\"Happytoseeyou！\"hesaid。
Theyoungman，whohadbeenturninghisheadfromsidetoside，becametransfixed。\"Isay！\"hesaid，\"’some’picture！\"
Soamessaw，withmixedsensations，thathehadaddressedtheremarktotheGoyacopy。
\"Yes，\"hesaiddryly，\"that’snotaGoya。It’sacopy。Ihaditpaintedbecauseitremindedmeofmydaughter。\"
\"ByJove！IthoughtIknewtheface，sir。Isshehere？\"
ThefranknessofhisinterestalmostdisarmedSoames。
\"She’llbeinaftertea，\"hesaid。\"Shallwegoroundthepictures？\"
AndSoamesbeganthatroundwhichnevertiredhim。Hehadnotanticipatedmuchintelligencefromonewhohadmistakenacopyforanoriginal，butastheypassedfromsectiontosection，periodtoperiod，hewasstartledbytheyoungman’sfrankandrelevantremarks。Nativelyshrewdhimself，andevensensuousbeneathhismask，Soameshadnotspentthirty—eightyearsoverhisonehobbywithoutknowingsomethingmoreaboutpicturesthantheirmarketvalues。Hewas，asitwere，themissinglinkbetweentheartistandthecommercialpublic。Artforart’ssakeandallthat，ofcourse，wascant。Butaestheticsandgoodtastewerenecessary。Theappreciationofenoughpersonsofgoodtastewaswhatgaveaworkofartitspermanentmarketvalue，orinotherwordsmadeit\"aworkofart。\"Therewasnorealcleavage。Andhewassufficientlyaccustomedtosheep—likeandunseeingvisitors，tobeintriguedbyonewhodidnothesitatetosayofMauve:\"Goodoldhaystacks！\"orofJamesMaris:\"Didn’thejustpaintandpaper’em！Mathewwastherealswell，sir;youcoulddigintohissurfaces！\"ItwasaftertheyoungmanhadwhistledbeforeaWhistler，withthewords，\"D’youthinkheeverreallysawanakedwoman，sir？\"thatSoamesremarked:
\"Whatareyou，Mr。Mont，ifImayask？\"
\"I，sir？Iwasgoingtobeapainter，buttheWarknockedthat。
Theninthetrenches，youknow，IusedtodreamoftheStockExchange，snugandwarmandjustnoisyenough。ButthePeaceknockedthat，sharesseemoff，don’tthey？I’veonlybeendemobbedaboutayear。Whatdoyourecommend，sir？\"
\"Haveyougotmoney？\"
\"Well，\"answeredtheyoungman，\"I’vegotafather;IkepthimaliveduringtheWar，sohe’sboundtokeepmealivenow。Though，ofcourse，there’sthequestionwhetherheoughttobeallowedtohangontohisproperty。Whatdoyouthinkaboutthat，sir？\"
Soames，paleanddefensive，smiled。
\"TheoldmanhasfitswhenItellhimhemayhavetoworkyet。He’sgotland，youknow;it’safataldisease。\"
\"ThisismyrealGoya，\"saidSoamesdryly。
\"ByGeorge！Hewasaswell。IsawaGoyainMunichoncethatbowledmemiddlestump。Amostevil—lookingoldwomaninthemostgorgeouslace。Hemadenocompromisewiththepublictaste。Thatoldboywas’some’explosive;hemusthavesmashedupalotofconventioninhisday。Couldn’thejustpaint！HemakesVelasquezstiff，don’tyouthink？\"
\"IhavenoVelasquez，\"saidSoames。
Theyoungmanstared。\"No，\"hesaid;\"onlynationsorprofiteerscanaffordhim，Isuppose。Isay，whyshouldn’tallthebankruptnationsselltheirVelasquezandTitiansandotherswellstotheprofiteersbyforce，andthenpassalawthatanyonewhoholdsapicturebyanOldMaster——seeschedule——musthangitinapublicgallery？Thereseemssomethinginthat。\"
\"Shallwegodowntotea？\"saidSoames。
Theyoungman’searsseemedtodrooponhisskull。’He’snotdense，’
thoughtSoames，followinghimoffthepremises。
Goya，withhissatiricandsurpassingprecision，hisoriginal\"line，\"
