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tennis…lawn and the dahlia…bed； until they reached the kitchen
garden； and there； in the presence of the potatoes and the peas；
the great event would be discussed。
Smiling indulgently； he lit a cigarette； and rehearsed the events
that had led to such a happy conclusion。
He had known Lucy for several years； but only as a commonplace
girl who happened to be musical。 He could still remember his
depression that afternoon at Rome； when she and her terrible
cousin fell on him out of the blue； and demanded to be taken to
St。 Peter's。 That day she had seemed a typical touristshrill；
crude； and gaunt with travel。 But Italy worked some marvel in
her。 It gave her light； andwhich he held more preciousit gave
her shadow。 Soon he detected in her a wonderful reticence。 She
was like a woman of Leonardo da Vinci's； whom we love not so much
for herself as for the things that she will not tell us； The
things are assuredly not of this life； no woman of Leonardo's
could have anything so vulgar as a 〃story。〃 She did develop most
wonderfully day by day。
So it happened that from patronizing civility he had slowly
passed if not to passion； at least to a profound uneasiness。
Already at Rome he had hinted to her that they might be suitable
for each other。 It had touched him greatly that she had not
broken away at the suggestion。 Her refusal had been clear and
gentle； after itas the horrid phrase wentshe had been exactly
the same to him as before。 Three months later； on the margin of
Italy； among the flower…clad Alps； he had asked her again in
bald； traditional language。 She reminded him of a Leonardo more
than ever； her sunburnt features were shadowed by fantastic rock；
at his words she had turned and stood between him and the light
with immeasurable plains behind her。 He walked home with her
unashamed； feeling not at all like a rejected suitor。 The things
that really mattered were unshaken。
So now he had asked her once more； and； clear and gentle as ever；
she had accepted him； giving no coy reasons for her delay； but
simply saying that she loved him and would do her best to make
him happy。 His mother； too； would be pleased； she had counselled
the step； he must write her a long account。
Glancing at his hand； in case any of Freddy's chemicals had come
off on it； he moved to the writing table。 There he saw 〃Dear Mrs。
Vyse；〃 followed by many erasures。 He recoiled without reading any
more； and after a little hesitation sat down elsewhere； and
pencilled a note on his knee。
Then he lit another cigarette； which did not seem quite as divine
as the first； and considered what might be done to make Windy
Corner drawing…room more distinctive。 With that outlook it should
have been a successful room； but the trail of Tottenham Court
Road was upon it； he could almost visualize the motor…vans of
Messrs。 Shoolbred and Messrs。 Maple arriving at the door and
depositing this chair； those varnished book…cases； that
writing…table。 The table recalled Mrs。 Honeychurch's letter。 He
did not want to read that letterhis temptations never lay in
that direction； but he worried about it none the less。 It was his
own fault that she was discussing him with his mother； he had
wanted her support in his third attempt to win Lucy； he wanted to
feel that others； no matter who they were； agreed with him； and
so he had asked their permission。 Mrs。 Honeychurch had been
civil； but obtuse in essentials； while as for Freddy〃He is only
a boy；〃 he reflected。 〃I represent all that he despises。 Why
should he want me for a brother…in…law？〃
The Honeychurches were a worthy family； but he began to realize
that Lucy was of another clay； and perhapshe did not put it
very definitelyhe ought to introduce her into more congenial
circles as soon as possible。
〃Mr。 Beebe！〃 said the maid； and the new rector of Summer Street
was shown in； he had at once started on friendly relations； owing
to Lucy's praise of him in her letters from Florence。
Cecil greeted him rather critically。
〃I've come for tea； Mr。 Vyse。 Do you suppose that I shall get
it？〃
〃I should say so。 Food is the thing one does get hereDon't sit
in that chair； young Honeychurch has left a bone in it。〃
〃Pfui！〃
〃I know；〃 said Cecil。 〃I know。 I can't think why Mrs。 Honeychurch
allows it。〃
For Cecil considered the bone and the Maples' furniture
