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function。 The Stricklands 〃owed〃 dinners to a number of persons； whom
they took no interest in； and so had asked them； these persons had
accepted。 Why？ To avoid the tedium of dining ； to give
their servants a rest； because there was no reason to refuse； because they
were 〃owed〃 a dinner。
The dining…room was inconveniently crowded。 There was a K。C。 and
his wife； a Government official and his wife； Mrs。 Strickland's sister and
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her husband； Colonel MacAndrew； and the wife of a Member of
Parliament。 It was because the Member of Parliament found that he
could not leave the House that I had been invited。 The respectability of
the party was portentous。 The women were too nice to be well dressed；
and too sure of their position to be amusing。 The men were solid。 There
was about all of them an air of well…satisfied prosperity。
Everyone talked a little louder than natural in an instinctive desire to
make the party go； and there was a great deal of noise in the room。 But
there was no general conversation。 Each one talked to his neighbour； to his
neighbour on the right during the soup； fish； and entree； to his neighbour
on the left during the roast； sweet； and savoury。 They talked of the
political situation and of golf； of their children and the latest play； of the
pictures at the Royal Academy； of the weather and their plans for the
holidays。 There was never a pause； and the noise grew louder。 Mrs。
Strickland might congratulate herself that her party was a success。 Her
husband played his part with decorum。 Perhaps he did not talk very
much； and I fancied there was towards the end a look of fatigue in the
faces of the women on either side of him。 They were finding him heavy。
Once or twice Mrs。 Strickland's eyes rested on him somewhat anxiously。
At last she rose and shepherded the ladies out of one room。 Strickland
shut the door behind her； and； moving to the other end of the table； took
his place between the K。C。 and the Government official。 He passed
round the port again and handed us cigars。 The K。C。 remarked on the
excellence of the wine； and Strickland told us where he got it。 We began
to chat about vintages and tobacco。 The K。C。 told us of a case he was
engaged in； and the Colonel talked about polo。 I had nothing to say and
so sat silent； trying politely to show interest in the conversation； and
because I thought no one was in the least concerned with me； examined
Strickland at my ease。 He was bigger than I expected： I do not know
why I had imagined him slender and of insignificant appearance； in point
of fact he was broad and heavy； with large hands and feet； and he wore his
evening clothes clumsily。 He gave you somewhat the idea of a coachman
dressed up for the occasion。 He was a man of forty； not good…looking；
and yet not ugly； for his features were rather good； but they were all a little
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larger than life…size； and the effect was ungainly。 He was clean shaven；
and his large face looked uncomfortably naked。 His hair was reddish； cut
very short； and his eyes were small； blue or grey。 He looked
commonplace。 I no longer wondered that Mrs。 Strickland felt a certain
embarrassment about him； he was scarcely a credit to a woman who
wanted to make herself a position in the world of art and letters。 It was
obvious that he had no social gifts； but these a man can do without； he had
no eccentricity even； to take him out of the common run； he was just a
good； dull； honest； plain man。 One would admire his excellent qualities；
but avoid his company。 He was null。 He was probably a worthy member
of society； a good husband and father； an honest broker； but there was no
reason to waste one's time over him。
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Chapter VII
The season was drawing to its dusty end； and everyone I knew was
arranging to go away。 Mrs。 Strickland was taking her family to the coast
of Norfolk； so that the children might have the sea and her husband golf。
We said good…bye to one another； and arranged to meet in the autumn。
But on my last day in town； coming out of the Stores； I met her with her
son and daughter； like myself； she had been making her final purchases
before leaving London； and we were both hot and tired。 I proposed that we
should all go and eat ices in the park。
I think Mrs。 Strickland was glad to show me her children； and she
accepted my invitation with alacrity。 They were even more attractive
than their photographs had suggested； and she was right to be proud of
them。 I was young enough for them not to feel shy； and they chattered
merrily about one thing and another。 They were extraordinarily nice；
healthy young children。 It was very agreeable under the trees。
When in an hour they crowded into a cab to go home； I strolled idly to
my club。 I was perhaps a little lonely； and it was with a touch of envy
that I thought of the pleasant family life of which I had had a glimpse。
They seemed devoted to one another。 They had little private jokes of
their own which； unintelligible to the outsider； amused them enormously。
Perhaps Charles Strickland was dull judged by a standard that demanded
above all things verbal scintillation； but his intelligence was adequate to
his surroundings； and that is a passport； not only to reasonable success； but
still more to happiness。 Mrs。 Strickland was a charming woman； and she
loved him。 I pictured their lives； troubled by no untoward adventure；
honest； decent； and； by reason of those two upstanding； pleasant children；
so obviously destined to carry on the normal traditions of their race and
station； not without significance。 They would grow old insensibly； they
would see their son and daughter come to years of reason； marry in due
course the one a pretty girl； future mother of healthy children； the other
a handsome； manly fellow； obviously a soldier； and at last； prosperous in
their dignified retirement； beloved by their descendants； after a happy； not
unuseful life； in the fullness of their age they would sink into the grave。
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That must be the story of innumerable couples； and the pattern of life
it offers has a homely grace。 It reminds you of a placid rivulet；
meandering smoothly through green pastures and shaded by pleasant trees；
till at last it falls into the vasty sea； but the sea is so calm； so silent； so
indifferent； that you are troubled suddenly by a vague uneasiness。
Perhaps it is only by a kink in my nature； strong in me even in those days；
that I felt in such an existence； the share of the great majority； something
amiss。 I recognised its social values； I saw its ordered happiness； but a
fever in my blood asked for a wilder course。 There seemed to me
something alarming in such easy delights。 In my heart was a desire to
live more dangerously。 I was not unprepared for jagged rocks and
treacherous shoals if I could only have change change and the
excitement of the unforeseen。
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Chapter VIII
On reading over what I have written of the Stricklands； I am conscious
that they must seem shadowy。 I have been able to invest them with none
of those characteristics which make the persons of a book exist with a r