andthedaringofhislightandshade，couldhavereproducedtoadmirationthegroupassembledroundAnnette’stea—trayintheingle—
nookbelow。Healone，perhaps，ofpainterswouldhavedonejusticetothesunlightfilteringthroughascreenofcreeper，tothelovelypallorofbrass，theoldcutglasses，thethinslicesoflemoninpaleambertea;justicetoAnnetteinherblacklaceydress;therewassomethingofthefairSpaniardinherbeauty，thoughitlackedthespiritualityofthatraretype;toWinifred’sgrey—haired，corsetedsolidity;toSoames，ofacertaingreyandflat—cheekeddistinction;tothevivaciousMichaelMont，pointedinearandeye;
toImogen，dark，lusciousofglance，growingalittlestout;toProsperProfond，withhisexpressionaswhoshouldsay，\"Well，Mr。
Goya，what’stheuseofpaintin’thissmallparty？\"finally，toJackCardigan，withhisshiningstareandtannedsanguinitybetrayingthemovingprinciple:\"I’mEnglish，andIlivetobefit。\"
Curious，bytheway，thatImogen，whoasagirlhaddeclaredsolemnlyonedayatTimothy’sthatshewouldnevermarryagoodman——theyweresodull——shouldhavemarriedJackCardigan，inwhomhealthhadsodestroyedalltracesoforiginalsin，thatshemighthaveretiredtorestwithtenthousandotherEnglishmenwithoutknowingthedifferencefromtheoneshehadchosentoreposebeside。\"Oh！\"shewouldsayofhim，inher\"amusing\"way，\"Jackkeepshimselfsofearfullyfit;he’sneverhadaday’sillnessinhislife。HewentrightthroughtheWarwithoutafinger—ache。Youreallycan’timaginehowfitheis！\"Indeed，hewasso\"fit\"thathecouldn’tseewhenshewasflirting，whichwassuchacomfortinaway。Allthesameshewasquitefondofhim，sofarasonecouldbeofasports—
machine，andofthetwolittleCardigansmadeafterhispattern。HereyesjustthenwerecomparinghimmaliciouslywithProsperProfond。
Therewasno\"small\"sportorgamewhichMonsieurProfondhadnotplayedattoo，itseemed，fromskittlestotarpon—fishing，andwornouteveryone。ImogenwouldsometimeswishthattheyhadwornoutJack，whocontinuedtoplayatthemandtalkofthemwiththesimplezealofaschool—girllearninghockey;attheageofGreat—uncleTimothyshewellknewthatJackwouldbeplayingcarpetgolfinherbedroom，and\"wipingsomebody’seye。\"
Hewastellingthemnowhowhehad\"pippedthepro——acharmin’
fellow，playin’averygoodgame，\"atthelastholethismorning;andhowhehadpulleddowntoCavershamsincelunch，andtryingtoinciteProsperProfondtoplayhimasetoftennisaftertea——dohimgood—
\"keephimfit。
\"Butwhat’stheuseofkeepin’fit？\"saidMonsieurProfond。
\"Yes，sir，\"murmuredMichaelMont，\"whatdoyoukeepfitfor？\"
\"Jack，\"criedImogen，enchanted，\"whatdoyoukeepfitfor？\"
JackCardiganstaredwithallhishealth。Thequestionswerelikethebuzzofamosquito，andheputuphishandtowipethemaway。
DuringtheWar，ofcourse，hehadkeptfittokillGermans;nowthatitwasoverheeitherdidnotknow，orshrankindelicacyfromexplanationofhismovingprinciple。
\"Buthe’sright，\"saidMonsieurProfondunexpectedly，\"there’snothin’leftbutkeepin’fit。\"
Thesaying，toodeepforSundayafternoon，wouldhavepassedunanswered，butforthemercurialnatureofyoungMont。
\"Good！\"hecried。\"That’sthegreatdiscoveryoftheWar。Weallthoughtwewereprogressing——nowweknowwe’reonlychanging。\"
