CHAPTER VI

arrowcreeksofsea.” LeonardwastryingtoformhisstyleonRuskinheunderstoodhimtobethegreatestmasterofEnglishProse.Hereadforwardsteadily,occasionallymakingafewnotes. “Letusconsideralittleeachofthesecharactersinsuccession,andfirst(foroftheshaftsenoughhasbeensaidalready),whatisverypeculiartothischurch—itsluminousness.” Wasthereanythingtobelearntfromthisfinesentence?Couldheadaptittotheneedsofdailylife?Couldheintroduceit,withmodifications,whenhenextwrotealettertohisbrother,thelay-reader?Forexample: “Letusconsideralittleeachofthesecharactersinsuccession,andfirst(foroftheabsenceofventilationenoughhasbeensaidalready),whatisverypeculiartothisflat—itsobscurity.” Somethingtoldhimthatthemodificationswouldnotdoandthatsomething,hadheknownit,wasthespiritofEnglishProse.“Myflatisdarkaswellasstuffy.”Thosewerethewordsforhim. Andthevoiceinthegondolarolledon,pipingmelodiouslyofEffortandSelf-Sacrifice,fullofhighpurpose,fullofbeauty,fullevenofsympathyandtheloveofmen,yetsomehoweludingallthatwasactualandinsistentinLeonard’slife.Foritwasthevoiceofonewhohadneverbeendirtyorhungry,andhadnotguessedsuccessfullywhatdirtandhungerare. Leonardlistenedtoitwithreverence.Hefeltthathewasbeingdonegoodto,andthatifhekeptonwithRuskin,andtheQueen’sHallConcerts,andsomepicturesbyWatts,hewouldonedaypushhisheadoutofthegreywatersandseetheuniverse.Hebelievedinsuddenconversion,abeliefwhichmayberight,butwhichispeculiarlyattractivetoahalf-bakedmind.ItisthebasisofmuchpopularreligioninthedomainofbusinessitdominatestheStockExchange,andbecomesthat“bitofluck”bywhichallsuccessesandfailuresareexplained.“IfonlyIhadabitofluck,thewholethingwouldcomestraight...He’sgotamostmagnificentplacedownatStreathamanda20h.p.Fiat,butthen,mindyou,he’shadluck...I’msorrythewife’ssolate,butsheneverhasanyluckovercatchingtrains.”Leonardwassuperiortothesepeoplehedidbelieveineffortandinasteadypreparationforthechangethathedesired.Butofaheritagethatmayexpandgradually,hehadnoconceptionhehopedtocometoCulturesuddenly,muchastheRevivalisthopestocometoJesus.ThoseMissSchlegelshadcometoittheyhaddonethetricktheirhandswereupontheropes,onceandforall.Andmeanwhile,hisflatwasdark,aswellasstuffy. Presentlytherewasanoiseonthestaircase.HeshutupMargaret’scardinthepagesofRuskin,andopenedthedoor.Awomanentered,ofwhomitissimplesttosaythatshewasnotrespectable.Herappearancewasawesome.Sheseemedallstringsandbell-pulls—ribbons,chains,beadnecklacesthatclinkedandcaughtandaboaofazurefeathershungroundherneck,withtheendsuneven.Herthroatwasbare,woundwithadoublerowofpearls,herarmswerebaretotheelbows,andmightagainbedetectedattheshoulder,throughcheaplace.Herhat,whichwasflowery,resembledthosepunnets,coveredwithflannel,whichwesowedwithmustardandcressinourchildhood,andwhichgerminatedhereyes,andthereno.Sheworeitonthebackofherhead.Asforherhair,orratherhairs,theyaretoocomplicatedtodescribe,butonesystemwentdownherback,lyinginathickpadthere,whileanother,createdforalighterdestiny,rippledaroundherforehead.Theface—thefacedoesnotsignify.Itwasthefaceofthephotograph,butolder,andtheteethwerenotsonumerousasthephotographerhadsuggested,andcertainlynotsowhite.Yes,Jackywaspastherprime,whateverthatprimemayhavebeen.Shewasdescendingquickerthanmostwomeninto