，thoughstillsweetlyserious，andatingeofcolourcreptoveritasthefirsthueofdawncreepsintoapearlysky。ThenshewithdrewherselfbehindthescreenofliliesandfortherestofthatdinnerwhichIthoughtwasnevercomingtoanend，practicallyIsawhernomore。OnlyInotedasshepassedoutthatalthoughnottall，shewasroundedandgracefulinshapeandthatherhandswerepeculiarlydelicate。
Afterwardsinthedrawing—roomherfather，withwhomIhadtalkedatthetable，introducedmetoher，saying：
\"Mydaughteristherealarchaeologist，Mr。Arbuthnot，andI
thinkifyouaskher，shemaybeabletohelpyou。\"
Thenhebustledawaytospeaktosomeofhisimportantguests，fromwhomIthinkhewasseekingpoliticalinformation。
\"Myfatherexaggerates，\"shesaidinasoftandverysympatheticvoice，\"butperhaps\"——andshemotionedmetoaseatatherside。
ThenwetalkedoftheplacesandthingsthatImoreparticularlydesiredtoseeand，well，theendofitwasthatI
wentbacktomyhotelinlovewithNatalie；andassheafterwardsconfessed，shewenttobedinlovewithme。
Itwasacuriousbusiness，morelikemeetingaveryoldfriendfromwhomonehadbeenseparatedbycircumstancesforascoreofyearsorsothananythingelse。Wewere，sotospeak，intimatefromthefirst；weknewallabouteachother，althoughhereandtherewassomethingnew，somethingdifferentwhichwecouldnotremember，linesofthought，veinsofmemorywhichwedidnotpossessincommon。OnonepointIamabsolutelyclear：itwasnotsolelytheeverydayandancientappealofwomantomanandmantowomanwhichdrewustogether，thoughdoubtlessthishaditspartinourattachmentasunderourhumanconditionsitmustdo，seeingthatitisNature’sbaittoensurethecontinuanceoftherace。Itwassomethingmore，somethingquitebeyondthatelementaryimpulse。