\"Fortheworse，\"saidMonsieurProfondgenially。
\"Howyouarecheerful，Prosper！\"murmuredAnnette。
\"Youcomeandplaytennis！\"saidJackCardigan;\"you’vegotthehump。
We’llsoontakethatdown。D’youplay，Mr。Mont？\"
\"Ihittheballabout，sir。\"
AtthisjunctureSoamesrose，ruffledinthatdeepinstinctofpreparationforthefuturewhichguidedhisexistence。
\"WhenFleurcomes——\"heheardJackCardigansay。
Ah！andwhydidn’tshecome？Hepassedthroughdrawing—room，hall，andporchoutontothedrive，andstoodtherelisteningforthecar。
AllwasstillandSundayfied;thelilacsinfullflowerscentedtheair。Therewerewhiteclouds，likethefeathersofducksgildedbythesunlight。MemoryofthedaywhenFleurwasborn，andhehadwaitedinsuchagonywithherlifeandhermother’sbalancedinhishands，cametohimsharply。Hehadsavedherthen，tobetheflowerofhislife。Andnow！wasshegoingtogivehimtrouble——pain——givehimtrouble？Hedidnotlikethelookofthings！Ablackbirdbrokeinonhisreveriewithaneveningsong——agreatbigfellowupinthatacacia—tree。Soameshadtakenquiteaninterestinhisbirdsoflateyears;heandFleurwouldwalkroundandwatchthem;hereyesweresharpasneedles，andshekneweverynest。Hesawherdog，aretriever，lyingonthedriveinapatchofsunlight，andcalledtohim。\"Hallo，oldfellow—waitingforhertoo！\"Thedogcameslowlywithagrudgingtail，andSoamesmechanicallylaidapatonhishead。
Thedog，thebird，thelilac，allwerepartofFleurforhim;nomore，noless。’Toofondofher！’hethought，’toofond！’Hewaslikeamanuninsured，withhisshipsatsea。Uninsuredagain——asinthatothertime，solongago，whenhewouldwanderdumbandjealousinthewildernessofLondon，longingforthatwoman——hisfrstwife——
themotherofthisinfernalboy。Ah！Therewasthecaratlast！Itdrewup，ithadluggage，butnoFleur。
\"MissFleuriswalkingup，sir，bythetowing—path。\"
Walkingallthosemiles？Soamesstared。Theman’sfacehadthebeginningofasmileonit。Whatwashegrinningat？Andveryquicklyheturned，saying，\"Allright，Sims！\"andwentintothehouse。Hemountedtothepicture—galleryoncemore。Hehadfromthereaviewoftheriverbank，andstoodwithhiseyesfixedonit，obliviousofthefactthatitwouldbeanhouratleastbeforeherfigureshowedthere。Walkingup！Andthatfellow’sgrin！Theboy——！
Heturnedabruptlyfromthewindow。Hecouldn’tspyonher。Ifshewantedtokeepthingsfromhim——shemust;hecouldnotspyonher。
Hisheartfeltempty，andbitternessmountedfromitintohisverymouth。ThestaccatoshoutsofJackCardiganpursuingtheball，thelaughofyoungMontroseinthestillnessandcamein。HehopedtheyweremakingthatchapProfondrun。Andthegirlin\"LaVendimia\"
stoodwithherarmakimboaridherdreamyeyeslookingpasthim。
’I’vedoneallIcouldforyou，’hethought，’sinceyouwerenohigherthanmyknee。Youaren’tgoingto——to——hurtme，areyou？’
ButtheGoyacopyanswerednot，brilliantincolourjustbeginningtotonedown。’There’snoreallifeinit，’thoughtSoames。’Whydoesn’tshecome？’
X
TRIO