separately； he did not realize that； taken together； they kindled
the room into the life that he desired。
〃I've come for tea and for gossip。 Isn't this news？〃
〃News？ I don't understand you；〃 said Cecil。 〃News？〃
Mr。 Beebe； whose news was of a very different nature； prattled
forward。
〃I met Sir Harry Otway as I came up； I have every reason to hope
that I am first in the field。 He has bought Cissie and Albert
from Mr。 Flack！〃
〃Has he indeed？〃 said Cecil； trying to recover himself。 Into what
a grotesque mistake had he fallen！ Was it likely that a clergyman
and a gentleman would refer to his engagement in a manner so
flippant？ But his stiffness remained； and； though he asked who
Cissie and Albert might be； he still thought Mr。 Beebe rather a
bounder。
〃Unpardonable question！ To have stopped a week at Windy Corner
and not to have met Cissie and Albert； the semi…detached villas
that have been run up opposite the church！ I'll set Mrs。
Honeychurch after you。〃
〃I'm shockingly stupid over local affairs；〃 said the young man
languidly。 〃I can't even remember the difference between a Parish
Council and a Local Government Board。 Perhaps there is no
difference； or perhaps those aren't the right names。 I only go
into the country to see my friends and to enjoy the scenery。 It
is very remiss of me。 Italy and London are the only places where
I don't feel to exist on sufferance。〃
Mr。 Beebe； distressed at this heavy reception of Cissie and
Albert； determined to shift the subject。
〃Let me see； Mr。 VyseI forgetwhat is your profession？〃
〃I have no profession；〃 said Cecil。 〃It is another example of my
decadence。 My attitude quite an indefensible oneis that so long
as I am no trouble to any one I have a right to do as I like。
I know I ought to be getting money out of people； or devoting
myself to things I don't care a straw about； but somehow； I've
not been able to begin。〃
〃You are very fortunate；〃 said Mr。 Beebe。 〃It is a wonderful
opportunity； the possession of leisure。〃
His voice was rather parochial； but he did not quite see his way
to answering naturally。 He felt； as all who have regular
occupation must feel； that others should have it also。
〃I am glad that you approve。 I daren't face the healthy person
for example； Freddy Honeychurch。〃
〃Oh； Freddy's a good sort； isn't he？〃
〃Admirable。 The sort who has made England what she is。〃
Cecil wondered at himself。 Why； on this day of all others； was he
so hopelessly contrary？ He tried to get right by inquiring
effusively after Mr。 Beebe's mother； an old lady for whom he had
no particular regard。 Then he flattered the clergyman； praised
his liberal…mindedness； his enlightened attitude towards
philosophy and science。
〃Where are the others？〃 said Mr。 Beebe at last； 〃I insist on
extracting tea before evening service。〃
〃I suppose Anne never told them you were here。 In this house one
is so coached in the servants the day one arrives。 The fault of
Anne is that she begs your pardon when she hears you perfectly；
and kicks the chair…legs with her feet。 The faults of Mary
I forget the faults of Mary； but they are very grave。 Shall we
look in the garden？〃
〃I know the faults of Mary。 She leaves the dust…pans standing on
the stairs。〃
〃The fault of Euphemia is that she will not； simply will not；
chop the suet sufficiently small。〃
They both laughed； and things began to go better。
〃The faults of Freddy〃 Cecil continued。
〃Ah； he has too many。 No one but his mother can remember the
faults of Freddy。 Try the faults of Miss Honeychurch； they are
not innumerable。〃
〃She has none；〃 said the young man； with grave sincerity。
〃I quite agree。 At present she has none。〃
〃At present？〃
〃I'm not cynical。 I'm only thinking of my pet theory about Miss
Honeychurch。 Does it seem reasonable that she should play so
wonderfully； and live so quietly？ I suspect that one day she will
be wonderful in both。 The water…tight compartments in her will
break down； and music and life will mingle。 Then we shall have
her heroically good； heroically badtoo heroic； perhaps； to be
good or bad。〃
Cecil found his companion interesting。
〃And at present you think her not wonderful as far as life goes？〃
〃Well； I must say I've only seen her at Tunbridge Wells； where
she was not wonderful； and at Florence。 Since I came to Summer
Street she has been away。 You saw her； didn't you； at Rome and in
the Alps。 Oh； I forgot； of course； you knew