AmongthosefourForsytesofthethird，and，asonemightsay，fourthgeneration，atWansdonundertheDowns，aweek—endprolongeduntotheninthdayhadstretchedthecrossingthreadsoftenacityalmosttosnapping—point。NeverhadFleurbeenso\"fine，\"Hollysowatchful，Valsostable—secretive，Jonsosilentanddisturbed。Whathelearnedoffarminginthatweekmighthavebeenbalancedonthepointofapenknifeandpuffedoff。He，whosenaturewasessentiallyaversefromintrigue，andwhoseadorationofFleurdisposedhimtothinkthatanyneedforconcealingitwas\"skittles，\"chafedandfretted，yetobeyed，takingwhatreliefhecouldinthefewmomentswhentheywerealone。OnThursday，whiletheywerestandinginthebaywindowofthedrawing—room，dressedfordinner，shesaidtohim:
\"Jon，I’mgoinghomeonSundaybythe3。40fromPaddington;ifyouweretogohomeonSaturdayyoucouldcomeuponSundayandtakemedown，andjustgetbackherebythelasttrain，after。Youweregoinghomeanyway，weren’tyou？\"
Jonnodded。
\"Anythingtobewithyou，\"hesaid;\"onlywhyneedIpretend——\"
Fleurslippedherlittlefingerintohispalm:
\"Youhavenoinstinct，Jon;youmustleavethingstome。It’sseriousaboutourpeople。We’vesimplygottobesecretatpresent，ifwewanttobetogether。\"Thedoorwasopened，andsheaddedloudly:\"Youareaduffer，Jon。\"
SomethingturnedoverwithinJon;hecouldnotbearthissubterfugeaboutafeelingsonatural，sooverwhelming，andsosweet。
OnFridaynightaboutelevenhehadpackedhisbag，andwasleaningoutofhiswindow，halfmiserable，andhalflostinadreamofPaddingtonstation，whenheheardatinysound，asofafinger—nailtappingonhisdoor。Herushedtoitandlistened。Againthesound。
Itwasanail。Heopened。Oh！Whatalovelythingcamein！
\"Iwantedtoshowyoumyfancydress，\"itsaid，andstruckanattitudeatthefootofhisbed。
Jondrewalongbreathandleanedagainstthedoor。Theapparitionworewhitemuslinonitshead，afichurounditsbareneckoverawine—coloureddress，fulledoutbelowitsslenderwaist。
Itheldonearmakimbo，andtheotherraised，right—angled，holdingafanwhichtoucheditshead。
\"Thisoughttobeabasketofgrapes，\"itwhispered，\"butIhaven’tgotithere。It’smyGoyadress。Andthisistheattitudeinthepicture。Doyoulikeit？\"
\"It’sadream。\"
Theapparitionpirouetted。\"Touchit，andsee。\"
Jonkneltdownandtooktheskirtreverently。
\"Grapecolour，\"camethewhisper，\"allgrapes——LaVendimia——thevintage。\"
Jon’sfingersscarcelytouchedeachsideofthewaist;helookedup，withadoringeyes。
\"Oh！Jon，\"itwhispered;bent，kissedhisforehead，pirouettedagain，and，glidingout，wasgone。
Jonstayedonhisknees，andhisheadfellforwardagainstthebed。
Howlonghestayedlikethathedidnotknow。Thelittlenoises——ofthetappingnail，thefeet，theskirtsrustling——asinadream——wentonabouthim;andbeforehisclosedeyesthefigurestoodandsmiledandwhispered，afaintperfumeofnarcissuslingeringintheair。
Andhisforeheadwhereithadbeenkissedhadalittlecoolplacebetweenthebrows，liketheimprintofaflower。Lovefilledhissoul，thatloveofboyforgirlwhichknowssolittle，hopessomuch，wouldnotbrushthedownofffortheworld，andmustbecomeintimeafragrantmemory——asearingpassion——ahumdrummateship——or，onceinmanytimes，vintagefullandsweetwithsunsetcolouronthegrapes。
EnoughhasbeensaidaboutJonForsytehereandinanotherplacetoshowwhatlongmarcheslaybetweenhimandhisgreat—great—
grandfather，thefirstJolyon，inDorsetdownbythesea。Jonwassensitiveasagirl，moresensitivethannineoutoftengirlsoftheday;imaginativeasoneofhishalf—sisterJune’s\"lameduck\"
painters;affectionateasasonofhisfatherandhismothernaturallywouldbe。Andyet，inhisinnertissue，therewassomethingoftheoldfounderofhisfamily，asecrettenacityofsoul，adreadofshowinghisfeelings，adeterminationnottoknowwhenhewasbeaten。Sensitive，imaginative，affectionateboysgetabadtimeatschool，butJonhadinstinctivelykepthisnaturedark，andbeenbutnormallyunhappythere。Onlywithhismotherhadhe，uptillthen，beenabsolutelyfrankandnatural;andwhenhewenthometoRobinHillthatSaturdayhisheartwasheavybecauseFleurhadsaidthathemustnotbefrankandnaturalwithherfromwhomhehadneveryetkeptanything，mustnoteventellherthattheyhadmetagain，unlesshefoundthatsheknewalready。SointolerabledidthisseemtohimthathewasveryneartotelegraphinganexcuseandstayingupinLondon。Andthefirstthinghismothersaidtohimwas:
\"Soyou’vehadourlittlefriendoftheconfectioner’sthere，Jon。
Whatisshelikeonsecondthoughts？\"
Withrelief，andahighcolour，Jonanswered:
\"Oh！awfullyjolly，Mum。\"
Herarmpressedhis。
JonhadneverlovedhersomuchasinthatminutewhichseemedtofalsifyFleur’sfearsandtoreleasehissoul。Heturnedtolookather，butsomethinginhersmilingface——somethingwhichonlyheperhapswouldhavecaught——stoppedthewordsbubblingupinhim。
Couldfeargowithasmile？Ifso，therewasfearinherface。AndoutofJontumbledquiteotherwords，aboutfarming，Holly，andtheDowns。Talkingfast，hewaitedforhertocomebacktoFleur。Butshedidnot。Nordidhisfathermentionher，thoughofcoursehe，too，mustknow。Whatdeprivation，andkillingofrealitywasinhissilenceaboutFleur——whenhewassofullofher;whenhismotherwassofullofJon，andhisfathersofullofhismother！AndsothetriospenttheeveningofthatSaturday。
Afterdinnerhismotherplayed;sheseemedtoplayallthethingshelikedbest，andhesatwithonekneeclasped，andhishairstandingupwherehisfingershadrunthroughit。Hegazedathismotherwhilesheplayed，buthesawFleur——Fleurinthemoonlitorchard，Fleurinthesunlitgravel—pit，Fleurinthatfancydress，swaying，whispering，stooping，kissinghisforehead。Once，whilehelistened，heforgothimselfandglancedathisfatherinthatothereasychair。
WhatwasDadlookinglikethatfor？Theexpressiononhisfacewassosadandpuzzling。Itfilledhimwithasortofremorse，sothathegotupandwentandsatonthearmofhisfather’schair。Fromtherehecouldnotseehisface;andagainhesawFleur——inhismother’shands，slimandwhiteonthekeys，intheprofileofherfaceandherpowderyhair;anddownthelongroomintheopenwindowwheretheMaynightwalkedoutside。
Whenhewentuptobedhismothercameintohisroom。Shestoodatthewindow，andsaid:
\"Thosecypressesyourgrandfatherplanteddowntherehavedonewonderfully。Ialwaysthinktheylookbeautifulunderadroppingmoon。Iwishyouhadknownyourgrandfather，Jon。\"
\"Wereyoumarriedtofatherwhenhewasalive？\"askedJonsuddenly。
\"No，dear;hediedin’92——veryold——eighty—five，Ithink。\"
\"IsFatherlikehim？\"
\"Alittle，butmoresubtle，andnotquitesosolid。\"
\"Iknow，fromgrandfather’sportrait;whopaintedthat？\"
\"OneofJune’s’lameducks。’Butit’squitegood。\"
Jonslippedhishandthroughhismother’sarm。\"Tellmeaboutthefamilyquarrel，Mum。\"
Hefeltherarmquivering。\"No，dear;that’sforyourFathersomeday，ifhethinksfit。\"
\"Thenitwasserious，\"saidJon，withacatchinhisbreath。
\"Yes。\"Andtherewasasilence，duringwhichneitherknewwhetherthearmorthehandwithinitwerequiveringmost。
\"Somepeople，\"saidIrenesoftly，\"thinkthemoononherbackisevil;tomeshe’salwayslovely。Lookatthosecypressshadows！
Jon，FathersayswemaygotoItaly，youandI，fortwomonths。
Wouldyoulike？\"
Jontookhishandfromunderherarm;hissensationwassosharpandsoconfused。Italywithhismother！Afortnightagoitwouldhavebeenperfection;nowitfilledhimwithdismay;hefeltthatthesuddensuggestionhadtodowithFleur。Hestammeredout:
\"Oh！yes;only——Idon’tknow。OughtI——nowI’vejustbegun？I’dliketothinkitover。\"
Hervoiceanswered，coolandgentle:
\"Yes，dear;thinkitover。Butbetternowthanwhenyou’vebegunfarmingseriously。Italywithyou！Itwouldbenice！\"
Jonputhisarmroundherwaist，stillslimandfirmasagirl’s。
\"DoyouthinkyououghttoleaveFather？\"hesaidfeebly，feelingverymean。
\"Fathersuggestedit;hethinksyououghttoseeItalyatleastbeforeyousettledowntoanything。\"
ThesenseofmeannessdiedinJon;heknew，yes——heknew——thathisfatherandhismotherwerenotspeakingfrankly，nomorethanhehimself。TheywantedtokeephimfromFleur。Hishearthardened。
And，asifshefeltthatprocessgoingon，hismothersaid:
\"Good—night，darling。Haveagoodsleepandthinkitover。Butitwouldbelovely！\"
Shepressedhimtohersoquicklythathedidnotseeherface。Jonstoodfeelingexactlyasheusedtowhenhewasanaughtylittleboy;
sorebecausehewasnotloving，andbecausehewasjustifiedinhisowneyes。
ButIrene，aftershehadstoodamomentinherownroom，passedthroughthedressing—roombetweenitandherhusband’s。
\"Well？\"
\"Hewillthinkitover，Jolyon。\"
Watchingherlipsthatworealittledrawnsmile，Jolyonsaidquietly:
\"Youhadbetterletmetellhim，andhavedonewithit。Afterall，Jonhastheinstinctsofagentleman。Hehasonlytounderstand——\"
\"Only！Hecan’tunderstand;that’simpossible。\"
\"IbelieveIcouldhaveathisage。\"
Irenecaughthishand。\"YouwerealwaysmoreofarealistthanJon;
andneversoinnocent。\"
\"That’strue，\"saidJolyon。\"It’squeer，isn’tit？YouandIwouldtellourstoriestotheworldwithoutaparticleofshame;butourownboystumpsus。\"
\"We’venevercaredwhethertheworldapprovesornot。\"
\"Jonwouldnotdisapproveofus！\"
\"Oh！Jolyon，yes。He’sinlove，Ifeelhe’sinlove。Andhe’dsay:
’Mymotheroncemarriedwithoutlove！Howcouldshehave！’It’llseemtohimacrime！Andsoitwas！\"
Jolyontookherhand，andsaidwithawrysmile:
\"Ah！whyoneartharewebornyoung？Now，ifonlywewerebornoldandgrewyoungeryearbyyear，weshouldunderstandhowthingshappen，anddropallourcursedintolerance。Butyouknowiftheboyisreallyinlove，hewon’tforget，evenifhegoestoItaly。We’reatenaciousbreed;andhe’llknowbyinstinctwhyhe’sbeingsent。
Nothingwillreallycurehimbuttheshockofbeingtold。\"
\"Letmetry，anyway。\"
Jolyonstoodamomentwithoutspeaking。Betweenthisdevilandthisdeepsea——thepainofadreadeddisclosureandthegriefoflosinghiswifefortwomonths——hesecretlyhopedforthedevil;yetifshewishedforthedeepseahemustputupwithit。Afterall，itwouldbetrainingforthatdeparturefromwhichtherewouldbenoreturn。
And，takingherinhisarms，hekissedhereyes，andsaid:
\"Asyouwill，mylove。\"
XI
DUET
That\"small\"emotion，love，growsamazinglywhenthreatenedwithextinction。JonreachedPaddingtonstationhalfanhourbeforehistimeandafullweekafter，asitseemedtohim。Hestoodattheappointedbookstall，amidacrowdofSundaytravellers，inaHarristweedsuitexhaling，asitwere，theemotionofhisthumpingheart。
Hereadthenamesofthenovelsonthebook—stall，andboughtoneatlast，toavoidbeingregardedwithsuspicionbythebook—stallclerk。
Itwascalled\"TheHeartoftheTrail！\"whichmustmeansomething，thoughitdidnotseemto。Healsobought\"TheLady’sMirror\"and\"TheLandsman。\"Everyminutewasanhourlong，andfullofhorridimaginings。Afternineteenhadpassed，hesawherwithabagandaporterwheelingherluggage。Shecameswiftly;shecamecool。Shegreetedhimasifhewereabrother。
\"Firstclass，\"shesaidtotheporter，\"cornerseats;opposite。\"
Jonadmiredherfrightfulself—possession。
\"Can’twegetacarriagetoourselves，\"hewhispered。
\"Nogood;it’sastoppingtrain。AfterMaidenheadperhaps。Looknatural，Jon。\"
Jonscrewedhisfeaturesintoascowl。Theygotin——withtwootherbeasts！——oh！heaven！Hetippedtheporterunnaturally，inhisconfusion。Thebrutedeservednothingforputtingtheminthere，andlookingasifheknewallaboutitintothebargain。
Fleurhidherselfbehind\"TheLady’sMirror。\"Jonimitatedherbehind\"TheLandsman。\"Thetrainstarted。Fleurlet\"TheLady’sMirror\"fallandleanedforward。
\"Well？\"shesaid。
\"It’sseemedaboutfifteendays。\"
Shenodded，andJon’sfacelightedupatonce。
\"Looknatural，\"murmuredFleur，andwentoffintoabubbleoflaughter。Ithurthim。HowcouldhelooknaturalwithItalyhangingoverhim？Hehadmeanttobreakittohergently，butnowheblurteditout。
\"TheywantmetogotoItalywithMotherfortwomonths。\"
Fleurdroopedhereyelids;turnedalittlepale，andbitherlips。
\"Oh！\"shesaid。Itwasall，butitwasmuch。
That\"Oh！\"waslikethequickdrawbackofthewristinfencingreadyforriposte。Itcame。
\"Youmustgo！\"
\"Go？\"saidJoninastrangledvoice。
\"Ofcourse。\"
\"But——twomonths——it’sghastly。\"
\"No，\"saidFleur，\"sixweeks。You’llhaveforgottenmebythen。
We’llmeetintheNationalGallerythedayafteryougetback。\"
Jonlaughed。
\"Butsupposeyou’veforgottenme，\"hemutteredintothenoiseofthetrain。
Fleurshookherhead。
\"Someotherbeast——\"murmuredJon。
Herfoottouchedhis。
\"Nootherbeast，\"shesaid，lifting\"TheLady’sMirror。\"
Thetrainstopped;twopassengersgotout，andonegotin。
’Ishalldie，’thoughtJon，’ifwe’renotaloneatall。’
Thetrainwenton;andagainFleurleanedforward。
\"Ineverletgo，\"shesaid;\"doyou？\"
Jonshookhisheadvehemently。
\"Never！\"hesaid。\"Willyouwritetome？\"
\"No;butyoucan——tomyClub。\"
ShehadaClub;shewaswonderful！
\"DidyoupumpHolly？\"hemuttered。
\"Yes，butIgotnothing。Ididn’tdarepumphard。\"
\"Whatcanitbe？\"criedJon。
\"Ishallfindoutallright。\"
AlongsilencefollowedtillFleursaid:\"ThisisMaidenhead;standby，Jon！\"
Thetrainstopped。Theremainingpassengergotout。Fleurdrewdownherblind。
\"Quick！\"shecried。\"Hangout！Lookasmuchofabeastasyoucan。\"
Jonblewhisnose，andscowled;neverinallhislifehadhescowledlikethat！Anoldladyrecoiled，ayoungonetriedthehandle。Itturned，butthedoorwouldnotopen。Thetrainmoved，theyoungladydartedtoanothercarriage。